Inclusion & Equality Forum Meetings

The Inclusion & Equality Forum was previously known as the Equality & Diversity Forum.

Introduction

Management of the Services' inclusion and equality performance is carried out through the Inclusion & Equality Forum. The responsibility for delivering the Inclusion Strategy action plan is embedded within appropriate service areas. Progress is managed and reported on by the Head of Prevention and Inclusion Policy who provides updates to the Elected Members where the Service is successfully improving inclusion and equality outcomes. The Forum acts as the scrutiny panel for Members and is pro-active in ensuring that inclusion is real throughout the Service.

Terms of Reference

The Inclusion & Equality Forum deals with the following issues which are known as its terms of reference:

Monitor and constructively challenge evidence of performance progress against the objectives in the Inclusion Strategy and the associated Fire and Rescue Service Equality Framework
Contribute to the setting of Inclusion and Equality performance targets, where applicable
Act as a consultative forum on key Inclusion and Equality strategies and policies
To be responsible for the development, implementation, monitoring and review of policy, planning, procedures and practice to support the Inclusion strategy, including action planning
Monitor effectiveness of formal partnership agreements in relation to Inclusion and equality issues
Receive progress reports from the Inclusion Department on service improvements and progress against statutory equalities duties
Identify priority areas requiring improvement and progress in relation to Inclusion and Equality issues to meet service priorities
Review and monitor the effectiveness of the corporate Inclusion and equality training programme
Review the corporate Equality Impact Assessment programme and annually audit a sample of Equality Impact Assessments
Consider the consequential impact of relevant new legislation and national guidance, and make recommendations for change to the Service
To ensure that equality, fair treatment and social inclusion are integral to all DFRS decision-making

The Inclusion and Equality Work Programme which contains a breakdown of the terms of reference by meeting can be viewed by clicking on the link below.

Inclusion and Equality Forum Work Programme
(243k)

All documents are provided in pdf format, you will require a pdf reader such as Adobe Reader to view the files, Adobe Reader can be downloaded here.

Forum Members

The Inclusion & Equality Forum members consist of the Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) and members of the Fire & Rescue Authority, other Fire & Rescue Service Officers attend as necessary.

The Chair of the Inclusion & Equality Forum is Cllr Julie Patten.

The Vice Chair of the Inclusion & Equality Forum is Cllr Saadia Davis.