All public bodies, which includes NHS Integrated Care Boards, have a general equality duty, in the exercise of their functions, to have due regard to the need to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
• Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

Having due regard for advancing equality involves:

• Removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by people due to their protected characteristics.
• Taking steps to meet the needs of people from protected groups where these are different from the needs of other people.
• Encouraging people from protected groups to participate in public life or in other activities where their participation is disproportionately low.

The nine protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. Public authorities also need to consider the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination against someone because of their marriage or civil partnership status.

Compliance with the general equality duty is a legal obligation, but it also makes good business sense. An organisation that can provide services to meet the diverse needs of its people and communities will carry out its core business more efficiently and effectively. A workforce that has a supportive working environment is more productive and result in better informed decision-making and service planning.

SEL ICB is required to publish relevant information to show how it meets the specific duties for public sector organisations set out in the Equality Act 2010. To fulfil our specific duties, the ICB has published its Public Sector Equality Duty 2023/24 report which can be found below.

Click here to see the Public Sector Equality Duty 2023/24 report

Equality Delivery System 2022

NHS England has developed an improvement tool for NHS organisations to use to identify how well they are meeting three key areas through an equality, diversity and inclusion lens. These are:

• Commissioned or provided services
• Staff health and well-being
• Inclusive leadership

SEL ICB’s full 2023/24 assessment is available below. The ICB is currently undertaking a new assessment for 2024/25.

Click here to see the Equality Delivery System (EDS) 2022 report