Lyn Simpson is one of a number of health care leaders making a collective promise to BAME colleagues who make up such an important part of the NHS workforce.
The promise aims to ensure fairness for all and embedding a culture where people can thrive no matter what their race, background or personal experience.
Lyn is committed to ensuring that no one person’s experience is influenced by prejudice - either as a staff member or patient accessing health and care services.
The promise includes projects to increase diversity in the workforce, introducing new training for all staff to raise awareness of BAME issues, dedicated BAME leadership programmes, a zero tolerance for bullying and harassment as well as other BAME community and staff engagement initiatives.
Lyn said:
“Signing up to the collective promise to our Black, Asian, & Minority Ethnic (BAME) colleagues and communities is an important step forward in ensuring fairness and inclusivity for everyone in line with our Trust values of kindness, ambition, respect and collaboration.
“We have been taking some action in the Trust with three people recently completing a nursing leadership programme, the promise will help us continue and accelerate this work.
“Over the next two years the Trust will be working to build on BAME leadership and progression opportunities including inclusive leadership and reviewing of recruitment elements with the input from its staff to help structure these offers to best suit our staff and organisation to reflect the communities we serve.”
A staff network is being set up at NCIC to help shape the future of our BAME staff. There will also be BAME leadership programmes, reverse mentoring and social mentoring as well as trained champions supporting overseas staff.
Listening events will also be held with the Freedom to Speak Up Guardians and the EDI lead.