Adoption West is committed to encouraging diversity and eliminating discrimination in both its role as an employer and as a provider of services. Adoption West aims to create a culture that respects and values each other’s differences, that promotes dignity, equality, and diversity, and which encourages individuals to develop and maximize their true potential.
Adoption West believes in equality of opportunity throughout its service provision which includes the preparation and assessment of prospective adopters, family finding and matching for children, the assessment and support to families and children following the adoption order and our support to birth families and adopted adults.
Adoption West is committed to developing policies, practices and procedures that promote equality and diversity and anti-discriminatory practices.
Adoption West appreciate and accept that the region is diverse and that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect and afforded equality of access to opportunities that are available within Adoption West. By valuing diversity this means Adoption West recognises and embraces that everyone has unique identities which will help to ensure that the organisation can provide the best services possible for children and families. These can include, but are not limited to race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage or civil partnership or gender reassignment.
Adoption West are committed wherever practicable to achieving and maintaining a workforce that broadly reflects the local communities in which we operate, who represent diverse backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints. Similarly, we are committed to recruiting a range of adopters that reflect the diverse needs of the children on referral.
In striving to uphold this policy Adoption West acknowledges the Black Lives Matter (anti-racism statement) movement and that our actions will provide evidence that we as individuals and as an agency wish to be proactive in addressing any imbalance we encounter.
No service user will receive less favourable treatment or be disadvantaged by policies, procedures, conditions, or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.
Relevant legislation
- The Equality Act 2010. This policy and procedure reflects the first parts of the implementation of the Equality Act in October 2010 and April 2011. A number of provisions from the Act are still subject to consideration by the Government Equalities Office (GEO)
- Adoption West will also have due regard to the relevant codes of employment practice issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
- Human Rights Act 1998
