Equal opportunities policy

Family Rights Group believes that all families should have access to relevant support services so that wherever possible children can remain looked after within their own family. We seek to promote the full participation by families in decisions regarding their children, and the full participation by families in the planning and evaluation of services. It is also our aim to promote the development of legislation, policy and practice which supports a genuine partnership between families and the agencies working with them.

Family Rights Group recognises that in our society groups and individuals have been - and continue to be - discriminated against on the basis of ethnicity, gender, religious and cultural beliefs, disability, sexuality and age. Family Rights Group further recognises that there is both direct discrimination and indirect discrimination.

It is Family Rights Group's intention to actively promote equality of opportunity with regard to service delivery, staffing and recruitment. It has been recognised that Family Rights Group's services and staffing did not adequately represent black and minority ethnic communities. We are addressing this by assessing all our services to consider how they can be developed so that they are relevant and accessible to all sections of the community. Where appropriate we have set up projects which focus on the provision of services to particular ethnic groups. We aim to ensure that what we learn from this work will inform all of our activities.

We also have a positive approach to diversity within the staff team. This is a shared responsibility for all staff, and alongside this we have also designated funds for black and minority ethnic staff to have outside consultation where this is appropriate.

We recognise that developing our equal opportunities policies and practice is an ongoing process, and we continue to monitor and review all aspects of our work, so as to promote the provision of accessible and appropriate services for all sections of the community.