Equal opportunities
What is Salford City Council's position on equal opportunities?
The city council recognises that all sections of society may experience prejudice and discrimination. This can be true in service delivery and employment and we are committed to equality of opportunity both in the provision of services and in our role as a major employer.
We are determined to ensure that every job applicant, internal or external, applying for a vacant post will receive fair and equitable treatment. We seek to recruit only the best people for the job. Selection is based on merit alone using the Council's Code of Practice on Recruitment and Selection. Recruitment will be monitored on an ongoing basis at all stages from requests for application forms through to selection. This monitoring will be regularly analysed and measures adopted to address any adverse impact identified. The results of our monitoring and our assessments will be published annually and will include targets and action plans for the next year.
It is in the best interests of the council to ensure that the talents and skills available throughout the community are considered when employment opportunities arise. Therefore, within the framework of the law and within the scope of the city council's policies, we are committed, wherever practicable, to achieving and maintaining a workforce which broadly reflects the community in which we operate.
What does the policy cover?
This equal opportunities policy applies to everyone. However, we recognise that the following groups in society may particularly experience prejudice, discrimination and disadvantage:
- people from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups;
- women;
- disabled people
- lesbians, gay men, bisexual people and transgendered people
- people with an offending history
We also acknowledge that there are other people who may experience discrimination on the grounds of their age, child care/caring responsibilities, HIV status, language, marital status, religion, membership or non-membership of a trade union, or any other unjustifiable reason.
Who is responsible for equal opportunities?
Everybody in the city council is responsible for putting the Equal Opportunities Policy into practice. Managers and Supervisors have particular responsibilities and have a key role to play in ensuring equality of opportunity for all.
The Director of Customer and Support Services has a special responsibility to recommend and advise on good practice to promote equal opportunities.
All employees are made fully aware of this policy and without exception must adhere to its requirements. Any employee who feels that they have grounds for complaint in relation to bullying, discrimination, harassment, or victimisation has the right to pursue their complaint through the relevant internal policies and procedures. Members of the public can use the Council's Complaints Procedure.
How is the policy implemented?
In addition to the steps which have already been taken, e.g. objective recruitment and selection, Dignity at Work Policy, job share scheme, flexible working hours, voluntary reduced working time scheme etc, the city council intends to build upon this foundation and will strive to:
- ensure that all employees and applicants receive equal opportunity in recruitment, training and promotion
- make certain that the obligations imposed under relevant legislation and Codes of Practice are met
- utilise those statutory provisions which permit special action to be taken to improve recruitment to areas of work where certain groups are under represented
- ensure that discrimination does not exist within service provision and that Council services are widely available to the whole community
- raise awareness and provide appropriate guidance to promote diversity and an understanding of issues faced by people affected by discrimination
- ensure that policies, procedures and practices do not discriminate
- constantly monitor and review the success of the policy through statistical analysis of the composition of the workforce and of the recruitment and selection procedure to highlight any problem areas
This policy reflects the requirements of United Kingdom and European Union anti-discrimination legislation. Salford City Council is required to comply with the law and has a duty to comply with relevant Codes of Practice.
Equality & DiversitySalford City Council has pledged to promote and develop best practice in all equal opportunities issues. You may like to visit our special web pages on equality and diversity.
This page was last updated on 22 September 2005
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