Our commitment to race equality and diversity

Race equality and diversity is about fair and equal treatment for all people regardless of their race, colour or creed. It also means recognising cultural and ethnic differences so that people from all ethnic groups are not subjected to racial prejudice or discrimination.

Earlier this year we pledged to tackle race equality and diversity issues in all parts of our business.

The Board supports and accepts the Race and Housing Inquiry’s Challenge Report, which says why housing associations should promote race equality and how they can do this. This Inquiry was set up to examine housing and race issues after the report of the Inquiry into the murder of the teenager Stephen Lawrence.

We endorse the Race Equality & Code of Practice for housing associations which says how associations can make sure that the race equality is put forward and how race discrimination should be tackled in the workplace and the community.

We now have a strategy with an action plan, which sets out a number of tasks, including training our staff, to make sure that we work towards the aims we have set.

Implementation

We will implement this policy through specific measures. These include achievement of the tasks and targets set out in our Equality and Diversity Action Plan 2003-2005. In addition to the items set out in the plan we will do the following:

Housing Management

• We will allocate and let homes to applicants fairly and develop and maintain high quality services for all residents. We will monitor the ethnic origin, gender and disability of everyone we house or transfer.
• We will respect every resident’s right to live in peace and safety, and we will deal vigorously with anti-social behaviour and harassment in accordance with the harassment and racist incident procedure. We will offer victims advice and support and where there is evidence of serious or persistent harassment we will take appropriate legal action.
• We will take into account good practice in equality and diversity when we update our housing policies and procedures including our allocation policy.

Development and maintenance

• Our homes are designed to provide a good quality living environment. Where residents’ needs change over time we will take all reasonable steps to enable their homes to be adapted to meet their changing needs, such as the installation of stair lifts. Whenever possible, new homes will be designed to take into account both the short and long term needs of the community.
• All contractors and consultants on the approved list will be required to provide us with information about their equal opportunities policies and procedures. Should they not have one or where it does not include those matters referred to in this policy, they will be required to comply with the requirements of our Equality And Diversity Policy. Any contractors/consultants who refuse to do so will be removed from the approved list.

Communication

• We will develop good two-way communication between Greenoak and residents to ensure that we provide high quality services that meet residents' needs. To achieve this we will, when necessary, access translation services, or use media such as Braille, audio tape or typetalk. We will also, when necessary ensure the provision of appropriate services and adapt our procedures to meet residents’ cultural or other individual needs.

Recruitment, employment and training

• We will provide training and refresher training for board members and staff in equal opportunities and diversity matters.
• We will advertise all posts for new employees and board members and will take steps to encourage and support people from all sections of the community to apply for advertised posts. Staff involved in recruitment and selection will be trained to take a consistent approach with all candidates.
• No employee, board member, board applicant or job applicant will be disadvantaged by unnecessary conditions, qualifications or requirements. We will monitor the ethnic origin, gender and disability of applicants and of the workforce. Equality and diversity awareness training will be included in the induction programme for new staff and regular refresher training will be provided for existing employees. We will promote appropriate training and career development for all staff.
• We will take action to enable disadvantaged groups and individuals to apply for jobs, homes and work contracts.
• We will monitor recruitment and employment practices to ensure that applicants are considered solely on the basis of merit and ability. We will provide job descriptions and person specifications for all posts. We will carry out regular reviews of staff and board members’ performance.
• We will apply our commitment to equality and diversity when deciding who will serve on our board of members.
• We will take into account good practice in equality and diversity (including flexible working) when we update our employment policies and procedures and provide staff with guidance in equality and diversity matters where necessary.
• We will record and monitor the ethnic origin, gender and disability of all applicants for a home or a job with Greenoak.
• We will take appropriate action against anyone representing Greenoak who does not comply with the requirements of this policy.
• We will make sure everyone we work with and everyone who works for us knows about our policy and works to it. When we work with other people who have their own policies we will make sure they match ours.