Norfolk Frames Ltd aims to respond to the diverse needs of individuals by delivering equality and diversity for partners, their tenants and for those working for and on behalf of Norfolk Frames Ltd.
Norfolk Frames Equality & Diversity Policy is based around the following two models:
Rights modelWe have adopted a rights based model of equalities. We will develop practices that promote the right for all to participate in all aspects of life by promoting practices and initiatives that remove barriers to participation.
Social modelWe have adopted the social model of disability in all our work and functions, believing it is the loss or limitation of opportunities, due to physical and social barriers, that prevent people who have impairments from taking part in the life of the community on an equal basis with others.
Norfolk Frames’ Aims1.
To embed equalities in all our work and use the process of mainstreaming to ensure this occurs through the following methods:
Strategy and policy developmentWe will ensure all business strategies integrate equalities and address issues relevant to the equality
• diversity strategy, as well as challenging disadvantage and discrimination, where appropriate• We will develop strategies and policies in consultation with stakeholders and will take their specific needs into account
• We will carry out equality impact assessments on all company strategies and reviews of strategies to ensure equalities issues have been fully integrated into all aspects of strategy development and delivery
• We will regularly review each of the equality schemes (Race, Gender, Disability, Age, Sexuality, Ex Offender, HIV/AIDS and Faith) and revise them as necessary
• We will ensure that equality and diversity initiatives, policies and developments are discussed and agreed by the Norfolk Frames Board
• All Directors from Norfolk Frames will be members of the Equalities Policy Team
Business planning
• Norfolk Frames will produce key equality actions as part of its corporate business plan• The key equality and diversity actions will be supported by detailed operational equalities plans.
These will outline the work Norfolk Frames will be undertaking that has a clear equalities dimension, with outputs and timescales
Operational processes
• All managers have responsibility for ensuring their work takes into account the specific needs of targeted groups and that:- It is anti-discriminatory
- Involves equality planning and evaluation
- Prioritises actions and resources to those in greatest need
• Norfolk Frames will carry out equality impact assessments on our major projects
• Norfolk Frames will ensure that all Best Value Reviews consider equalities issues
• Norfolk Frames will review, monitor and evaluate its equalities outputs annually and set new targets
• Norfolk Frames will provide support and guidance for staff through training and development programmes
Measuring progress
• Norfolk Frames will monitor and assess its progress against each of its equality schemes.• Norfolk Frames will monitor progress against the equality and diversity actions in its business plan
• Norfolk Frames will monitor the resources it devotes to equality and diversity at board level
• Norfolk Frames will evaluate managers and staff teams on the extent to which they have delivered on planned outputs relating to equality and diversity through its formal performance review system
2.
• To create an organisation which recognises the contribution of all staff, and which is supportive, fair, just, free from discrimination and which champions equality and diversity• To become an exemplary organisation for the promotion of equality and diversity in service delivery and for challenging discrimination:
• To have and implement exemplary employment policies and practices and to have a workforce within
Norfolk Frames that reflects, at all levels, the resident communities in which they work:
Being an exemplary employer
• Norfolk Frames will develop and implement conditions of service for staff that:- Are amongst the models of best practice
- Are fair, not discriminatory and provide equality of opportunity
- Balance the needs of individual members of staff with those of the organisation
- Ensure they are treated with dignity and respect at work.
• Norfolk Frames action plan will detail actions and initiatives to help the company to achieve equality and diversity in employment.
• Norfolk Frames will periodically carry out reviews to equality-proof our staff policies and practices.
• Norfolk Frames will develop and implement positive action measures in recruitment and in learning and development initiatives.
• Norfolk Frames will ensure that all staff have access to appropriate learning and development activities.
• Norfolk Frames will support and promote staff support groups for women, black, Asian and minority ethnic, disabled, lesbian and gay staff.
• Norfolk Frames will ensure staff have the right to celebrate and honour faith days through use of flexible working and annual leave, if the days are not statutory holidays.
• Norfolk Frames will work with community and specialist bodies to source applicants from a wider pool.
• Norfolk Frames will aim to adopt age equality in the workplace.
• Norfolk Frames will promote its policies and procedures that enable staff to challenge unfair and discriminatory behaviour and practices that are incompatible with its dignity at work policy and we will ensure that these policies are effective.
Setting and monitoring employment targets
• Norfolk Frames will aim to create a workforce that reflects the local community• Norfolk Frames will review and develop targets that remain aligned to the diverse population.
• Norfolk Frames will monitor its measures to recruit and retain staff representative of the community to the organisation and introduce further measures as appropriate.
• Norfolk Frames will consider and implement appropriate monitoring and reporting of faith and sexuality.
3.
• To involve Norfolk Frames staff, Private and Public Sector Partners, Suppliers, Contractors and Sub Contractors actively in our work and ensure our work has direct relevance for equality• We will involve our partners communities actively in our work and ensure our work has direct relevance
• Norfolk Frames will implement our accessible communications policy by ensuring all our published documents and strategies are written clearly and clearly display information on how to obtain alternative formats
• Norfolk Frames will provide summaries of key documents in Plain English
• Norfolk Frames will make documents available on request in alternative formats, i.e. languages other than English, British Sign Language; Braille; audio cassette; CD, large print.
• Norfolk Frames will provide documents in line with available resources.
• Norfolk Frames will ensure its web sites comply with current accessibility standards.
• Norfolk Frames will publicise the availability of accessible information.
• Norfolk Frames will support events that celebrate the lives, cultures and faiths of the communities it works in, promote tolerance and raise the profile of important issues for the equality and socially excluded groups.
• Norfolk Frames will ensure its events and activities are accessible to communities and provide guidance to staff on access issues
Monitoring and improving our consultation and partnership work
• Norfolk Frames will take steps to monitor our consultation results, complaints, attendance at certain events and take up of initiatives by gender, ethnicity, disability and, where appropriate, age.4.
• To deliver the functions and services, that Norfolk Frames is responsible for, in a way that ensures access for all and prioritises action to benefit those experiencing greatest disadvantageTargeting resources to meet need
• Norfolk Frames will assess the impact of its work on equality to identify and allocate resources where they are most needed.
Information
• Norfolk Frames will provide accessible information and publicity to the equality target groups.
Procurement
• Norfolk Frames will develop policies and procedures that take a positive approach to contracting with individuals, organisations and companies from the equalities target groups.
• Norfolk Frames will develop fair contracting and procurement policies to ensure we promote compliance with equalities good practice
