NHS Trust in Bedford launches Anti-Racism Plan and Charter
The NHS Trust providing mental health services in Bedford has published a plan setting out how it will work with staff and people who use its services to tackle racism.
East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT), which provides services across the town including at Bedford Health Village, is proud to launch its Anti-Racism Plan and Charter.
ELFT’s purpose is to improve the quality of life for the people and communities it serves. Racism and racial inequality can affect people’s health, their experiences of care, their working lives and their sense of safety and belonging. Tackling racial inequality is therefore central to the kind of organisation we want to be.
The Anti-Racism Plan sets out a commitment to becoming an actively anti-racist organisation. It brings together the work taking place across services, workforce, communities, leadership, policies and decision-making, with clear actions and accountability for change.
The plan recognises that racism is experienced in different ways. It includes a continued focus on tackling anti-Black racism, alongside our commitment to addressing antisemitism, anti-Muslim hostility and other forms of racism and racial discrimination.
It also builds on important work already underway across ELFT. This includes the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES), which helps us understand and address racial inequalities in the experiences of our workforce, and the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF), which supports us to identify and address inequalities in access, experience and outcomes for our service users and carers.
The plan has been shaped by what the Trust has heard from staff, service users, carers and communities, alongside what data tells us about where inequalities continue to exist.
Tanya Carter, Chief People Officer, said: "Our Anti-Racism Plan is about turning our commitment into action. We know that tackling racism requires honesty, accountability and partnership with our staff, service users, carers and communities. This plan sets out how we will work together to create fairer experiences and better outcomes for everyone who comes into contact with our services."
Claire McKenna, Chief Nurse and Lead for Peer Support and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), said: "We know that racism has a real impact on people's health, wellbeing and experience of care. As clinicians, we see every day the importance of creating environments where people feel respected, heard and valued. Our Anti-Racism Plan and Charter is an important step in strengthening our commitment to equity, inclusion and culturally responsive care. By listening to the experiences of our staff, service users, carers and communities, and by holding ourselves accountable for change, we can help ensure better experiences and outcomes for everyone."
The Trust is inviting staff, service users, carers and community members to visit its Anti-Racism webpage, where they can read more about the approach being taken and download the full Anti-Racism Plan.
Visit the Anti-Racism webpage and download the Plan: