Equality and diversity

Our commitment to equality and diversity

We are committed to equality for our staff and patients. We recognise and value difference in its broadest sense.

These values are embedded in the way we run our hospitals. We work with our patients as partners to understand and meet their individual needs. We also work with community groups and local partner organisations to make sure services meet the needs of our local communities.

Meeting our patients needs

Arrangements for your appointment

If you need a reasonable adjustment or are worried about whether a building you are due to visit is accessible, please contact the department directly. The contact details are in your appointment letter or you can use our service directory. You can also contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).

We would like everyone to be able to understand the information we provide. We offer a range of services to help patients get the most from their appointment or stay in hospital.

Contact

If your requirements are not being met, please let us know so we can fix this. Please contact your clinicians in the first instance, or contact our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion inbox: [email protected]

Staff networks

Our 20,000+ workforce is as diverse as the patients we treat, and we celebrate that diversity. We offer a wide range of active staff groups within the Trust including including our network groups for LGBTQi+, Disability, Trans, and SOAR for our Black, Asian and ethnic minority colleagues and allies.

Find out more about what’s on offer on our staff networks page.

Equalities monitoring information

Equality legislation requires us to undertake monitoring. Monitoring is a process of collecting and analysing diversity data about patients and staff. It can help with assessing how fair an organisation is.

We collect and store monitoring data according to strict data protection laws and guidelines. The data is reported on a purely statistical basis and is not traceable to the originating source.

Monitoring data helps us to ensure we are targeting our services to meet local needs. It also helps to direct the correct funding to relevant services. We also use it to check whether our workforce is reflective of the communities we serve, and to assess the impact of our policies and procedures on certain groups.

External support services for those who have experienced a hate crime

Safe: Space Sussex

Lists different kinds of support services across Sussex and can help identify the best support tools in your area.

Visit Safe: Space Sussex

Victim Support 

Victim Support can help immediately after an incident or any time after the crime has taken place. They’ll listen to you in confidence and offer information. They can also help you to navigate the criminal justice system and provide information if you want to make a compensation claim, if you choose to report the crime.  

Their specially trained hate crime staff and volunteers can: 

• help you to cope with the emotional effects of hate crime 
• support you and other members of your family 
• help you to get in touch with other organisations if there are problems we can’t deal with 
• help you to deal with other agencies, such as the police or housing department 
• give you advice on safety and home security 
• organise practical help after a break-in at your home, such as repairs to broken locks 
• staff and volunteers can go with you to the police station and to court.  
• Victim Support can also liaise with other organisations on your behalf if you want us to, and we can put you in touch with other sources of practical help, such as people who can remove graffiti. 

You can contact Victim Support by: 

• Contacting your local Victim Support team, information here: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/support-near-you/  
• You can call your local victim care team in Sussex on 0808 168 9274. 
• If you need support outside of our open hours, call our Supportline for free on 08 08 16 89 111.  
• Request support via the website: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/resources/sussex/  
• Use the free live chat support service available 24/7

Stop Hate 

Stop Hate UK is one of the leading national organisations working to challenge all forms of Hate Crime and discrimination, based on any aspect of an individual’s identity. Stop Hate operate the UK’s only free dedicated 24-hour anti-hate crime reporting service for all monitored strands of a person’s identity or perceived identity (Disability, Race, Faith, Sexual orientation, and Transgender identity, as well as Age and Alternative subculture). They help to tackle all forms of Hate Crime and discrimination by ensuring every person, regardless of identity, has someone to listen to, believe, and advise them.  

• Further information about reporting hate crime through Stop Hate is available here: https://www.stophateuk.org/report-hate-crime/  
• You can also contact Stop Hate by phone (0113 293 5100), email ([email protected]) and Text relay (18001 0113 293 5100). 

Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI) 

SARI provides free and confidential support for anyone who is a victim of hate crime. Whether that’s based on race, faith, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or sex. 

• Phone 0117 942 0060. All calls are completely confidential. 
• Get in touch with SARI online by filling in the form available here: https://saricharity.org.uk/contact-us/, and they’ll get back to you. 

Switchboard

Switchboard is a charity for LGBTQi+ people looking for community, support or information.  They connect people and support them directly through specially developed Switchboard services or link them to other specialist organisations. 

The trans survivors helpline provides support and information to trans and/or non-binary people. Operated by trans and/or non-binary volunteers; you can talk to them confidentially about anything that’s on your mind.  They talk to people about a range of things, specialising on those who have experienced crime, including sexual violence at any point in their life. Trans Survivors is available Sunday 3pm – 5pm on 01273 359042.

Allsorts Youth Project

Allsorts Youth Project listens to, supports and connects children and young people under 26 who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or exploring of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity (LGBT). 

They aim to improve the lives of LGBT children and young people via a two pronged approach:

1. Providing specialist youth services to children and young people from the ages of 5-25 who are LGBT.
2. Family support service for parents/carers and siblings of LGBT children and young people.
3. Training the wider community and professionals so all spaces and organisations can be safer and more inclusive for LGBT people.

Brighton and Hove Community Safety Casework Team

The Community Safety Casework Team (CSCT) addresses anti-social behaviour (ASB) and hate incidents and reduces the harm that they cause in private rented sector housing & with owner occupiers in Brighton and Hove. The CSCT is part of Brighton and Hove City Council

The CSCT has been awarded the Restorative Standards Quality Mark by the Restorative Justice Council.

Brighton Women’s Centre

Brighton Women’s Centre has been supported women in Brighton and Hove for over 40 years and women across Sussex since 2014. Their aim is to empower women and reduce inequality by promoting independence in safe, women only spaces.

BWC welcome all women, regardless of age, disability, marital status, parenthood, race, belief, gender and sexuality.

Hourglass

Hourglass is a UK wide charity focusing exclusively on the issue of elder abuse. They run a free and confidential Helpline for victims and those at risk, providing both emotional and practical support. It is also available for concerned relatives, friends and professionals.

The Helpline can offer information, advice and emotional support, as well as referrals to other agencies.