DTF Meeting 18th January 2005
Due to the weather we tried to keep meeting fairly brief and following a positive progress report on actions to date we had a three detailed discussions around the poster campaign (Agenda Item 3), Communications (Agenda Item 6) and Measuring Change (Agenda Item 7) which resulted in specific action points.
AGENDA ITEM 3 - POSTER CAMPAIGN
Shazia provided a report on the progress related to the poster campaign and outlined the next steps. The presentation is attached The main priority now is to secure commitment from the boards to ensure that the campaign is supported and effectively administered. However, Shazia asked for the Task Force members to assist in encouraging applications from medical staff and also staff from the island boards. Shazia will be contacting the Chief Executives of the Island boards but any help you can offer is appreciated.
ACTION 1 Please contact Shazia if you can offer assistance.
AGENDA ITEM 6 - COMMUNICATIONS
The communications paper has been circulated to DTF members for discussion as an 'aunt sally'. I have asked for your comments by 2nd February, feedback from the Task Force members present today included:-
• The need to approach communication from all angles and get to the stage that the same message is being confidently conveyed by all. (strand specific initiatives, DTF members, line managers, Board members etc)
• The approach should be all inclusive and not just focus on one aspect or target audience.
• Clear communications will be helpful to individual boards.
• The structure of the paper was helpful , particularly in relation to section 5.
• Must ensure that approach enables Boards to progress with communications locally. (Lessons from NRCEMH strategy)
I await further comments direct to me via e-mail and in the meantime can advise of 2 specific actions arising from this discussion which the DTF secretariat members will take responsibility for.
ACTION 2 - CONTACTS
All boards to be requested to confirm the contact details of their designated director(s) for issues relating to equality & diversity. Timescale : Immediate.
ACTION 3 - FFA EVENTS
An event which brings together representatives from the Strand Specific Initiatives and the Task Force with the designated directors. The event is to take place in April and will be clearly focussed on communication. The framework for the day will be developed in partnership with the Strand Specific Initiatives. Planning to begin in February - project managed by the soon to be appointed Diversity Associate.
AGENDA ITEM 7
The next discussion focussed on the next 18 months and particularly how we could effectively measure the impact of the Task Force and what indicators we should be looking at, particularly to measure culture change and the required processes which would enable us to do this.
At present mechanisms are in place to measure the impact of DTF activity such as the poster campaign and we have an opportunity to help shape the structure of the next Staff Survey which will provide useful qualitative data. In addition, NRCEMH have developed a set of Performance Indicators in consultation with the Boards which have potential to be expanded in the future to cover all diversity strands. There clearly has to be a mix of results and perhaps a move towards a Balanced Scorecard approach.
ACTION 4 - SUB GROUP
We decided that an appropriate route forward would be to pull together a small team who could get together to thrash this out and revert to the wider task force prior to the next full meeting.
Volunteers for this task are:
Andy Carter
Christopher Homfray
Charlie McMillan
Kirsten Major
Caroline Fox
Kay Barton
If you would like to be involved in this group can you please let Margaret Caton know as soon as possible. Margaret will be sending out possible days for a half day meeting to volunteers for this task on Tuesday 25th January. You can contact Margaret on:
margaret.caton@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 0131 244 2494
OTHER ISSUES
The Equality Impact Assessment Toolkit will be formally launched by the Equalities Forum on 11th February 2005. An easy to read explanatory booklet has also been produced to accompany the toolkit. The Diversity Taskforce members will be sent copies of the toolkit following the launch.
Next meeting 17th May
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