Equality Delivery System (EDS)
Welcome to the Equality Delivery System.
The EDS has been designed by the NHS as a framework improvement
tool to support the Trust in driving up equality performance and
embed a clear vision for a personal, fair and diverse health and
care service into all areas of WMAS.
The EDS will also support the Trust in meeting the equality
aspects of the NHS Constitution, the NHS Outcomes Framework, Care
Quality Commission‟s Essential Standards, and the Human Resources
Transition Framework.
“The EDS project is an NHS Equality and Diversity Council
initiative, supported by the Department of Health. It will be a key
project for implementation by April 2012. The Trust is committed to
the EDS through the active involvement of staff, public and
community organisations in setting objectives and monitoring of
performance for equality.”
Sofia Jabeen, WMAS Equality and Diversity Officer.
EDS - How it will work
WMAS will be working with all other NHS Trust and
community groups over the next year to implement the EDS to improve
the way in which people from different groups are treated as
service users, carers and employees. The EDS will be used in every
NHS organisation in England meaning that wherever you go for NHS
services you will find organisations working to the same set of
goals around equality & human rights. These are:
1. Better Health Outcomes for all
2. Improved patient access & experience
3. Empowered, engaged & well supported staff
4. Inclusive leadership at all levels
Future Opportunities
In the coming months there will be opportunities
for our staff, patients, careers and representatives from local
organisations and communities to help our Trust govern what we do
around equality and diversity. This could mean being involved
in rating how well we are performing. It could also mean that you
can assist us in providing services that meet the needs of all
protected characteristics.
What are protected characteristics?
Protected characteristics refer to all the
different groups of people that are covered under the Equality Act
2010 – the main piece of legislation that protects people from
discrimination in the UK. These are:
- Age
- Disability
- Ethnicity/Race
- Gender
- Gender Reassignment
- Marriage & Civil Partnership
- Pregnancy & Maternity
- Religion & Beliefs
- Sexual Orientation
How you can help
You can be of assistance to the EDS project in
the following ways:
- Being involved in community events to feedback what you think
the Trust should be doing better and what is working well.
- Getting involved on community panels where you will use your
expertise to advise WMAS of how it can be responsive to the needs
of local communities.
- Become an EDS Ambassador – help us take this work into the
centre of communities and be trained up to deliver talks or
workshops to all different groups of people.
- Just talk to us – if you have an idea or solution to a problem
why not tell us, we might be able to use it!
Further Information
For further information please click the links below: