EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY

POLICY STATEMENT

Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl is committed to the active pursuit of an equal opportunities policy which addresses the need and right of everyone in the Foundation to be treated with respect and dignity, in an environment in which a diversity of backgrounds and experiences is valued. It aims to ensure that all of its members, volunteers, employees and beneficiaries, whether existing or potential, receive fair and equal treatment when applying to, or working as, members of the Foundation. Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl has a continuing program of action to bring about the implementation of its policy.

THE MISSION STATEMENT COMMITS THE FOUNDATION:

• To distance prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families from the ignominy of abuse and the scourge of exclusion.

• To offer timely support and accurate information to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families.

• To help prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families to live in dignity and respect.

• To guide society in bestowing prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families with the due respect that they deserve.

• To enhance justice in society.

In supporting this Mission the Equal Opportunities Policy shall comply with all current equalities legislation, employment and service delivery and shall strive to:

1. Ensure equality of access to all potential beneficiaries.

2. Ensure that all beneficiaries enjoy equal access in terms of support services and resources.

3. Work towards a working team that reflects and complements our communities and beneficiaries.

4. Ensure that all members and beneficiaries understand the significance of equality of opportunity and know how to implement it in practice.

5. Ensure that effective systems for the monitoring and evaluation of equal opportunities are in place.

POLICY IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Foundation ensures equality of access to all potential beneficiaries by:

1.1 Ensuring that all service information is accurate, clear and is free from explicit or implicit discrimination.

1.2 Providing service availability criteria and procedures which are free from any form of discriminatory practice.

1.3 Providing impartial and accurate guidance for all applicant beneficiaries to ensure their placement in appropriate services which offer success and progression.

1.4 Locating services in rooms which are accessible for beneficiaries who have a disability where it is reasonable to do so.

1.5 Ensuring that all service information is distributed in a format that is easily understood by all prospective beneficiaries.

1.6 Providing feedback on which selection criteria the beneficiary has not met.

2. The Foundation ensures that all beneficiaries enjoy equal access in terms of support services and resources by:

2.1 Ensuring that the services meets and reflects the diversity of beneficiaries.

2.2 Ensuring that all service providers identify opportunities in all areas in which they work to adopt the best approach to the opposition of racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia and all forms of discrimination in terms of content, styles, organisation and management.

2.3 Ensuring that all service material is free from explicit or implicit discrimination and include positive images of disadvantaged groups.

2.4 Ensuring that all beneficiaries and volunteers have equal access to the full range of support services within the foundation.

2.5 Ensuring that all assessment strategies and materials are fair and reliable.

3. The Foundation works towards a working team that reflects and complements our communities and beneficiaries by:

3.1 Having a recruitment policy that positively supports equality of opportunity.

3.2 Ensuring that all recruitment and selection panels have training and guidance on their responsibilities under this deed.

3.3 Assisting in the establishment of support networks for under-represented groups where this could further the aims of the foundation.

4. The Foundation ensures that all volunteers and beneficiaries understand the significance of equality of opportunity and know how to implement it in their practice by:

4.1 Ensuring that all newly admitted volunteers are given instruction within the first term of service and are aware of how to address any breach in the Policy.

4.2 Ensuring that all beneficiaries are given instruction and are aware of how to address any breach in the Policy.

4.3 Ensuring that all service providers and beneficiaries accept the principle that there is equality of opportunity for everyone in all aspects of the Foundation.

5. The Foundation ensures that effective systems for the monitoring and evaluation of equal opportunities practices are in place by:

5.1 Setting and monitoring Equal Opportunities performance indicators as part of the Foundation’s commitment to Quality Assurance.

5.2 Monitoring data on beneficiary applications to the Foundation’s services in terms of ethnicity, gender and disability with a view to comparing trends and highlighting and improving any imbalances identified.

5.3 Monitoring the progression of beneficiaries in terms of ethnicity, gender and disability, including progression within the foundation, progression into other service institutions and, where possible, progression to employment.

5.4 Monitoring service provider recruitment and selection in terms of ethnicity, gender and disability.

5.5 Monitoring the take up of service provider training and development opportunities.

5.6 Holding regular meetings of the Foundation’s Executive Committee at which views of service providers and beneficiaries are represented and at which policies and practices are regularly examined and reviewed to ensure there is no inadvertent discrimination taking place.