Observing & Celebrating Events Policy BHSCT

Overview

Please find attached below our draft, Observing & Celebrating Events Policy. Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, in accordance with our Section 75 statutory duties, are committed to mainstreaming equality. The Trust has subjected this policy to an equality screening (please see attached below). Public consultation on our policy plays a vital role in our ability to assess the views of those who may be affected by any Trust policy decisions which will in turn enable the Trust to raise awareness of issues and problems regarding the potential impact of the policy.

The purpose of our Observing & Celebrating Events Policy is twofold:

I.     To celebrate diversity in accordance with the regional HSC values by ensuring our services and facilities provide shared, safe spaces and are considered inclusive, welcoming and accessible to everyone.

II.    To provide all staff their rights and collective responsibility to create and sustain a safe, harmonious working environment, with clear guidance on how to celebrate an event or display marks of identity in accordance with best practice and relevant employment legislation.

In addition to our plans to publicly consult on this policy for a period of 12 weeks, we have also shared for internal consultation with our Trade Union colleagues, BHSCT Disability Steering Group and BHSCT Ethnic Minorities Steering group.

The consultation period will end Tuesday 25 October 2022. After consultation and consideration of any amendments, we will present this policy to the Trust Policy Committee.

We aim to make this engagement as inclusive as possible so if you require the questionnaire in alternative formats or in a language other than English please contact Lesley Jamieson on Lesley.Jamieson@belfasttrust.hscni.net.