Equality, Diversity and Cohesion

This section of the website explains the Council's approach to equality, diversity and cohesion in local communities.

Click here to view a short film that explains what equality and diversity is and why it is important to all of us.

View Wirral Council's completed Equality Impact Assessments

View Wirral's progress against the Equality Duty

Find out about Equality Watch membership

Find out about the legal framework relating to equality, diversity and cohesion

Wirral Council is committed to ensuring that it delivers all of its services in fair and appropriate ways. It also pledges to develop an inclusive recruitment and selection process aimed at creating a strong and diverse workforce. This approach ensures that we work towards removing any barriers which may exist within our services and employment practices.

What do we mean by ‘equality’?
Equality is based on two principles - equal treatment and equal opportunity. This means building a society where no one is held back because of who they are, or where they come from.

The Council will ensure it meets it’s legal requirements under the Equality Duty 2010.

What do we mean by ‘diversity’?
The Council recognises how diverse Wirral’s communities are. The wealth of cultures, lifestyles, experiences, beliefs and perspectives. This will be recognised in the Council’s role as an employer, service provider, commissioner, partner agency and within its community leadership role.

What do we mean by ‘Cohesion’?
Community Cohesion is what must happen to all communities to enable different groups of people to get on well together and what must happen to enable new residents and existing residents to adjust to one another.

The Council will ensure that the community activities it supports encourage further integration to improve community cohesion.

The Equality Watch Single Equality Scheme 2009-2012 is the Council’s equality and diversity action plan for the period April 2009 to March 2012.

The Equality Watch Scheme details the actions that will be taken across the whole council to eliminate any discriminatory practices and to promote equality and recognise diversity within employment and service delivery. The scheme also provides a framework for the Council to achieve ‘Excellent’ status within the Equality Framework for Local Government.

The scheme is currently under review, this will be extended to include all ‘protected groups’ under the Public Sector Equality Duty 2011.

As the biggest employer and provider of services in the borough the Council will work towards building a culture that values diversity and equality, by recognising and appreciating individual needs and differences.

The Council is subject to a wide range of inspection regimes and service-led equality objectives which are contained within the action plan for the Equality Watch Single Equality Scheme 2009-2012.

The council also has a Corporate Equality and Cohesion Strategy and a Corporate Equality and Cohesion Policy which will be reviewed annually and adapted each time government legislation, best practice and local communities develop and change.

If you would like to become an Equality Watch Member or receive regular updates, please visit our Equality Watch information page.