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Equality Group for Gender and Sexual Orientation

Introduction
Gender Equality Scheme
Contacts

Introduction from Diane Tilley, Corporate lead for the group:

Gender and Sexual Orientation are the diversity strands at the heart of our group that we need to focus upon to ensure equality of opportunity and the fulfilment of different service needs, both for staff and the communities we serve.

Sexual orientation is an important issue which to date the Council has not addressed proactively and in preparation for our Single Equality Scheme and legislation coming into force in April 2009, we intend to build upon this agenda both within the council and the county to ensure that the needs of this diverse group are met.

At present we are planning to promote and celebrate LGBT History month in February 2009. If you are keen to be involved or wish to comment on any aspect of this work then please contact  myself or Rukhsana Koser.

Gender Equality Scheme

A new Gender Duty was introduced in April 2007, which places the responsibility on the council to take positive action to ensure that policies on service and employment take into account the different needs for men and women. The council recognises that women and men do not have equal chances in life. This could be in the types of job opportunities available to them, the academic success they achieve and the services they have access.

Worcestershire County Council will continue to design plans and policies, which are inclusive and promote equality from the start, not just addressing individual issues as they arise.

Download a copy of the Gender Equality Scheme  (777.93 KB)

The general duty places a legal responsibility on the County Council to:

• Prepare and publish a gender equality scheme, showing how it will meet its general and specific duties and setting out its gender equality objectives
• In formulating its overall objectives, consider the need to include objectives to address the causes of any gender pay gap
• Gather and use information on how the public authority's policies and practices affect gender equality in the workforce and in the delivery of services
• To consult stakeholders (i.e. employees, service users and others, including trade unions) and take account of relevant information in order to determine its gender equality objectives
• To assess the impact of its current and proposed policies and practices on gender equality
• To implement the actions set out in its scheme within three years, unless it is unreasonable or impracticable to do so

In the near future this scheme will be replaced by a Single Equality Scheme which will encorporate all the strands (Age, Disability, Gender, Race, Religion/Belief and Sexual Orientation)

Contacts

Diane Tilley, Director of Planning, Economy and Performance
e-mail  dtilley@worcestershire.gov.uk

Rukhsana Koser, Corporate Diversity Manager
e-mail  Diversity@worcestershire.gov.uk