The GCH Equalities Framework
GCH is a driving force and committed to diversity and equality policies and practices. Our mission, vision and values support and enforce our commitment to equalities and diversity ”delivering and building strong and successful communities...work in partnership with residents….respond quickly and fairly…achieve our targets and standards….respecting every tenant and leaseholder…be creative and dynamic in delivering our services…”
We have developed a range of actions and measures to understand the equality impacts on our diverse community and to ensure we meet our equality commitments:
These have been developed and regularly reviewed with our residents via Focus Groups, our Customer Equality Proofing Group and Customer Forum.
We regularly hold a range of diversity forums for residents to identify priorities and barriers and to review progress against the Equalities Action Plan. We regularly hold a range of diversity forums for residents to identify priorities and barriers and to review progress against the Equalities Action Plan.
Customer Diversity Champions
There is a trained Customer Diversity Champion within every team and at every level within GCH. Progress on diversity is tracked by the management team, the Board, and Customer Forum. We also have a Board| and EMT Diversity Champion|.
Customer equality-proofing group
We have set up a Customer equality-proofing group made up of customers from a range of backgrounds and experiences, who work with Customer Diversity Champions to impact access services, agree equality targets and monitor progress. made up of customers from a range of backgrounds and experiences, who work with Customer Diversity Champions to impact access services, agree equality targets and monitor progress.
GCH Equalities and Diversity Policy
Our policy has been developed with and is regularly reviewed by our customers via Focus Groups, our Customer Equality Proofing Group and Customer Forum.
Following consultation with customers, we have launched our first Single Equalities Scheme/Equality Strategy for 2010-2013. This builds on our three previous schemes and embodies all current legislation and relevant guidance, including the Equalities Act, CRE and DRC codes of practice sets out our equality priorities and targets. The overall scheme is reviewed annually.
Developed by the Customer Equality Proofing Group, using customer profile information, information from equality impact assessments and feedback from customers. This is subject to review and challenge by the various Equalities and Customer Forums and key targets and resulting actions are publicised to tenants and monitored by senior Management and the Board.
Equality and diversity training
All staff and Board members receive annual training on diversity and equalities and this is a key element of our Induction Programme. The Customer Diversity Champions and managers have received additional training about relevent legislation, awareness training and the Equality Impact Assessment process to ensure this work is carried out effectively.