We’ve published our annual equality information report, called ‘Equality counts’, which sets out how we have promoted equality and tackled inequality both for people who use health and social care services and for our staff.
What did we achieve?
Our achievements include:
- embedding equality and human rights into the new model of regulation, and testing this, in inspections of NHS acute hospitals.
- making information more accessible than ever before, such as by publishing inspection reports in different formats (including easy to read, audio and language translations) and by working with partnership organisations to consult on alternative versions.
- carrying out themed inspections to tackle specific equality issues, including on dignity and nutrition for older people – and we’ve also began work on investigating the transition arrangements for young people with complex health needs from children’s to adults’ services.
- setting an objective for all of our inspectors to look at equality in their work and supporting them through a network of equality leads and a peer-learning initiative about equality and human rights.
- continuing to take action where providers did not meet standards that support equality and human rights - of the 17,297 inspections carried out against this standard last financial year, over 94 per cent of services were found to be meeting this standard.
- engaging with key partners to improve equality in health and social care, including people who use services and the Department of Health, NHS England, the Equality and Human Rights Commission and organisations in the voluntary, community and provider sectors.
- recruiting and training a group of staff to act as Dignity at Work Advisors to help support other staff around bullying and harassment.
Promoting equality and diversity
David Behan, Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission said: “Promoting equality and diversity is a means to an end and not an end in itself. The end is good quality care for all. Respecting diversity and promoting equality will ensure people receive good quality care.
“Our new regulatory approach will ensure that our inspectors have the tools, knowledge and skills required to assess quality and safety and so promote equality and address inequality when they find it.
“People work to their best in an inclusive and just environment. This is why promoting equality within CQC is just as important as promoting equality in our regulatory work. We cannot expect the services we regulate to take notice of our judgements on equality and human rights unless we lead by example and model a diverse workforce and a proactive culture that values its staff.”