PSO 2800 - Inside Time

PSO 2800 Annexes – Page 7The Race Equality Action TeamThe Governor must establish a sub-group of SMT, known as the Race Equality Action Team(REAT), to manage the Race Equality Action Plan (REAP). The Race Equality Action Team mustmeet regularly and submit a formal report to the SMT at least quarterly.3.9. The leadership, membership, terms of reference and frequency of meetings of the RaceEquality Action Team must be set by the Governor.3.10 The leader of the Race Equality Action Team must be the Governor or the DeputyGovernor. Membership must include relevant functional heads as well as the RaceEquality Officer and representatives from:the Chaplaincy team;the Education provider;the health care provider;the voluntary and community groups working with the prison; andprisoner representatives.A member of the Independent Monitoring Board may also attend meetings of the REAT asan observer.3.11 Model terms of reference for meetings of the REAT are provided at annex 1. These shouldbe adapted to meet the particular needs of each establishment.3.12. The REAT must meet regularly with minuted meetings. It may be helpful for meetings totake place monthly to ensure that there is prompt consideration of and action taken onmonitoring data. A record of the meetings should be incorporated into the quarterly reportto the SMT.3.13. The REAT will provide a clear positive lead on the operational management of raceequality, including the management of the REAP. Whilst REAT meetings are important,they should by no means be the only time at which REAT members are engaged in work onrace equality issues. Much of the work of the REAT should take place outside of themeeting, with individual members and sub-groups taking forward the work identified in theREAP. In particular, functional heads are responsible for taking forward the REAP in theirareas of the prison, as well as attending and contributing to REAT meetings.3.14. Governors must ensure that Race Equality Action Team members, including prisoner andvoluntary and community sector representatives, are adequately skilled to perform theirduties, and that a record is maintained of relevant training undertaken by Race EqualityAction Team members.3.15. Driving forward delivery on race equality requires a combination of general managementcompetences as well as an understanding of and commitment to the diversity agenda.Race Equality Action Team members must set a positive personal example andcommunicate clear messages to their staff about their responsibility to do likewise.Amongst other things they need to be:aware of the sensitivities around racist incident reports and investigations;able to analyse ethnic monitoring data; andable to identify positive, practical actions to address local issues.Issue No. 264 issue date 25/09/06