Equality & Diversity

City College Southampton is committed to the principles of Equality and Diversity for everyone. This commitment underpins and impacts on every area of activity and influences how the college works and what it does.

This means the college is a place where ALL students and staff, whatever their circumstances or background:

• Are fully respected
• Feel welcome
• Are treated in a friendly way
• Have equality of opportunity
• Have appropriate support

BSL - Deaf Learners at City College

Since 1998, City College has had a number of learners who have disclosed a hearing loss and with appropriate support to access their chosen course have succeeded in all subjects across college including construction, engineering, hair and beauty, health and social care, and basic skills. This has resulted in City College having the highest number of learners with a hearing loss in FE in the county, which is still comparatively small especially when you consider that:

• Almost 9 million people in the UK, 1 in 7 of the population, suffer from deafness
• There are an estimated 50,000 people who use B.S.L as their first or preferred language
• The ratio of interpreters (including trainees) to sign language users is 1 to 156
• 840 babies are born every year with impaired hearing to both ears
• In the UK there are 2 million people who have hearing aids
• There are 7,000 cochlear implant users in the UK
• Over 1,400 hearing dogs have been trained by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People since 1982.

The Face of City College :: Signed Video

Please click play to watch our signed version of the video 'The Face of City College'.

The college provides advice and support where deemed appropriate. If you require any further information please contact our Equality and Diversity Adviser Liz Thornhill on 023 8057 7420 or email liz.thornhill@southampton-city.ac.uk

STOP BULLYING and HARASSMENT NOW

We do not tolerate any behaviour which makes another person or group of people feel unhappy, uncomfortable or unsafe.

Every full-time and part-time student is responsible for making sure they or their friends do not behave in ways that cause others to feel unhappy, uncomfortable or unsafe.

REPORT IT: Don’t suffer in silence!

Text or email our dedicated helpline:

Text: 0755 2754 391 and start your message with REPORT

Email: reportit@southampton-city.ac.uk

Ofsted Findings: March 2011

• Equality and diversity are well promoted in this inclusive college. The senior leadership team sets high expectations for the work of the active and influential equality and diversity panel.
• The work of the equality and diversity adviser was extended last year, providing a significant additional management resource for the promotion of equality and diversity and the monitoring of the detailed action plan.
• The college’s single equality scheme and its impact assessments are thorough and current.
• Training and briefing for all staff are frequent and comprehensive. Data for different equality and diversity categories of students are used effectively to help inform action plans, quality improvement and course development.
• The college celebrates extensively the achievements and diversity of its students.

Public Sector Duty

The Public Sector Duty was introduced by the Equality Act 2010 and replaces the race, disability and gender equality duties. The duty came into force in April 2011 and organisations are required to give due regard to:

• Eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation
• Advance equality of opportunity
• Foster good relations

These regulations will promote the better performance of the equality duty by requiring the publication of:

• Equality objectives, at least every four years
  • The College has had a Single Equality Scheme and Action Plan since October 2010 with 50 action points covering 10 equality objectives to be completed over a three year period.
• Information to demonstrate their compliance with the equality duty, at least annually 
  • An annual report - Implementing the Single Equality Scheme is written each July; presented to the Equality and Diversity Panel in November.

The Single Equality Scheme action plan has been updated and includes equality objectives for 2012-13.

The 2011-12 Staff Profile based on Protected Characteristics outlines the diversity of the college staff.

Further information on the numerous activities taken place in 11-12 are shown in the Single Equality Scheme action plan Progress version December 2012. A summary of the work undertaken and achieved in 11-12 is shown in the Implementing the Single Equality Scheme Report. We realize further work is still required and will be actively looking at addressing these during 2012-13.

Mindful Employer 

Stress, depression and anxiety are estimated to be the cause of more working days lost than any other work-related illness. Sick pay reduces profits, covering absent workers adds more pressure and the loss of valued and talented people costs more than money.

Led and supported by employers, the MINDFUL EMPLOYER® initiative is aimed at increasing awareness of mental health at work and providing support for businesses in recruiting and retaining staff.

To demonstrate our commitment to improving the working lives of our staff, we are now a member of this programme and will strive to display our on-going dedication to supporting individuals who are living with mental health difficulties.

The Mindful Employer Review 2011-13 outlines our progress and where further progress is required.

Impact Assessment

As part of our commitment to Equality and Diversity we review and impact assess all our policies and procedures in line with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

We welcome this opportunity as equality impact assessments help us to identify hidden barriers and inequalities, and where these are identified, we will take appropriate action. The following are examples of impact assessments which have been completed in line with the Equality Impact Assessment Schedule and Review Timetable.

• Equality Impact Assessment Review

You can download a summary of our policies

• Equality Impact Assessments by Dept

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require a specific Equality Impact Assessment.

Monitoring and Reporting

As a college provider we recognise the importance of monitoring and reporting Equality and Diversity activities on a range of topics from the diversity of our learners to implementing our commitment to the Equality Act and Public Sector Duty.

If you would like to become involved or to find out more, please contact us on 023 8057 7420 or email equality.diversity@southampton-city.ac.uk