THE DIVERSITY & INSPIRE NETWORK VISION To improve the working lives of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME)

) staff by empowering them and ensuring that their rights are respected. To enhance the quality of service to BME communities by assisting Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust in delivering better services for all. AIMS The network aims: To provide an open and transparent forum for. To support, encourage and actively promote the professional and career development of BME staff. To increase BME staff representation at senior levels in CLCH and wider NHS. To influence and make responses to CLCH employment strategies, policies, procedures and practices in relation to race equality. To tackle racial harassment and discrimination and support BME staff who are experiencing racial discrimination. To develop training and mentoring schemes to improve the promotion and development of BME staff. To help develop solutions and share ideas to assist in solving problems that adversely affect BME staff. To assist the Trust in bringing about cultural change whereby BME staff are valued through good news stories. To empower BME staff to recognize and maximize their full potential. To support the CLCH in recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce which reflects the community it services. To act as a communication and information resource for BME staff.

MEMBERSHIP Membership will be open to all CLCH staff who sign-up to the aims of the network and are interested in assisting in the identification of problems and solutions facing BME staff. The BME Staff Network can be attended in two ways either has an active member or interested member. Members can self select and be involved in different parts of the BME Staff Network.

The membership will be two fold:

BME refers to all staff who define themselves as Black & Minority Ethnic as per the 2001 ONS codes. The definition of Black does not refer to skin colour. The emphasis is on the common experience and determination of the people of African, African-Caribbean and Asian origin to oppose the effects of racism.

Active members- will attend regularly meetings and be committed to the on-going developmental activities. Interested members,-will support the activities of the network, be informed of progress and attend some events.

Active members will be committed to take part in the list of commitments below and have endorsement from their manager. They will maintain their personal portfolio of career development, which will link into the Knowledge & Skills Personal Development process. Active members commitments Act as a representative for the network. Attending and involvement in network meetings. Contributing comments for official response to CLCH employment strategies, consultations etc. Involvement in mentoring and training schemes. Help to develop solutions to workforce problems that adversely affect BME staff. Support staff experiencing racial discrimination / harassment.

Interested members commitments Act as an advocate for the network. Attend and contribute towards events. Take part in training and mentoring schemes. Receive information and updates on the network. Have access to information from NHS Institute Breaking Through Programme & Master classes

ACTIVITIES To be determined by the wider group but may include: Devising and delivering training and mentoring schemes. Providing effective role models to build confidence and inspire individuals through talks by speakers of BME origin who have had successful careers. Representing BME staff on relevant external and internal forums and partnerships and at other meetings and conferences.

COMMUNICATION

Network business will be conducted both in face-to-face meetings and by e-mail, telephone, and other forms of communication. The activities of the Network will take place during work time and will be widely publicised to enable managers to give staff time to attend.