(Last reviewed 11/01/2025)
Equality & Diversity Policy
(Last reviewed 11/01/2025)
Relevant Legislation and Standards
Fostering Services National Minimum Standards (England) 2011:
Standard 1 – The child’s wishes and feelings and those significant to them.
Standard 2 – Promoting a positive identity, potential and valuing diversity through individualised care
Standard 3 – Promoting positive behaviour and relationships
Standard 6 – Promoting Health and Wellbeing
Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care:
• Standard 2 – Understand your role as a foster carer.
• Standard 3 – Understand health and safety, and health care.
• Standard 5 – Understand the development of children and young people.
The Equality Act 2010
Introduction
The Agency is committed to supporting each child in our care to reach their full potential. The aim of this policy is to ensure that no job applicant, staff member, foster carer, or child or young person experiences discrimination, whether direct or indirect, on the grounds of race, colour, creed, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religious belief, political opinion or affiliation, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability.
This policy will be applied in accordance with the appropriate statutory requirements, and we will fully consider all available guidance, including any relevant Codes of Practice.
We celebrate the unique strengths and identities of our staff, carers, and children. Our equal-opportunities framework shapes our policies, procedures, training, and the recruitment and retention of staff and carers. We will maintain a safe, welcoming environment in which no member of staff, foster carer, or child feels threatened or intimidated.
Principles
The Agency supports all its partners in meeting their Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010 in the following ways:
• The Agency is an equal-opportunity organisation.
• We actively promote equitable opportunities for all people, regardless of gender, age, disability, HIV status, family circumstances, marital status, sexual orientation, race, ethnic origin, or faith.
• We are fully committed to fair and inclusive practices in both employment and service delivery.
• We continually develop and model anti-discriminatory practice.
Practice
Eliminating Discrimination
From the first home visit, through panel assessment, and during ongoing supervision, the Agency clearly states that it values diversity. We ensure applicants understand that each fostered child brings unique strengths and needs related to their racial identity, cultural experiences, faith, language, sexual orientation, or disabilities, among other factors. The Agency expects all foster carers to nurture each child’s personal development in ways that best meet that child’s needs.
Fostering Good Relationships
The Agency encourages its diverse community of carers, birth children, foster children, and staff—across all ethnicities, ages, faiths, and beliefs—to connect through shared events such as meals, day trips, training sessions, and organised summer holidays.
Equality & Diversity for Children and Young People
a. We encourage children to value themselves and respect others.
b. We provide services that recognise and build on the strengths of children and young people of all cultures, faiths, genders, ages, sexual orientations, abilities, and backgrounds, meeting their needs and supporting them to reach their full potential.
c. We make every effort to ensure services are welcoming to all children, young people, and those important to them. We choose resources that are appropriate and non-oppressive.
d. Children are given opportunities to explore new experiences without the limits of traditional gender roles.
e. Staff and foster carers are expected to calmly and positively challenge attitudes, behaviours, and language that are non-inclusive or discriminatory.
f. Managers monitor the diversity of children and young people placed—considering ethnicity, gender, and disability—to ensure our service reaches everyone and does not create barriers.
Inclusion for Children and Young People
a. Children are supported in their care and education so they can develop their full potential.
b. Children are encouraged and supported to know their rights and understand how to challenge discrimination.
c. Managers and foster carers identify and promote local community resources that meet each child’s needs. When local options do not meet those needs, they seek suitable alternatives regardless of location—for example, finding hairdressers who specialise in braiding or cutting African-Caribbean hair.
d. Children are cared for by foster carers who are trained in all aspects of equality and diversity, including relevant legislation and their responsibilities.
e. We assess each child or young person’s specific needs to support them in reaching their full potential.
f. Foster carers consider how to celebrate diversity and adapt activities—including food preparation and menu choices—to meet each child’s needs.
g. We offer extra support to foster carers, staff, and children who need help understanding diverse or complex situations.
