Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The Covid-19 pandemic fundamentally changed our approach to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in Devon and working in partnership with our staff and communities is at the heart of our vision of building an inclusive health and care system where everyone in Devon feels they belong.
Our Vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We will improve the future for generations, so that everyone feels they belong in the Devon health and care system. We will be a great place to work and will deliver outstanding care, outcomes and experience that meets the needs of everyone in Devon.
We will support work to tackle health inequalities by working hand in hand with local populations and our partners to understand barriers to care and design services that have the needs of everyone at their core.
Our Vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
This is a celebration and awareness campaign marking significant cultural events throughout the year. Guests from the local community are invited to talk about their experiences/needs from healthcare at events across the system, raising awareness of different ethnicities, religions, faith groups, LGBTQ+ experiences and disabilities.
Black History Month was celebrated by hosting a system wide panel event to discuss ‘how can we tackle racism and promote racial equality across Devon?’ Additionally, NHS Devon held Race Ahead– NHS Big Conversation on Race’. Teams across the (then) CCG were invited to take part in the campaign by setting time aside to discuss promoting racial equality across the NHS in Devon
We also celebrated LGBTQ+ History Month in February 2022. Holding a panel event: Our future. Why LGBTQ+ history matters. All staff in One Devon were invited with panel representatives from Primary Care, CCG CEO, Acute Care and the voluntary sector.
The NHS Devon Equality and Diversity Strategy
At NHS Devon, we want Equality, Diversity and Inclusion to be embedded in everything we do and we are proud of our journey so far.
The Equality and Diversity Strategy sets out how we plan to achieve this vision and identifies:
- What have learnt about our communities through the pandemic
- The benefits of equality and diversity
- The Devon picture and case for change
- The journey so far
- The NHS Devon Equality and Diversity objectives
- The shared Equality and Diversity objectives across One Devon
- The partnerships involved with delivering the strategy.
We are currently in the process of updating our EDI strategy following the publication of the NHS equality, diversity, and inclusion improvement plan which sets out four strategic EDI outcomes:
- Address discrimination, enabling staff to use the full range of their skills and experience to deliver the best possible patient care
- Increase accountability of all leaders to embed inclusive leadership and promote equal opportunities and fairness of outcomes in line with the NHS Constitution, the Equality Act 2010, the Messenger Review
- Support the levelling up agenda by improving EDI within the NHS workforce, enhancing the NHS’s reputation as a model employer and an anchor institution, and thereby continuing to attract diverse talents to our workforce
- Make opportunities for progression equitable, facilitating social mobility in the communities we serve.
