Category: Suffolk County Council

Suffolk County Council have been awarded level three of the Equality Standard by the Improvement and Development Agency for their continuing dedication to equality and diversity in the workplace.

Suffolk County Council will now be working towards obtaining 'excellent' status by 2010 under the new equality framework that will shortly be replacing the Equality Standard.

The Equality Standard for Local Government was launched in 2001 and has now been adopted by 90% of all local authorities. The standard recognises the importance of fair, equal treatment in local government services and employment. It has been developed primarily as a tool to enable local authorities to mainstream age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation into council policy and practice at all levels.

The assessors commented that they were very impressed with the documentation and examples submitted to them and that it was evident how committed Suffolk County Council are as an organisation to mainstreaming and embedding equalities and diversity throughout the organisation.

Julia Stephens-Row, Assistant Director for Social Inclusion and Diversity, said; "We're very proud to have been awarded level three of the Equality Standard. It's such a big reward for all the effort that so many people have put in and represents how Suffolk County Council is committed to equality and diversity throughout the work we do."