Equality and Diversity Team
Our Equality and
Diversity Team
We’re committed to helping to build a fairer
South Staffordshire where the diversity of our local communities is
celebrated and where equal opportunities are embraced.
Our organisational arrangements specifically
recognise all of our roles and responsibilities. We also have a
dedicated internal support team that is committed to taking the
equalities agenda forward.
Leadership
Strategy and Policy
The Leader of the Council, all Elected
Members, Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive, and Directors
have responsibility for the strategic direction of equality and
diversity in the Council.
They also ensure equality is considered when
key decisions are made that affect residents and employees.
Diversity
Champions
The high level commitment to equality and
diversity is demonstrated by our Chief Executive, Steve Winterflood
becoming our equality and diversity champion.
Steve’s role is to promote equality and
diversity and to make things happen.
“The Equality and Diversity agenda has
really moved on since I started in Local Government and we’re
working harder than ever before to help make the district a fairer
one”.
“We will meet all of our duties under the
new Equality Framework for Local Government and we’re busy
preparing for the newly proposed Equalities Bill.”
Steve
Winterflood
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Diversity
Reference Group
The Diversity Reference Group (DRG) meets on a
regular basis and is representative of all our service areas.
The aim of the group is to monitor the
progress on the Equality Framework for Local Government, review
Equality Impact Assessments (EqIA)
(including checking Portfolio Service Plans decisions) sharing
knowledge/ information about equality. The group is currently
reviewing the new Equality and Diversity policy.
Members of the group are all responsible for
advocating and promoting the equality agenda back in their own
service areas.
Document
Take a look at our Equality Champion job
description which the group has developed (PDF
Document 1.64MB).
Core
Diversity Reference group
The Core Diversity Reference group meets every
other month and includes the Chief Executive, Human Resources
Manager, Policy and Partnerships Manager and the Corporate Policy
Officer.
They meet to discuss any blockages within the
organisation and provide a reality/progress update of the equality
and diversity agenda for the whole council.
Staffordshire Equality Network
We are an active part of the Staffordshire
Equality Network which meets every month. It includes all
authorities in the Staffordshire family group and various local
partners.
We share information, best practice, discuss
updates from Government, benchmark against each other, and offer
support to each other if needed. Over the years we have worked
together to produce joint Disability and Gender Equality
Schemes.
Our Local Strategic Partnership has also
signed up to a Partnership Approach to Equality & Diversity
which includes baseline
standards.
Our
councillors
Councillors are a vital part of the equality
and diversity policy process. They represent the residents from our
communities and play a crucial role in meeting our responsibilities
under legislation. Our member Equality and Diversity champion is
Cllr Robert Reade.
“We each have a role to play to make sure
that everyone’s treated fairly and have equal access to services
and opportunities. Listening and responding to our residents and
promoting good relations is key”
Cllr. R.
Reade
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How to contact us?
Drop us an email on policyandpartnerships@sstaffs.gov.uk
or call 01902 696242.