Hospital Benefits and Diversity

We value and harness difference for the benefit of patients, carers, the public and employees

Our Recruitment team at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust follow the new Equality Act that was introduced On the 1st October 2010. The Trust is accredited as a “Positive About Disabled People” employer. This means we recognise our obligations under the ‘two ticks’ symbol to ensure that people with disabilities are afforded equal opportunity to enter employment and progress if and where possible.

So what is the Equality Act 2010?

Pre 2010 there were different Acts for different groups – for example, Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Race Relations Act 1976, Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The Equality Act 2010 simplified the previous laws and put them together in one piece of legislation. It also makes the law stronger in some areas. Depending on the circumstances, the new Act may provide further protection for members of staff.

What does Equality and Diversity mean?

Equality does not mean treating everyone the same, but:

Making sure people are treated fairly
Meeting individual’s needs appropriately
Challenging the factors that limit individuals’ opportunity

Diversity is:

Recognising and valuing individual and group differences
Ensuring that many different types of people can contribute to society

What are the protected characteristics?

There are 9 protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010, these are:

Age, Disability, Gender reassignment, Marriage & civil partnership, Pregnancy & maternity, Race, Religion and belief, Sex and Sexual orientation.

I have an illness/disability that is covered by the Disability Discrimination Act. What “reasonable adjustments” are available to me?

It is not possible to give general guidance on how to make reasonable adjustments as it can vary depending on circumstances. When making reasonable adjustments each case will be assessed on its own merits.

The Trust recognises that it has a duty to make reasonable adjustments in respect of those staff who have a disability as set out in the Equality Act 2010. On occasion this may mean that an employee will be able to take paid time off to attend hospital appointments. However, what amounts to a reasonable adjustment will depend on the circumstances of each individual employee who should discuss their position with their manager and Human Resources so that there can be an agreement about what is required.

Equality and Diversity

…is based on the recognition that every human being is different in their own rich and varied way and such differences should be valued and respected. Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust actively promotes Equality and Diversity good practice and is an organisation that cares about having a culture and practices that recognise, respect, value and harness difference for the benefit of the patients, carers, members of the public and members of staff.

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Hospital Benefits and Diversity

We value and harness difference for the benefit of patients, carers, the public and employees

So what is the Equality Act 2010?

What does Equality and Diversity mean?

What are the protected characteristics?

I have an illness/disability that is covered by the Disability Discrimination Act. What “reasonable adjustments” are available to me?

Equality and Diversity

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