Equal Opportunities

Equal Opportunities - Service Delivery

1.0 Statement of Intent

1.1  THCH is commited to a positive policy of equal opportunity in the  delivery of its services and in the employment of staff. THCH's organisatioinal policies and practices will reflect the needs and experiences of the community it serves. Adherence to the Equal Opportunities Policy is a condition of service for all staff, contractors, consultants and board members. THCH willl ensure that its commitment to Equal Opportunities is observed in every are of its organisation and operation of its policies and procedures. This specifically includes the conduct  of tendering procedures and selection of contractors.

1.2 THCH is unreservedly opposed to all forms of direct and indirect discrimination on the grounds of gender, ethnic or natioinal origin, colour, religious belief, marital status, disability, social background, age, sexuality and against those living with HIV or AIDS. THCH will actively work to eliminate and prevent all such forms of discrimination.

1.3 THCH recognises and acknowledges the responsiblilities placed upon it by statute and will observe those responsiblities in an open manner both as an employer and as a provider and manger of services.

1.4 THCH will provide a workforce with the knowledge, skills and commitment to serve all members of the community with which it works. THCH will identify and respond to discrimination wherever it occurs in the course of dealing with staff, contractors, consultants, Board Members and tenants and will endeavour to rectify the practices and procedures, which have led to the discrimination as quickly as possible.

1.5 THCH will monitor and review the organisations' progress in promoting Equal Opportunities, which includes all systems and procedures to ensure adherance to the policy. Monitoring systems and procedures will include access to housing, service provision, recruitment and selection, the use of contractors and consultants, and all other systems and procedures which are integral to THCH's commitment to this policy.

1.6 Through these means THCH will ensure that all services are accessible to those who need or receive them. In developing service provision, THCH will aom to ensure that not only does it deliver high quality services, but also that those services are sensitive and responsive to the many and varying needs of its service users.

2.0 Detail

Service Provision

Identifying Need

2.1 THCH will work in partnership with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the wider community in Tower Hamlets to identify the many and varied needs of service users and potential service users. THis will include clooating information about population trands in the Borough, the composition of different groups within the community, and the apecific housing needs of those groups.

2.2 This informationwill enable THCH to develop service provision to respond to those needs. THCH will consult  local community groups and residents of THCH as it develops and reveiews its services.

Access to Housing

2.3 THCH will strive to ensure that its policies and procedures for allocating accomodation and other housing services do not discriminate against any of the groups or individuals mentioned in this policy. In particular, THCH will ensure that no individual  or group is placed at a disadvantage by requirements or conditions that have a disproportionately adverse effect on that individual or group.

2.4 THCH will ensure that all application forms, leaflets and other information sources relating to the provision of accomodation and other housing services are accessable  to all members  of the community . Particular attention  will be given to the need for written translations, information in braille or on audio tape, interpreters and home visits.

Access to Services

2.5 THCH aims to ensure that as far as possible all its buildings and offices are physically accesasble to all service users and staff, including those with disabilities. THCH will make information available to service users about the accessabilty of its buildings.

2.6 The provision of informatioin in translation, braile and on audiotape will ensure that it is available to all members of the community. tHCH will ensure that such informationis written in plain language. In addition, THCH will seek to employ staff who speak the languages of the key minority groups in the community with which it works.

Service Standards

2.7 THCH will pulish informatioinabout its service provisionand performance standards, so that all service users are aware of the avilalibility of services , and of the standards they can expect in the delivery of those services.

Working with Contractors

2.8 THCH requires contractors and consultants as far as reasonably practicable to adopt Equal  Opportunities policies and practices in compliance with statutory provisions and will monitor the progress of business partners invilved in the provision of housing services. Performance against Equal Opportunities targets will be considered when new contracts are awarded.

2.9 Contractors and consultants are expected to operate to a customer are code, which will require them to treat all service users with courtesy and respect, and not to discriminate against particular individuals or groups of service users. Consideration will be given to the operation of Equal Opportunities practices by firms of contractors and consultants themselves, in the employment of thier staff.

2.10 Contractors and consultants and other service providers will be appointed and selected through a selection criteria which includes an assessment of thier response to Equal Opportunities. THCH Board will approve such criteria in advance of any such appointments taking place.