• About long-term conditions
• Members, partners and supporters
• Trustees
• Staff
• Diversity and equal opportunities
• Annual Review
• Funding
• Vacancies
• Annual Conference & AGM 2008
• NICE scoping workshop
• Personal health budgets update

Diversity and equal opportunities

We recognise that some groups of people have been unreasonably disadvantaged in the past due to inequality in society, prejudice and unfair discrimination. We aim to prevent unfair discrimination in our work, challenge it where we encounter it in the course of our work, and promote ‘positive action' initiatives to redress inequality.

Conceptual framework

Diversity

Although all individuals are unique, society has tended to create ideas of what is considered normal and to disparage those that fall outside that norm. Many people living with long-term conditions will have been classed as abnormal and will have suffered as a result. This is a key reason for LTCA to adopt an inclusive approach, valuing diversity. In addition, the diversity of the UK's population and particularly the population local to LTCA's office should be reflected in its recruitment of staff and volunteers.

By valuing diversity, LTCA aims to benefit from different views and approaches, and better serve the needs of people with long-term conditions by maximising the contributions of people from all sections of society.

Prejudice

Society has also traditionally viewed individuals in terms of perceived groups of belonging. Some groups have been ascribed stereotypical or negative characteristics, which have then been automatically transferred to members of those groups, regardless of whether this was true. LTCA will challenge simplistic or distorted views of groups, and seek to assess individuals on their own merits.

Unfair discrimination

Making decisions or taking action unfairly can take a number of forms: members of a group or perceived group may be treated less favourably than members of another group, or would be in comparable circumstances; an unjustifiable provision, criterion or practice may disadvantage certain people or groups of people; there may be an unjustifiable failure to make a reasonable adjustment, for example for a disabled person.

Unfair discrimination can be intentional or unintentional and may be caused by ignorance, unfamiliarity or thoughtlessness as well as prejudice.

Discrimination can therefore result from the inclusion of irrelevant factors or the failure to take account of relevant factors. Making judgements about people or issues is a proper part of the function of any organisation, but those judgements should be based only on what is relevant to the decision. LTCA will seek to make decision-making processes as objective as possible to avoid unfair discrimination, avoiding the consideration of irrelevant information.

LTCA will give particular attention to preventing unfair discrimination in relation to these areas: gender, race, ethnic or national origin, colour, religion, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, disability, HIV status, gender reassignment, political affiliation, class, marital status, childcare or other carer status, trade union involvement, spent or irrelevant convictions, appearance.

LTCA will investigate allegations of unfair discrimination and take action to stop it where it is found to be taking place. Where someone alleges discrimination in good faith they will not be victimised and will suffer no detriment.