Focus groups - Anti-racist audit of All-Wales NHS Workforce Policies

Diverse Cymru, a Welsh equality charity, are carrying out an independent anti-racist review of the All-Wales NHS Workforce policies.

Views and experiences of Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic staff of all NHS Wales organisations are central and vital to the review.

Diverse Cymru are holding 2 hour focus groups across Wales and online for:

• Staff in any NHS Wales organisation who self-identify as a Black, Asian or minoritised ethnic person – anonymous, safe space groups
• Trade Unions, NHS Wales employers, and equality, diversity and inclusion representatives – representative groups

Travel, access, childcare, replacement care (for carers) and other costs to take part will be reimbursed.

You can also complete a survey.

For more information or to take part visit:

www.diverse.cymru 

or email: research@diverse.cymru

Dear partner,

Invitation to share views and experience of NHS workforce policies 

Diverse Cymru have been commissioned by Welsh Government and NHS Wales to carry out an audit of the All-Wales NHS Workforce Policies through an Anti-racist lens. This work was identified as a priority action in the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan.

This audit and recommendations will be based on the experiences and views of Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic people who work in NHS Wales organisations. Your views and experiences are central to this project and will lead to changes in All-Wales NHS Workforce Policies and procedures. 

These focus groups are for Trade Unions, NHS Wales employers, and staff whose roles focus on equality, diversity and inclusion. The key part of this project is engaging directly with NHS Wales staff who self-identify as Black, Asian, or minoritised ethnic people, in separate focus groups. We are also keen to hear from Trade Unions, NHS Wales employers and other staff and stakeholders in NHS Wales organisations who have a representative role or views and experiences relevant to the Anti-racist audit.

We are inviting you to take part in a focus group or complete a survey for the Audit of All-Wales NHS Workforce Policies through an Anti-racist lens. You do not need to be an expert on the policies.

Who are Diverse Cymru? 

Diverse Cymru is a leading equality charity in Wales. Our work is cross-characteristic, including anyone who experiences discrimination or disadvantage in Wales. We are independent of any NHS Wales employer or organisation. 

What will this audit do?

This audit aims to:

• Engage Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic people who work in NHS Wales organisations to gather your views and experiences, including intersectional experiences.
• Assess language and inclusivity of current All-Wales NHS Workforce Policies and provide recommendations for the future
• Assess how current All-Wales NHS Workforce Policies and procedures disadvantage Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic people working in NHS Wales organisations
• Assess how implementation of current All-Wales Workforce Policies and procedures disadvantage Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic people working in NHS Wales organisations
• Assess the merits and limitations of current All-Wales Workforce Policies and procedures through an Anti-racist lens
• Recommend how to change All-Wales Workforce Policies and procedures to eliminate discrimination and racism
• Identify practices that could be implemented to promote equality, diversity and inclusion for all

This is an Anti-racist audit of the All-Wales Workforce Policies and procedures and how they are implemented in your organisation and area. The audit does not include pay or terms and conditions of service, or local policies. 

How can I take part? 

You can take part by joining an in person or online focus group or complete our survey if you prefer. 

We are holding a couple of focus groups Trade Unions, NHS Wales employers and equality and diversity representatives.

All focus groups will cover the same questions and topics. You only need to attend one focus group.

There are focus groups in a couple of locations. This is to ensure there is a focus group near you. You are welcome to attend any focus group that works well for you. No focus group is restricted to staff from any particular organisation.

We are also holding online focus groups.

We can reimburse any access, travel, childcare, replacement care (for carers) or other specific expenses you have to attend a focus group.

You are welcome to share this invitation with other colleagues in your organisation and other NHS Wales organisations. Please also share the invitation for staff who self-identify as Black, Asian, or minoritised ethnic people.

You can register for any focus group by emailing: research@diverse.cymru or by registering on Eventbrite using the link below for the focus group you would like to attend.

When you register please let us know:

• If you have any access requirements to participate
• Whether you prefer to contribute in Welsh, English, BSL or another language
• Which organisation you are representing

There are separate focus groups for NHS Wales staff who self-identify as Black, Asian, or minoritised ethnic people. 

