More than 120 colleagues from across the Black Country Integrated Care System (ICS) attended an Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) conference in June, to share progress on how they are improving the experience of colleagues one year after launching a dedicated EDI strategy.
The event brought together a range of health and care partners and facilitated an opportunity to share their progress towards becoming more inclusive organisations that combat prejudice and discrimination.
Attendees heard from EDI professionals sharing their insights and observations, as well as local senior leaders who discussed their commitments and pledges to improving EDI outcomes in the Black Country. A video of the pledges can be viewed on YouTube.
Shajeda Ahmed, Chief People Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “It was fantastic to come together with local health and care colleagues to showcase and celebrate the important equalities work that is taking place in the Black Country.
"Our event presented a unique opportunity to share insights into the lived experience of our colleagues and enable them to engage in an honest, open and respectful dialogue about the barriers and challenges that some groups of colleagues’ experience.
"It also allowed us to explore ideas on priority areas for improving the workplace culture across the system. The Black Country has a rich diversity of people, and the ICS is absolutely committed to addressing the workforce inequalities and discrimination that many of our staff face in the workplace.”
