EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY POLICY – EUROPEAN LEGAL TRAINING CENTER
1. Introduction
1.1 In order for ELTRC to achieve its mission to deliver high-quality education and training we must reach and include all who fall within our community.
1.2 All members of our community have the right to access education and training and to achieve success so that they can reach their full potential and contribute towards serving their community. This approach is a business case model that recognises that the inclusion of all potential students will bring us the business as well as social returns.
1.3 ELTRC has students from a wide variety of backgrounds who have the right to work and study free from discrimination or any other actions that may limit their potential to participate and succeed. In addition, all our students and staff should have their contributions valued and recognised.
1.4 Some groups in our society have faced and still face discrimination. Our equality and diversity policy recognises that the Institute is committed to taking an active role in removing barriers that limit the potential of our students or staff. It is a reflection of our commitment to inclusion and to eliminating discrimination through education, training and practices which will bring benefits to all our students and staff and the wider community.
2. Policy Statement
2.1 The Policy of the Institute is to provide equality of opportunity for all existing and potential students and employees.
2.2 We aim to ensure that no existing or potential student or employee receives less favourable treatment than other students or employees on the grounds of race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age or other factors such as ethnic or national origin, socio-economic background or marital status.
2.3 We aim to create an environment for work and study where students and staff feel safe, respected and listened to regardless of their backgrounds or personal attributes and where individual differences are recognised and celebrated. In addition, we are committed to taking positive action to identify and eliminate inequality and promote inclusiveness in all aspects of life.
2.4 We will ensure ELTRC meets its legal obligations under legislation to eliminate unlawful discrimination and harassment and to also actively promote equality in relation to race, disability, gender, faith, sexual orientation, and age. To meet our overall legal obligations under the general duties we will:
- Gather information on how our work affects different groups
- Consult employees, service users, trade unions, and other stakeholders, and involve disabled people.
- Assess the impact of our policies and practices.
- Using this evidence decide what should be the priorities for taking action.
- Take actions that will deliver the best outcomes in race, disability, and gender equality.
3. Purpose of the Policy
3.1 The purpose of this policy is to establish clear guidance regarding equality and diversity and to establish key principles, structures and monitoring arrangements for ELTRC. The guidance will be applicable to all employees and learners, contractors, volunteers and visitors.
4. Supporting Policies, Codes of Practice
4.1 The principles and aims of this policy complement and are supported by other policies and procedures relating to ELTRC
5. Impact Assessments
5.1 We recognize that the potential for discrimination exists in many areas of the ELTRC’s operations. As such, part of our commitment is to undertake equality impact assessments for all our policies, practices and procedures. This will evaluate if our operations have or could have a negative impact on specific groups that may discriminate against them or limit their potential to participate and achieve.
6. Key Principles
6.1 ELTRC believes that all forms of prejudice and discrimination are unacceptable. Although discrimination and prejudice can take a variety of forms against different groups and there are issues specific to different groups, our aim is to take positive action to work towards the elimination of inequality in all areas of ELTRC. To support this, below are some key principles that apply to all students and staff.
7. Equality Principles within Employment
7.1. ELTRC aims to employ a workforce that reflects, at every level, the community which it serves.
7.2 In seeking to achieve a balanced workforce at all levels, ELTRC will ensure that no employee, job applicant, or candidate for promotion will be disadvantaged or treated less favorably because of conditions or requirements that are not related to the job.
7.3 Reasonable adjustments will be made to arrangements and premises to ensure equal access for employees or potential employees who are disabled.
7.4 In order to ensure equality and fairness at all stages of employment, ELTRC will ensure that equality issues are embedded into all its recruitment and staffing policies and procedures.
8. Structures and Responsibilities
8.1 The management is responsible for ensuring that ELTRC adheres to the law in relation to equality and diversity and for promoting the Institute’s policy on equality and diversity.
8.2 The Director is responsible for giving a high-profile lead on equality and diversity issues and integrating equality objectives into the strategic plans.
8.3 It is the responsibility of all employees and learners to uphold the ELTRC’s policy on equality.
9. Contract and Service Providers
9.1 All contractors and providers of services to the Institute are responsible for ensuring that they and their staff adhere to the ELTRC’s policy on equality and diversity and to the conditions in such contracts or agreements.
10. Consultation
10.1 The Institute will aim to consult within and outside ELTRC’s with members of the under represented groups in the ELTRC/community in furtherance of this policy.
11. Monitoring
11.1 ELTRC is committed to the collection of statistics, analysis of data and presentation of data in relation to identifying areas of inequality. This information will be used to set targets, monitor progress and inform the development of appropriate strategies or changes in practice.
11.2 All data will be collected, stored and distributed with regard to data protection principles.
11.3 ELTRC undertakes to conduct comprehensive and effective monitoring of both the staff and student body and the profile of the community which the Institute serves.
12. Staff
12.1 ELTRC will collect data on its staff to monitor progress towards recruitment of a workforce which reflects, at every level, the community which it serves.
12.2 ELTRC will monitor the composition of the existing workforce and the recruitment process, with particular reference to race, ethnicity, disability and gender.
12.3 ELTRC will also categorize employees according to: grade; contract type, ie. whether full-time or part-time, permanent or temporary; length of time in post; place of work; salary. Records will also be kept of training, appraisals, promotions, regradings and discretionary pay awards.
12.4 After the employment relationship has ended, ELTRC may retain statistics and data about the composition of the workforce, including appraisal and promotion records, for the purpose of carrying out equal opportunities monitoring, and will evaluate exit interviews and turnover statistics.
13. Learners
13.1 ELTRC will monitor all learners and potential learners in order to assist in the identification of areas of inequality, the setting of targets and the measurement of our progress in achieving them.
14. Positive Action
14.1 ELTRC undertakes to follow positive action measures allowed by law to rectify disadvantages in employment or education provision revealed by monitoring.
15. Meeting Our Duties
15.1 We will seek to ensure that:
16. General
16.1 Any learner, applicant or employee may raise complaints of unfair and/or discriminatory treatment either informally or formally. The Institute will deal with all complaints fully and sensitively. In some cases this may involve initiating disciplinary action.
16.2 Complaints from learners can be raised through the Complaints Procedure.
17. Publicizing Our Policy and Progress
17.1 Our commitment to equality and diversity will be highlighted in our prospectuses and all major publications.
18. Review
18.1 This policy will be reviewed annually in accordance with legislative developments and the need for good practice.
