Our responsibilities
Equality, inclusion and the implementation of this policy, is the responsibility of all elected members, employees and everyone who represents North Tyneside Council or delivers services on its behalf (including our Strategic Partners – Equans and Capita). More specifically:
Everyone who works with or for North Tyneside Council
We all have a personal responsibility to:
- ensure our equality training and awareness is up to date
- treat everyone we encounter (including colleagues and customers) with dignity and respect
- raise awareness of, and deliver, equality and inclusion in the workplace and in serving local communities
- behave in a way that supports this policy and is compliant with relevant legislation and codes of practice
- report, and if you consider it safe to do so, challenge any discriminatory behaviour or practices you encounter in the course of your work.
(Further information and support for colleagues can be found in the EDI Hub in Learning Pool).
As Elected Members
Elected members have a responsibility to:
- lead the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda of North Tyneside Council
- represent and provide leadership for all groups and communities across North Tyneside
- provide a scrutiny role
- demonstrate ‘due regard’ to the equality implications of the decisions they make.
As Leaders and Managers
In addition to their individual responsibilities, leaders and managers are also responsible for ensuring the implementation of this policy in their directorates via their directorate planning process. This includes ensuring:
- the identification and elimination of discriminatory practices
- equality objectives and improvement actions identified in the Annual Equality and Diversity Review are included in directorate plans and progress is monitored to achieve timely delivery
- processes are in place to systematically collect and report equality, diversity and inclusion data and outcomes
- effective equality impact assessment of decisions, policies, plans, practices and procedures is undertaken
- service delivery demonstrates due regard to the needs of people with protected characteristics
- employees are fully aware of their individual equality and inclusion responsibilities, and those of the organisation, under the Equality Act 2010.
As Trades Unions
Unions have a responsibility to:
- represent the views and concerns of their members on equality, diversity and inclusion issues
- support members to challenge and address any incidents of discrimination within workforce membership
- support the continuous improvement of equality, diversity and inclusion policy and practice within the Authority.
Strategic Partners
Our Strategic Partners have a responsibility to:
- ensure compliance with the Equality Act 2010 and delivery of the Public Sector Equality Duty
- demonstrate ‘due regard’ to the equality, diversity and inclusion implications of the decisions they make
- support North Tyneside Council to achieve the purpose of this policy.
Partnership Boards
The Partnership Boards at which North Tyneside Council is represented are expected to:
- ensure compliance with the Equality Act 2010
- demonstrate ‘due regard’ to the equality, diversity and inclusion implications of the decisions they make
- support North Tyneside Council to achieve the purpose of this policy.
Volunteers and other partners
Volunteers and other partners (defined as those who work alongside the Authority but are not commissioned) are expected to:
- ensure compliance with the Equality Act 2010
- support North Tyneside Council to achieve the purpose of this policy.