If you would prefer to complete a survey, you can complete it online here:

https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/CBU02M/ (English)

https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/OV7BP0/ (Welsh)

The survey asks the same questions as the focus groups.

We will be collecting equality monitoring information of participants to ensure we have reached a diverse range of Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic staff. We will also be collecting names of organisations who have participated in the focus groups for Trade Unions, NHS Wales employers and equality and diversity representatives. We will only report numbers of participants in these focus groups, names of organisations who have participated, and aggregated equality characteristics from all focus groups for representatives. In our report we will ensure that any identifiable information in your contributions is removed to retain your anonymity.

Dates and times of focus groups for Trade Unions, NHS Wales employers, and equality, diversity and inclusion representatives.

If you represent a Trade Union, NHS Wales employer, or are an equality, diversity, and inclusion representative please register for one of the following focus groups:

• Thursday 6^th April. Cardiff. 3 pm to 5 pm.

This is a hybrid event. You can also register to attend this focus group online.

Diverse Cymru, 3^rd Floor, Alexandra House, 307-315 Cowbridge Road East, Canton, Cardiff, CF5 1 JD and online.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cardiff-focus-group-for-nhs-wales-staff-representatives-tickets-598356689967 

• Thursday 20^th April. Cardiff. 10 am – 12 noon.

This is a hybrid event. You can also register to attend this focus group online.

Diverse Cymru, 3^rd Floor, Alexandra House, 307-315 Cowbride Road East, Canton, Cardiff, CF5 1 JD and online.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cardiff-and-online-focus-group-for-nhs-wales-staff-representatives-tickets-598367672817 

More dates and times are likely to be added.

New safety rep introductory courses for women and Black members 

We know from previous research that: 

• 91% of union safety reps are White
• 80% of union safety reps are men

Safety reps are the most powerful union rep role, but we know they’re not yet representative of our wider membership. We also know women and Black workers often face more risk at work.
 
Having spoken to Black and women reps and activists about their experiences of health and safety at work and in their unions (see research here and here), it was suggested that having a space to learn about the role, raise questions and concerns, and be heard with others with shared experiences, could be an effective way to encourage more members to step forward by creating networks and building confidence.
 
That is why we have organised four free, one-day, online introductory courses.
 
These are open to any member of a TUC affiliated union, but they must be a woman or Black member for each respective course.

Please share with any members whom you think may be interested, and existing reps who may wish to encourage and nuture the safety reps of tomorrow!

Women only
Thursday 23rd March
https://www.tuc.org.uk/events/introduction-role-health-and-safety-rep-women
 
Women only
Thursday 11th May
https://www.tuc.org.uk/events/introduction-role-health-and-safety-rep-women-0
 
Black members only
Tuesday 21st Mar
https://www.tuc.org.uk/events/introduction-role-health-and-safety-rep-black-workers
 
Black members only
Friday 12th May
https://www.tuc.org.uk/events/introduction-role-health-and-safety-rep-black-workers-0

Overview
This exciting new course is for anyone who might be considering becoming a trade union health and safety representative. You might be a union member without a role or be a different kind of rep in your branch.

Who is the course for?
If you’re motivated by the prospect of keeping yourself and your colleagues safe, and preventing workplace illness and injury, this course for you!
We are running these one-day introductory courses for Black / women members only in recognition that they are overwhelmingly underrepresented in these roles.
Sessions will be delivered online and are open to any member of a TUC-affiliated union from anywhere in Britain.

What will the course help me to do?
Consider it a taster course on what the role involves, the rights you have in law, and a chance to discuss the different health and safety issues in your workplace. The day will also be a chance to raise any questions you might have about becoming a health and safety rep.
We hope the course will make you have a better understanding of what a safety rep does, and why it’s such a vital role.
*Please note, this training will not qualify you as a safety rep; in most cases unions directly elect their representatives. 

This course will take place online.

September 2022 Newsletter.

Equalities Officer report 2021 - 2022