Trust aiming to promote inclusion and diversity
free from discrimination.
Trust staff attending the conference will also have the opportunity to promote the inclusion message by signing a pledge and wearing a Rainbow Badge - an initiative launched at the Trust in September last year. The badge is a visual symbol identifying the wearer as someone with whom people can feel comfortable talking.
It shows that healthcare staff are there to offer open, non-judgmental and inclusive care for all, regardless of how people define themselves.
Inclusion, and equality and diversity, will be the themes for the discussions on the day.
The conference, which will be held at Sunderland Royal Hospital on February 28, will be opened by South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust’s chief executive Ken Bremner.
Among the speakers will be Mohamed Jogi, NHS Employers’ national programme manager, diversity and inclusion, and Lyn Cole, the Trust’s non-executive director and board equality champion.
A representative from Northumbria Police will also talk about hate crime.
The Trust’s executive medical director, Dr Shaz Wahid, its director of human resources and organisational development Kath Griffin and consultant in public health Ryan Swiers will also be there.
Kath Griffin said: “Our Trust recognises that providing equality of opportunity, valuing diversity and promoting a culture of inclusion are vital to our success and we encourage all staff to celebrate diversity and acknowledge the positive impact it brings to the workplace.
“We are working together with partner health and social care organisations from across the region to create a system-wide approach to embedding equality and inclusivity, whilst working to eliminate discrimination.”