Following the terrible incident that recently took place in Southport, and the subsequent riots incited by far-right groups in the UK, it’s more apparent than ever that inclusion must be at the forefront for organisations like ours. The recent unrest caused concern for team members and people we support on many different levels. It highlighted the importance of treating ourselves and each other with the respect, kindness and understanding that we all deserve.
At Achieve together, we wholeheartedly believe that inclusivity and a diverse workforce that reflects the people we support and the communities we work within enables us to provide the best support. As the world we live in continues to evolve, we want to evolve alongside it – keeping our team members and people we support at the forefront of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy.
Open dialogue
It is vital that our team members feel confident to speak up and have their voices heard. With Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, continuous education is key, and we aim to foster a learning culture, where every team member is invited to join the conversation and have the opportunity to listen and be listened to. Our goal is to create and maintain an open dialogue where teams can share what diversity means to them, and support others to speak up and join the discussion.
Our ED&I Group works hard behind the scenes, in collaboration with people we support, to raise awareness and influence positive change for our team members. Whether you’re a member of the Achieve together team, or a person we support, we recognise and celebrate everyone’s authentic self. One of our core values, #ValuingEveryone, highlights the need for equality amongst all those that work for and are supported by Achieve together.
Celebrating individuality
Our #ThisIsMe monthly spotlights give team members a voice. This feature allows them to celebrate their individuality and share their experiences with the rest of our workforce. We believe that representation matters, and these spotlights give team members the opportunity to identify and connect with their colleagues.
Additionally, we have worked to improve our ED&I reporting, while raising awareness of why this data is important. Having this data will inform solutions to support underrepresented groups, ensure we are able to support everyone to achieve their potential, and encourage representation at all levels by promoting equity.
Community pages on our AchieveApp (intranet) are another initiative. They offer a designated safe space to share resources and encourage open conversation amongst our teams. Currently, these groups represent our LGBTQ+ team members and our women in care community, with future plans to create spaces for many more communities within our workforce.
We do, however, have more to do – we acknowledge that, as the world around us changes, we must continue to change with it, staying informed and ensuring our team members can authentically be themselves to provide the best care for the people we support. We will always strive to make Achieve together a place where everyone feels they belong.
