AH ANNUAL REPORT 2018

organisation, which seeks to recognise diversity,
promote equal opportunities and supports Human
Rights in the provision of health services for the
communities it serves and in its practice as a leading
employer.
The Trust published its first Gender Pay Gap report in
2018, produced to meet the Equality Act 2010 (Specific
Duties and Public Authorities) Regulations 2017 which
came into force on 31st March 2017. Although not
mandatory, the Trust produced a narrative that explains
the calculations and provides an organisational context.
The equality analysis policy and process was reviewed,
this minimises the risk that any changes and decisions
we make are unlawful by considering what we are
proposing to do in relation to our Public Sector Equality
Duty (s149 of the public sector Equality Act 2010 – with
the Trust ever day in decision making) and undertaking
proper consultation with relevant stakeholders. Work is
ongoing to improve the quality of equality analysis and
strengthen the assurance process regarding equality
analysis and to provide support to project and policy
leads to ensure lawful decision making.
The Trust has provided for British Sign Language Video
Remote Interpreting (VRI) located in the Emergency
and Outpatient departments, available to all staff. This
provides instant BSL interpretation services when
required. The Trust provides interpreting and translation
services to meet the communication needs of families;
the five most frequently requested languages during
2017 have been Arabic, Romanian, Polish, Mandarin
and Cantonese. Providing support for limited English
speakers is essential for patient safety, quality
assurance and enhanced patient experience and this
will continue to be available where a need is made
known. Further work is taking place to look at how our
services can be made more accessible in relation to
information formats and communication support for
families and recording these preferences on patient
records.
Plans for 2018 are to continue to improve the quality of
patient and staff information and the quality of equality
analysis documentation. We will continue to work
collaboratively with commissioners and local trusts
to broaden opportunities to engage with community
groups to progress the Trust’s equality objectives. We
are committed to support the successful development
of staff networks to help make a positive impact on
the experiences of BME and Disabled Staff; and to
support work in relation to the Workforce Race Equality
Standard (WRES) and Workforce Disability Equality
Standard (due to be published August 2018). Training
opportunities in cultural competence and unconscious
bias will continue to be made available for staff. The
networks will increasingly shape relevant aspects of
leadership training to increase the education of staff.
The Trust will undertake a detailed analysis of the
results of the Gender Pay Gap Report and take steps to
reduce the gender pay gap.
Equality and Diversity will continue to be an integral
part of the Trust Quality Strategy with a shared
approach of improving the experiences of public and
staff through engagement. There will be continued
attention to supporting the organisational processes
and strategic leadership for equality and diversity and
communicating any gaps wherever these may be
identified.
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust 69
Annual Report & Accounts 2017/18