Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity, equity and inclusion are vital to ensuring every child feels represented by their social worker and every social worker feels valued and supported.

In The Eastern Region, we believe that every child and family deserve support from professionals who reflect the rich diversity of the communities they serve. Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) is at the heart of everything we do, ensuring that our workplace is not only welcoming and supportive for our colleagues, but also a driving force for positive change. For children and families to have a social worker who understands their cultural values and lifestyles can help to establish trust and encourage openness in conversation.

Creating Communities in Social Work

Within each of our authorities, our Employee Networks offer our colleagues a vital opportunity to share experiences, celebrate and make an impact through policy change and improving practices. They’re the chance to get our colleagues together, share ideas and make friends in a safe environment, offering a supportive space where employees can discuss any concerns related to their roles and contribute to the collective voice within the region.

Our local authorities currently have many Employee Networks led by dedicated colleagues themselves, which we encourage our colleagues to join and be active participants of.

The Black Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) Forum

The Black, Asian, and Ethnic Minority Forum was created to give BAME employees a collective voice and a space to share ideas, build connections, and offer valuable feedback on council policies and processes. By encouraging greater employee engagement and influence, the BAME network helps us to identify and address barriers to enhance recruitment and promote best practices in employment.

The Disability and Carers Network

The Disability and Carers Network (DCN) provides employees with a platform to discuss disability and carer-related needs within our authorities while raising awareness on important topics. It also serves as a valuable resource for our councils, offering insights and feedback on employment policies and practices related to disability and caring responsibilities.

In addition to amplifying employee voices, the network supports us in recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and fulfilling its obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act.

The Multi Faith and Beliefs Network

The Multi Faith and Beliefs Forum (MFAB) offers a space for colleagues to explore and discuss the diverse faiths and beliefs of our staff, whether you hold a faith or belief, or none at all. The MFAB Forum aims to positively influence council decisions, ensuring inclusivity across all faiths, beliefs, and non-beliefs.

The MFAB network provides a healthy platform to raise awareness of diverse faith and believe issues, whilst contributing to the discussions on our individual council policies.

OUTreach Network

OUTreach is our LGBT+ employee network, created to support LGBT+ staff and allies. The forum collaborates with other groups, external sites, organisations and community groups to ensure fair visibility and inclusion. It provides a space for support, idea –sharing, and creating a welcoming environment for all LGBT+ staff and their allies.

The Neurodiversity Network

Supporting colleagues who identify as neurodivergent, including those living with conditions such as Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia and more, the Neurodiversity Network is open to all colleagues, including interim and agency staff, as well as carers and allies.

It is estimated that there are 1 in 7 Neurodivergent individuals in the general population – meaning that if you are not neurodivergent yourself, you almost definitely know and or work with someone who is.

The Neurodivergent s Network endeavors to work with our councils to consult on employment policies and practices with respect to those of us living and working with Neurodivergence in an effort to give colleagues a collective voice and ensure fair conduct, and offer a safe space for open discussions and resource-sharing.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Network

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Network is a dedicated space designed to promote balance, openness, and support among colleagues. The primary purpose is to create a safe environment for staff to connect, share experiences, and advocate for mental health and wellbeing.

The network focuses to promote open and healthy discussions on a range of topics such as stress management, self-care, navigating mental health challenges and enhancing emotional intelligence.

Collaborating with management and leadership, the network advocates for policies and practices that prioritise mental wellbeing and contribute to destigmatising mental health issues.