Equality and diversity policy

Policy Statement

ARC Adoption North East is committed to encouraging diversity and eliminating discrimination in both its role as an employer and as a provider of services. ARC Adoption North East aims to create a culture that respects and values each other’s’ differences, that promotes dignity, equality and diversity, and that encourages individuals to develop and maximize their true potential. We are committed wherever practicable to achieving and maintaining a workforce that broadly reflects the local community in which we operate and similarly to recruit a range of adopters that reflect the diverse needs of the children on referral.

In striving to uphold this policy we acknowledge the Black Lives Matter movement and hope that by our actions we provide concrete evidence that we as individuals and as an agency believe that black lives do matter and wish to be proactive in addressing any imbalance we encounter.

Purpose     

The purpose of this policy is to provide equality and fairness for all in our employment and for those who receive a service from the agency and not to discriminate on the grounds of gender, marital status, race, ethnic origin, colour, nationality, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, religion or age. ARC Adoption North East opposes all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.

Principles as an employer

ARC Adoption North East’s commitment to Equality and Diversity is:

  • All employees, trustees and volunteers, whether part-time, full-time or temporary, will be treated fairly and with resp Selection for employment, promotion, training, volunteering or any other benefit will be on the basis of skills and ability
  • To create an environment in which individual differences and the contributions of all our employees, trustees and volunteers are recognised and valued
  • To create a working environment that promotes dignity and respect for all. No form of intimidation, bullying or harassment will be tolerated
  • To ensure training, development and progression opportunities are available to all.
  • To promote equality in the workplace, which it believes is good management practice and makes sound business sense
  • To regularly review all employment and volunteering practices and procedures to ensure that no job applicants, staff, trustees or volunteers are treated less favourably than others
  • To regularly review services to ensure they are accessible and appropriate to all groups within society
  • To treat breaches of the equality policy seriously and to take disciplinary action when required
  • To provide information and training to all employees, trustees and volunteers so that they are fully aware of the issues relating to Equality and Diversity and their responsibilities relating to it
  • To ensure the policy is fully supported by the Board of Trustees
  • To monitor and review the policy annually

 Principles as a service provider

ARC Adoption North East’s commitment to Equality and Diversity is:

The Agency positively acknowledges that in society there is wide diversity in child rearing practice, family values and attitudes across different racial, cultural, religious and social class groups.

We recognise children being placed for adoption must be given the opportunity to develop a positive identity and strong self-esteem.  We will seek to challenge and overcome any discriminatory practices or responses based on race, religion, culture, language, age, gender, disability, sexuality or social class.

We will always seek to support adoptive parents and we will specifically address any particular support needs when a child is placed with adoptive parents who are of different race, religious, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. We will seek to ensure adoptive families are able to access relevant resources to develop the child’s positive identity and build good self-esteem whilst understanding and retaining their own culture, religion, race and language.

We will acknowledge the disadvantage frequently experienced by children being placed for adoption. We will encourage and support adoptive parents to be able to empathise with and understand the implications for adoptive children of having experienced such backgrounds

We are committed to ensuring children with disabilities should have the same opportunity to be considered for adoption. We recognise that children with disabilities will have additional needs and their adoptive families may need additional support.

We recognise and value difference and the wide diversity of prospective adopters who may apply with us to adopt a child or children. We welcome applications from prospective adopters irrespective of race, culture, religion, social class, language, age, sexuality, gender or disability.

We are committed to ensuring that the needs, views, wishes and voice of children placed for adoption are reflected in the practices and services provided by the Agency.