The Equality Act 2010 is the law which bans unfair treatment and helps achieve equal opportunities in the workplace and in wider society, and incorporates specific duties for public sector organisations.
Delivering the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) at Ashford and St Peter’s
Introduction
Within the Equality Act (2010) (UK legislation), there is a statutory requirement for the Trust to publish information to demonstrate compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty. This paper summarises the types of information that is currently published by the Trust, where this information is published and areas that need to be developed.
The Public Sector Equality Duty, which is sometimes also known as the general duty. has three aims:
- eliminating discrimination, harassment and victimisation;
- advancing equality of opportunity; and
- fostering good relations.
Publishing Information
Public sector organisations, including Foundation Trusts like Ashford and St. Peter’s, are required to publish information to demonstrate their compliance with the PSED at least annually, and subsequently at intervals of not greater than one year beginning with the date of last publication (The Regulations, Section 2).
This information should be published in a manner that is accessible to the public, either in a separate document of within another published document (The Regulations, Section 4). The Regulations (Section 2(4) state that the information published in compliance with the PSED must include, in particular, information relating to persons who share a relevant ‘protected characteristic’ who are a) employees (but only for organisations with 150 employees or more) or b) other persons affected by its policies and practices.
For the Trust this is information on our employees and on the patients we treat and the population we serve.
