NI Health and Social Care is an Equal Opportunities Employer and we welcome and value diversity – we are committed to creating a truly inclusive workplace representative of the communities we serve.

We see diversity in the workplace as an asset, for both our organisation as a public health and social care provider, and for our colleagues. We recognise that there is strength in difference.

We aim to have an inclusive workplace in which diversity is truly valued, where we develop colleagues to enable them to make a full contribution to meeting our objectives in improving the lives and health outcomes of our patients, service users and their families.

We are committed to ensuring that every individual is valued, respected and accepted for who they truly are. It is important for us to celebrate the values, contributions, and diversity of all our staff.

We are proud of our culturally diverse and inclusive workforce which is one of our greatest strengths.

Our key achievements in delivering and implementing our equality, diversity & inclusion agenda:

• Regional HSC Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
• Regional HSC Policy on Flexible Working
• Establishment of a Regional Employment Equality Network comprised of senior colleagues as designated, committed diversity champions for each of our respective HSC organisations.
• Co-development of a regional HSC Development Programme for ethnically diverse staff delivered by HSC Leadership Centre
• Development of an annual HSCNI Equality Action Plan and Disability Action Plan which identifies key activities to be undertaken to improve diversity and inclusion within our organisations across four key themes of gender, disability, LGBTQ+, race and ethnicity as well as cross cutting priorities.
• Development of a Regional HSC LGBTQ+ staff network
• Participation in 2023 Belfast Pride
• We work in partnership with the Equality Commission for NI, further education colleges and disability organisations to promote and increase participation in initiatives that support the employment of disabled people including disability employment schemes.
• A range of employability initiatives that create and enable employment opportunities for young people leaving care
• Delivered a bespoke and comprehensive regional recruitment programme of internationally educated medical and nursing staff.
• Implemented a regionally agreed Disability Toolkit and a Disability Etiquette Toolkit to support applicants, employees and employers within HSC