AHP Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Supporting equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging across the AHP workforce
The AHP Anti Racism Council (ARC) sits within our AHP Faculty and is led collaboratively across organisations in Coventry and Warwickshire. The council brings together AHPs to address inequalities within the workforce and to promote inclusive, fair and supportive working environments for all.
Our council aims to reduce inequality at all levels of the AHP workforce. We are committed to improving diversity by actively promoting inclusive practices and ensuring that all staff feel valued, respected and able to thrive.
ARC is a collaborative forum dedicated to advancing the AHP Deliver strategy. It supports staff from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds to develop, lead and shape the future of allied health professions. This includes promoting equity, improving representation and strengthening a genuine sense of belonging across the NHS and wider system.
We recognise that there is currently a lack of ethnic diversity within senior leadership roles across the AHP workforce. ARC works in partnership with the AHP Faculty and system leaders to support increased representation, remove barriers to progression and create more inclusive leadership pathways.
Further system wide initiatives to support ethnic diversity and inclusion are being explored and will be developed with ARC members and partners.
? Add some workforce data on EDI / stats/ areas of workforce focus around increasing ethnic diversity at senior leadership levels, diversifying across predominantly white female professions such as SLT & OT, share which professions we see most ethnic diversity e.g. DRad
What we do
The ARC focuses on both personal and organisational development to support individuals and drive system change.
Personal development
- Recognising individual and group development needs and providing opportunities to support growth
- Supporting the development of personal impact and influence
- Providing access to mentoring
- Supporting members to develop skills to mentor others
- Supporting clear action planning to achieve individual and professional goals
- Improving understanding of leadership within an AHP and NHS context
- Supporting career mapping and progression
- Developing skills such as chairing meetings and contributing effectively within professional settings
Organisational development
- Providing insight into AHP workforce challenges and identifying barriers to progression
- Developing understanding of how racism impacts the workforce and how this can be measured
- Supporting and influencing the induction and experience of international recruits
- Offering constructive and compassionate challenge to influence change across organisations
Our objectives
- Increased confidence to recognise and challenge racism
- Stronger links with EDIB leads across organisations
- Greater understanding of NHS structures and AHP roles
- Development of a shared glossary of language used in corporate and leadership settings
- Creation of a talent pool to support career progression and leadership development
- Development of a mentoring register to support the wider AHP workforce
- Improved representation of AHPs from diverse ethnic backgrounds at senior levels
Get involved
We welcome AHPs from all backgrounds and career stages who are interested in supporting this work.
To become a member of the Anti Racism Council, please contact: Sushmita.chana@uhcw.nhs.uk
Real life experience
ARC member case study
Useful information
NHS Staff Survey ? which one / local / national
Freedom to Speak Up Guardians
Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) data
Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) data
Office for National Statistics population census data
Core20PLUS5
High Impact Action Plan for EDIB
ARC poster – to be added