1. We put equality and inclusion at the heart of everything we do

We won’t get the change we need unless we embed equality in everything we do –  as a service provider, community leader and partner and employer. This includes how we spend and prioritise resources, our services, our policy and decision-making, our public spaces and facilities, our employment processes and how we work with others.

This policy and action plan does not capture everything we are doing to address inequalities. It cuts across all of our other local strategies and plans, which deal with issues including health and wellbeing, housing, community safety, employment, climate change, social care, and planning and growth.

Our individual services, including our Public Health, Adult Social Care, Children’s Social Care, and Education services build equalities, diversity and inclusion into their service planning.

We use Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAS) and our Data Hub to make sure we understand and are considering everyone’s needs when we make decisions. 
EQIAs help us to assess whether any groups of people sharing a protected characteristic are disproportionately affected by decisions we make and what we can reduce or remove any negative impacts.

We also collect and monitor data on the protected characteristics of people using our services (which we store securely and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulations). We use this data to develop, improve, and monitor our services.

2. We recognise and value diversity

People living, working in, studying in and visiting Bexley all have different life experiences, backgrounds, and needs.

Our job is to understand what these are, deliver services that meet these needs, and actively remove barriers that limit access to services and places and limit achievement. We have a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination.

Everyone should feel safe in Bexley.

3. We work with our partners for a fairer Bexley

We deliver many of our services to Bexley residents with commissioned service providers and voluntary sector partners and NHS partners.

We have over 400 voluntary organisations and 1000 community groups in Bexley. Our work with the community and voluntary sector is underpinned by the Voluntary Sector Compact which includes a shared commitment to be inclusive, accessible and fair.

Effective partnership working is also one of the key principles underpinning our Bexley Plan. We will work alongside our providers and partners to promote equality.

We set our equalities expectations through our procurement and contract management processes. We also try to deliver social value through our procurement processes. 
 

4. Equality and inclusion is a shared responsibility

Councillors are responsible for:

• Overseeing the Policy and Action Plan
• Championing equality and inclusion

Corporate Leadership Team is responsible for:

• Delivering the Policy and Action Plan
• Visibly championing equality and inclusion
• Ensuring that the Policy and Action Plan are sufficiently resourced

Equalities and Inclusion Steering Group is responsible for:

• Providing strategic oversight of Bexley’s equalities work - internally and externally
• identifying gaps and challenges
• monitoring progress against this Policy
   

Managers are responsible for:

• Embedding equalities considerations in their service and team work plans
• Delivering actions in the Action Plan
• Creating supportive and inclusive team environments for their staff

All staff are responsible for:

• Understanding and complying with the Policy, our values, and contributing to a fair and inclusive working environment
• Treating all people with respect, fairness and open-mindedness
   

Commissioned service providers and voluntary sector partners are responsible for

• Complying with this Policy and embedding equalities and inclusions considerations into the services they provide.
   

Residents are responsible for

• Treating other residents, Council staff, and Councillors, with respect, fairness and open-mindedness – online and in person

5. We engage with and listen to residents