Faversham Counselling Service - Equal Opportunities Policy

Statement of Intent

This policy aims to ensure that no client, counsellor, supervisor, supervisee, mentor, mentoree, trainer, trainee, employees, contractors, sub-contractors or customer suffers discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, culture, religion, nationality, age, disability, sexuality, class, political affiliation, marital, parental or financial status. No-one should be disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be justified. This Service believes that failure to provide equal opportunities for client, counsellor, supervisor, supervisee, mentor, mentoree, trainer, trainee, employees, contractors, sub-contractors or customer is failing the ethos of the Service. Thus all forms of discrimination are opposed.

Definition of Terms

Direct Discrimination:

Refers to treating a person less favourably than others in similar circumstances.

Indirect Discrimination:

Refers to the application of requirements which intentionally or not, have an adverse effect on one particular group.

Harassment:

Is any behaviour, deliberate or otherwise, which is unwarranted, unwelcome, found to be offensive, objectionable, upsetting or embarrassing to the recipient.

Victimisation:

Treating a person less favourably than others because he/she has exercised his/her rights under this policy.

Responsibilities of the Service

1. To promote equal opportunities for all

2. To make this policy known to all individuals and groups who work with, for or on behalf of the Service.

3. The language of all the Service’s official documents shall be non-discriminatory and adhere to all aspects of this stated equal opportunities policy.

All policies and practices operated by the Service will recognise and adhere to stated equal opportunities policy. To examine and review this policy on a regular basis. Monitoring to ascertain its effectiveness and to make any necessary changes.

Responsibilities of all working in or for the Service

1. All working in or for the Service will cooperate fully with this equal opportunities policy.

2. Not to discriminate.

3. Not to attempt to encourage others to discriminate.

4. Not to physically or psychologically harass, abuse or intimidate others.

 

To complain to the Clinical Director of the Service about any act of discrimination.

Advertising

The Service will promote its organisation and services in a wide variety of publications, including electronic forms. Advertising undertaken by the Service will seek to fulfill all aspects of the equal opportunities policy.

Recruitment

All perspective counsellors, supervisors, mentors, trainers, employees, contractors, sub- contractors will apply through recognised channels. There will be a standard selection procedure and people will be appointed according to merit, experience and personal qualities. Gender, race, culture, religion, nationality, age, disability, sexuality, class, political affiliation, marital, parental or financial status will not be taken into account. Counsellors, supervisors, mentors, trainers, employees, contractors, sub-contractors will be made aware of the equal opportunities policy.

Practical Working Attitudes

All clients and those using our service will be equally accepted regardless of their gender, race, culture, religion, nationality, age, disability, sexuality, class, political affiliation, marital, parental or financial status. Counsellors, supervisors, mentors, trainers, employees, contractors, sub-contractors should be as aware as possible of cultural differences and not make assumptions about clients, supervisees, trainees and others the Company has dealings with. Stereotypical thinking should be avoided.

 

Attention should be directed to the language used. The Service wishes to be aware of cultural variables with all those with whom it works.

 

The Service will not reveal discriminatory information about its Counsellors, Supervisors, Trainers or Mentors to clients – in practice this means that the clients will not be told the race, sexual orientation or any other discriminatory information about the counsellor, supervisees, mentors and trainers. At the same time the Service recognises that there are some circumstances where a client will request a counsellor, supervisor, trainer or mentor of a particular race, gender, sexual orientation or the like. Such requests can be met if the Service feels that there are genuine therapeutic reasons and the request is not based on discrimination.

Grievances and Complaints

Any grievances and complaints regarding discrimination should be taken to the Clinical Director of the Service and the grievance or complaint will be discussed by the Service’s Management Committee. The Service operates a formal Staff Grievance and Service User Complaints Policy, which is provided to deal with all issues of this nature. All grievances will be treated in strictest confidentiality. After a period of consultation appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the prescriptive policy guidelines and procedures laid out in the policies of the Service.

 

All therapeutic work undertaken by the Service is subject to the BACP ‘Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy’, and this offers a formal and professional complaint route, or appeals process for those wishing to pursue a grievance or complaint.