At Ashford and St Peter’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust we have the following staff networks.
- Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage Network (REACH)
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning Community and Ally Network (LGBTQ+)
- Disability and Wellbeing Network (DAWN)
- Men’s Health
What are they?
Staff networks are a group of colleagues, often with a shared background, culture, experience, or a characteristic, that come together to support each other and work with the Trust to improve staff and patient experience.
Why are staff networks important?
- Allow people from similar backgrounds to share experiences specific to them within the same field of work (healthcare).
- Not just for minority groups for example Men’s Health Network is a place for people who are passionate about male health etc.
- Safe space for people to discuss their concerns and experiences.
- Bring staff together to help tackle challenges in the present.
- Provide invaluable feedback to the Trust as a collective voice on things such as policies and innovative ideas.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of inclusion and diversity.
- Support staff who are experiencing challenges at work
- Provide a platform to show an employer’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion by showing how it values its staff and their opinions.
- Help to educate the wider workforce on diversity and inclusion.
- Help cultivate an inclusive culture by eradicating discrimination through education and awareness.
- They don’t just benefit staff, they can also benefit patients
- Research has shown that diverse teams have staff that are more productive, can solve problems faster and have increased ability to innovate.
- Key mechanism for driving meaningful change and making a difference
- Empowering people with the opportunity to grow personally and professionally.
- Help disseminate best practice
How do they benefit staff?
- Increases their sense of belonging
- Helps them to feel included
- Empowers them to raise concerns in safe environment.
- Opportunity to meet new people from areas of the organisation they would never normally meet.
- Social events throughout the year
- Access to the newest equality, diversity, and inclusion information.
- Able to influence change within the Trust.
