Waterford Leader Partnership

The Equal Status Acts 2000 and 2004 prohibit discrimination in the provision of goods & services, accommodation and in educational establishments.  They are also designed to Promote Equality, prohibit Harassment, Sexual Harassment & Victimisation and require reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities.

This Equal Status Policy is a statement of organisational commitment to Equality, Diversity and non Discrimination for customers and service users from across the nine grounds covered by the legislation.

We have adopted and implemented this policy after consultation about its content with the staff as well as Organisations and groups associated with the company.

This Policy should be read and is operated in conjunction with the organisation’s Equal Opportunities Policy, Policies on Bullying, Harassment & Sexual Harassment (in relation to staff and customers) and Health & Safety Policies.

Objectives

The purpose of this policy is to:

Commitment

We endeavour to provide an excellent service and to do this and to do this the expertise of all our staff is crucial.  We seek to equip all our staff with the knowledge and expertise to deal confidentially with the issues involved and to be professional in dealing with customers.  We desire to have a well motivated workforce which takes pride in our work.This Organisation seeks to ensure that the service provided is:

This Organisation will not tolerate Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Harassment or Victimisation by employees and non Employees, such as other customers and business contacts.

Such behaviours will lead to disciplinary action (in the case of employees) and to other sanctions such as suspension of contracts or exclusion from the premises (in the case of non employees).

Any contract with a service provider for Waterford Leader Partnership Ltd. will be on the basis that discrimination against customers and staff will constitute a repudiation of the contract and may be a ground for Waterford Leader Partnership Ltd. to terminate the contract.

We strive to realise benefits for all groups across the nine grounds using positive action measures to target specific groups and by investing in accommodating Diversity as appropriate

Implementation

This Organisation seeks to ensure that the needs, identities, experiences and situations of customers from the groups covered by the equality legislation are taken into account in Business Planning, Service Design, and Corporate Development Strategies.

Information, Promotional and other materials produced by and for the Organisation will be provided in a relevant and accessible manner from across the nine grounds.

Advertising and Marketing materials will communicate the commitment of the Organisation to Equality for all customers and will reflect and affirm the diversity of the customer base of the organisation.     In its direct contact with customers the Organisation seeks to ensure that:

The Organisation seeks to anticipate the requirements of customers from across the nine grounds covered by the Equal Status Acts and to ensure that these customers are not excluded by Physical, System, Attitudinal or Communication barriers.

Responsibility

Senior management is responsible for implementing this policy.  Line managers and others in positions of authority should seek to ensure that customers do not experience discrimination, that diversity is accommodated and that equality is promoted for customers.

Management should:

Monitor and follow up the situation after a complaint is made so that discrimination does not recur.

All staff must cooperate with the development and implementation of all policies, procedures and practices.

Non employees such as staff of companies conducting business with the organisation and business contacts must also comply with all relevant policies, procedures and practices.

A senior member of staff is accorded a responsibility for promoting the effective implementation of this policy.

 Complaints

A customer services officer will maintain an accessible, easy to use system for dealing with any complaints from customers under this policy.  The system will be fair and sensitive and as confidential as possible.  It will involve a fair transparent investigation of all complaints and time scales within which a complaint will receive a response.

Reasonable Accommodation for people with Disabilities

Waterford Leader Partnership Ltd. has an obligation to reasonably accommodate people with disabilities by providing special treatment or facilities so that it is not impossible or unduly difficult for the customer to avail of the service.

We seek to ensure that staff do not use inappropriate or disrespectful language, speak too quickly or unclearly or provide information only in small print. 

We also seek to ensure that staff does not display patronising attitudes and make assumptions about peoples abilities or inabilities. 

We further endeavour to ensure that the physical environment is accessible and will seek to avoid barriers such as narrow doorways, steep staircases, cluttered layout, poor lighting and signage.  Services will be provided using flexible systems, well briefed staff and straightforward procedures.

We will endeavour to ensure a physical environment that is welcoming to all using art and posters on walls to reflect this commitment.

Overall the Organisation seeks to anticipate the requirements of customers with disabilities (including those with physical, intellectual and sensory disabilities and mental health issues) and to ensure that customers with disabilities are not excluded by physical, systemic, attitudinal or communication barriers.

Monitoring and Review

The Organisation seeks feedback on this policy and its implementation from staff and customers. We encourage the participation of customers from across the nine grounds and organisations representing groups that experience inequality in feedback systems.  Feedback systems include comment cards and a suggestion box. The operation of this policy will be evaluated on a regular basis and updated on foot of this evaluation.