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Social care in Devon

Supporting equality and diversity


What does equality and diversity mean to us?

Diversity is about including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds, different beliefs, ages, a variety of physical, neuro-diversity, sensory and mental health abilities and of different genders, sexual orientations in an inclusive way.

An equal society values human diversity, recognising that diversity brings a range of skills, knowledge, values, styles, perspectives, and ideas.

Within our service in Integrated Adult Social Care, we work with brilliant people, with all different backgrounds, needs, ideas, thoughts, preferences, and life experiences.

Ethnically Diverse Communities

Directory of Services for Devon, Plymouth and Torbay

This updated directory contains details of the many organisations and agencies, from all sectors, that offer support services for people from Black, Asian and Ethnically diverse communities in Devon.

We should always think about diversity and strive to develop our understanding and knowledge within our work with people, but we also consider our own diversity and what that means for us and our staff.

equality and diversity shoes

There is a law that supports equality and diversity

Under the Equality Act 2010, as a public authority, we have legal duties to:

 These duties apply to nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. These are:

  • age
  • disability
  • gender reassignment
  • marriage and civil partnership
  • pregnancy and maternity
  • race
  • religion and belief
  • sex
  • sexual orientation

As a service, we take these protected characteristics very seriously, and we are committed to being anti-oppressive, non-discriminatory, and anti-racist within our service at every conversation and in our work.

How do we challenge ourselves to work in a way that values and thinks about Equality and Diversity within our service?

We train all of our staff about the importance Equality and Diversity in their work.   We have been learning and educating ourselves about unacceptable behaviour such as racism and the need to promote anti-racism in our teams and service.

We have been supporting people to reference their sexual orientation, define their own gender identity (for example non-binary, Trans gender etc), their cultural needs (e.g. religion), their neuro-diversity (Dyslexia etc) and any consideration these may have in their care and support conversations.

When we work to develop and commission new services to meet people’s care and support needs, we explore equality and diversity within the project work and carry out Impact Assessments; these look at these protected characteristics in our service.

Additionally, we work with people in your community from a variety of backgrounds and listen to what they have to say.  We do our best to ensure people with these protected characteristics are represented on the discussion groups and forums we hold.

If you want to know more or get further information about this important subject, please look at our Devon County Council’s Equality and Diversity website.


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