Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: October 29, 2024

Purpose: To share and inform people of the agreed joint Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy and approach, across Adults, Childrens and Health.

Content: The Cabinet considered a joint report of the Director of Integrated Care and Health and (Director of Adult Social Services (DASS), the Chief Officer (One Rochdale Health and Care) and the Director of Children’s Services which sought approval of the Equality, Diversity ad Inclusion (EDI) Strategy for Adult Social Care, Children and Health workforce. The report also sought approval of the delivery plan linked to the strategy.   The Director of Integrated Care and Heath and DASS was in attendance to present the report and to address the questions and the comments of the Cabinet Members.   The Senior Officer informed that both the strategy and delivery plan had been developed in partnership with stakeholders, partners and local communities. The Council and its partners were committed to continually working collaboratively to take this work forward and deliver positives outcomes for the residents of the Borough. The Council and its partners had signed up to the Greater Manchester Children’s and Adults workforce equality standards; they acknowledged their responsibility to work together to achieve shared goals.   Resolved that the Joint Adult Social Care, Children’s and Health Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy, the delivery plan and the action plan be agreed to progress and officially promote these documents as final and complete and to continue to engage all key stakeholders in their delivery to achieve improved outcomes for people, by placing EDI at the heart of all the Council and its partners do.   Reason for decision: To deliver the Council’s commitments and obligations in context with the Equality Act (2010) and the Public Sector Duty.   To enable the joint strategic vision and delivery plan to achieve the Council’s ambition that Rochdale (HMR) Social Care and Health is known as teams that remove barriers to create real, equitable and lasting opportunities for everyone to thrive.   To build on the progress made so far to effectively ensure equality, diversity and inclusion becomes an integral part of the Council’s culture and values across the way health and social care operates, placing EDI at the heart of all the Council and its partners do.   The five key words, Include, Inspire, Integrate, Inform and Impact will underpin everything the Council and its partners do, allowing to achieve the highest standards in service delivery, decision making and employment practice.   The Council and its partners are also committed and signed up to the Greater Manchester Children’s and Adults workforce equality standards which recognises we all hold responsibility to ensure successful delivery of the agreed values and standards.   Alternatives considered and rejected: Not to approve these documents would mean that the Council and its partners would not have clear guiding principles and commitments to monitor and measure improvements made, to identify the successes achieved and collaboratively and transparently recognise and show areas that still require further development.