Excel EMS collects information on all of the protected characteristics when a new member of staff starts in post. It uses this information to see who makes up the workforce. It compares the information with the characteristics of those who applied for positions but were unsuccessful during the recruitment process, and with the information about the population that the trust serves.
Staff are asked to declare their personal characteristics so the trust understands the profile of the workforce. It can then review whether particular groups are or not accessing particular training courses to ensure opportunity for all and review which groups are underrepresented within the workforce.
Work can be carried out to improve representation from those groups, carrying out various activities to promote employment within the ambulance service, encourage applications and break down barriers to working for us. Evidence shows that a diverse workforce that is reflective of the local population is likely to perform better on a range of measures which can only be good for patients.
Research shows that when a particular characteristic is discriminated in the workplace it can impact on everyone who works there, including those who do not possess a particular characteristic. There is a correlation between high levels of discrimination, poor staff morale and high mortality in patients. So our emphasis is on establishing an inclusive environment for all staff.
We collect some information about race, gender, age and ethnicity when dealing with patients. It is likely to start collecting information on sexual orientation too.
Excel EMS collects personal information about patients to ensure that personal needs are met and so it is able to monitor that every individual or group of people sharing a particular characteristic is receiving excellent standard of care.
Excel EMS recognises that other groups in our communities can experience problems accessing healthcare or have poorer healthcare outcomes. These factors are also to be considered when responding to individual needs but this list is not exclusive: