EDI Standards
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion function, is led by our Partnership Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Programme Board; which exists to make sure we achieve our current equality and human rights objectives.
In conjunction with the Partnership Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Workforce Group, the Programme Board also oversees group-wide equality, diversity and inclusion activites including:
- reviewing action plans
- strategy development
- meeting NHS England Standards such as Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES), Accessible Information Standard (AIS), Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) and Equality Delivery System Grading (EDS2)
NHS EDI Improvement Plan
The aim of the NHS EDI Improvement Plan is to improve equality, diversity and inclusion, and to enhance the sense of belonging for NHS staff to improve their experience.
In the plan are six high impact intersectional actions which are designed to recognise that people have complex and multiple identities, and that multiple forms of inequality or disadvantage sometimes combine to create obstacles that cannot be addressed through the lens of a single characteristic in isolation.
These targeted actions address the prejudice and discrimination – direct and indirect – that exists through behaviour, policies, practices and cultures against certain groups and individuals across the NHS workforce. The plan:
- sets out why equality, diversity and inclusion is a key foundation for creating a caring, efficient, productive and safe NHS
- explains the actions required to make the changes that NHS staff and patients expect and deserve, and who is accountable and responsible for their delivery
- describes how NHS England will support implementation
- provides a framework for integrated care boards to produce their own local plans.
The Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES)
The Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) measures ‘race equality’ within the workforce. The standard provides the opportunity to identify trends and themes and recognise potential inequalities related to race and track what progress is being made to identify and promote talented Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) employees. The findings are produced in an annual report based on NHS Staff Survey data and local workforce data.
The Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES)
The Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) aims to tackle the inequality and discrimination faced by disabled people within the NHS workforce, to promote equality and to help the NHS maximise the potential of all its employees – including those with a disability or long-term health condition.
Equality Delivery Standard (EDS2)
The Partnership annually reviews its performance against NHS England’s equality performance framework, EDS2.
Our EDI Function gathers evidence from across the Group and works with local people from our diverse communities, including local Healthwatch and community groups, who review our data and decide the grade.
Visit the national EDS website: NHS England EDS 2. for further information about the NHS Equality Delivery System.
Patient and Carers Race Equality Framework (PCREF)
In November 2023, NHS England has launched its first ever anti-racism framework: the Patient and carer race equality framework (PCREF). It is a race equity and accountability framework for all NHS mental health trusts and mental health service providers to embed across England that Supports NHS Trusts to prioritise and demonstrate how they can improve the cultural competence of their organisation. The PCREF aims to improve the access, experience, and outcomes for racialised and ethnically and culturally diverse communities as data shows that there are inequities in these areas when compared to people who from white ethnic backgrounds.
The PCREF will be a practical tool to help mental health trusts and providers work with communities and understand their priorities for addressing mental health inequalities, such as what steps trusts can take to achieve practical improvements in reducing racial and cultural bias, as well as enabling service transformation which is co-created.
The PCREF framework comprises three components:
- Part 1: Leadership and Governance
- Part 2: Organisational Competencies
- Part 3: Patient and Carers Feedback Mechanisms
All mental health trusts and service providers will be required to publish their own local PCREF plans by the end of March 2025. The North London Mental Health Partnership (NLMHP) is working alongside service users, carers, local community networks, ethnic led voluntary sector organisations and system partners to co-produce a local PCREF plan which will identify opportunities to strengthen and purposefully deliver improvements for our diverse populations. The NLMHP has been reviewing local and national data to inform our PCREF priorities, as well mapping work that is already underway to address health inequalities. Our engagement journey is underway to co-production what a “culturally competent” NLMHP looks like and we will be continuing further develop our local PCREF plan with our communities, service users and carers.
Current Progress
The Partnership is currently working towards complying with the framework. To find out more about the NLMHP’s PCREF activities or to become involved in shaping our PCREF plan, please contact the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team by email at beh-tr.equalities@nhs.net.
The Accessible Information Standard (AIS)
From 1 August 2016 onwards, all organisations that provide NHS care and/or publicly-funded adult social care are legally required to follow the Accessible Information Standard.
The Standard sets out a specific, consistent approach to identifying, recording, flagging, sharing and meeting the information and communication support needs of patients, service users, carers and parents with a disability, impairment or sensory loss.
All organisations that provide NHS or adult social care must follow the standard. This includes NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts, and GP practices. Organisations that commission NHS and adult social care services must also make sure that they support the standard.
As part of the accessible information standard, organisations that provide NHS or adult social care must do five things. They must:
- Ask people if they have any information or communication needs,and find out how to meet their needs.
- Record those needs clearly and in a set way.
- Highlight or flag the person’s file or notes so it is clear that they have information or communication needs and how to meet those needs.
- Share information about people’s information and communication needs with other providers of NHS and adult social care when they have consent or permission to do so.
- Take steps to ensure that people receive information which they can access and understand, and receive communication support if they need it.
More information about the accessible information standard, including the Specification and Implementation Guidance: www.england.nhs.uk/accessibleinfo
If you have any queries please contact england.nhs.participation@nhs.net or patients/members of the public can call 030 0311 22 33.
The Standard also tells organisations how they should make sure that people get any support with communication that they need. For example, support from a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter, deafblind manual interpreter or an advocate.
Current progress
The Partnership is currently working towards complying with the standard. To find out more about the NLMHP’s AIS activities please contact the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team by email at beh-tr.equalities@nhs.net.
