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Essex Local Authorities

Inspiring Diversity & Valuing Others

A partnership project of local authorities in Essex, funded by Building Capacity East, has just completed training over 3000 staff in diversity awareness.

This Inspiring Diversity project was an innovative programme of high impact events joining interactive theatre and training. The project created a catalyst for change, raising awareness and supporting positive approaches to embracing diversity across the local authorities in Essex. The project was formed in early 2007 and the training programme completed in February 2008 with more events planned for the year ahead.

To ensure the programme reflected the views, experiences and opinions of people living in Essex, a series of consultative sessions were run in August 2007. Key practioners, specialists and a cross section of staff were joined by a team of professional actors and facilitators who helped them explore a range of issues and personal perceptions.

A successful launch event was held at Cressing Temple with council members, voluntary groups and employees. Training sessions were then rolled out across Essex in various locations from 6 September 2007 - February 2008.

The project was created in response to the activity and expansion happening in the county over the next 15 -20 years. The two main themes at the core of this work concentrate on raising diversity awareness and the recruitment of a diverse workforce.

Marion Lee, project lead for the Essex Strategic commented, "We need to make efforts to ensure everyone is included, for example people with disabilities, young people, minority ethnic groups, travellers and people in remote rural locations. That all our services are delivered appropriately, easy to reach, welcoming and available to all sections of society. This Inspiring Diversity programme is part of our organisations' preparation to meet the challenges of today, and tomorrow."

The aim was to create a celebratory experience and a ground breaking project that would have a sustaining effect on behaviour, attitudes and performance, and bring memorable and lasting results and we are delighted to say the feedback from the training sessions has been positive and enthusiastic…

• 89% strongly agreed or agreed that the training helped them think about their own language and behaviour

• 86% strongly agreed or agreed that the training helped them understand and support diversity issues

• 82% strongly agreed or agreed that the training helped them commit to positive actions to embrace diversity

• 93% would recommend the training to a colleague

Participants comments

• "The training will help in my every day approach to working relationships and service users."
• "I thought the whole workshop was excellent - very innovative and great fun. It was very thought provoking and enjoyable."
• "I thought the course was excellent and very well presented in an informal setting which I think everyone gained from."
• "I would definitely recommend it to anyone."
• "I have already suggested to our management team, that I think the entire service would benefit from the event, and we should encourage all officers to attend."

HMPS Diversity Training

Covering The Country

 

A fundamental area of The Prison Service's People Strategy, is to become an employer of choice where staff enjoy being at work in an environment free from harassment and where the dignity of others is respected. Employing around 50,000 staff in over 130 prison establishments and several headquarters buildings spread throughout England and Wales it was decided that an interactive DVD included as part of a 'Diversity Training Tool Kit' would be the best way to give a consistent message to all Prison staff.

The Garnett Foundation was approached on the strength of their successful delivery of similar programmes for The Royal Air Force, Arriva plc, NHS and police service.

Following research we have written a hard hitting script and filming is about to take place, with a Training the Trainer programme starting this summer. Care was taken to develop a programme that ensured Prison facilitators could easily transfer all the messages and encourage effective results as they roll out the programme to all prison staff.

From this commitment the main areas we will address are raising awareness around diversity issues, tackle inappropriate behaviour and in particular look at what professional conduct looks like within the work environment.

We are looking forward to seeing the results of this programme and will be reporting back shortly…

Metropolitan Police & Transport for London

Challenging Diversity

The Metropolitan Police and Transport for London have joined forces, to bring together a diverse audience for a series of one day training events.

The pace of change is always a challenge for any business and the Transport Operational Command Unit of the Metropolitan Police (TOCU) is no different. With change comes the importance of ensure that the unit is fit for the future, not only in terms of how it delivers its day to day business but also how individuals interact with colleagues and the public.

The 2012 Olympic & Para-Olympic Games will greatly impact on the role of TOCU in keeping London safe and will test the unit's resilience as well as its approach to diversity.

In light of these challenges, and to equip people with a greater self awareness and knowledge of diversity, every member of staff from TOCU received training to help build positive working relationships and improve communication.

"I want us all to celebrate everyone's outstanding contribution for everything that we do in TOCU, and to remember the excellent work that is delivered day after day supporting Working Together for a Safer London," said Joe Royle, Chief Superintendent for the Unit.