Employees from one of the highest performing hospital trusts in the country are pre-empting diversity issues by taking a new online, easy-access course. Over 1000 employees from Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust have elected to take the Diversity in the Workplace course from Marshall ACM in the 8 weeks since launch.
Roy Ebanks, equality and diversity manager at the Foundation Trust, says, “Diversity in the Workplace provides a learning environment for us all; it uniquely transcends all roles, grades and people to serve the community properly, aligning ourselves with why we’re really here”.
He advises, “Organisations wishing to implement such a far-reaching approach to training need to achieve complete buy-in from the top. The Foundation Trust’s chief executive, Mary Edwards, is totally committed to supporting the implementation of the training and this had a galvanising effect within the senior management and staff. In the short time since launch, we have achieved approximately 1000 online course completions from 2,500 employees overall. This is a testimony to the widespread support and encouragement from managers and individuals.
“Putting aside organisational legal requirements, we wanted staff to have an awareness of how equality and diversity make a difference to each of us. As a public service, it’s vital to react, acknowledge and serve a diverse population, as well as create a positive working environment for all.”
Diversity in the Workplace is a 45 minute online introductory course available for all of the Foundation Trust’s staff. It offers information about diversity, equality and equal opportunities, explaining why diversity is important along with giving an overview of legislation.
The elearning platform from Marshall ACM is the first technological step for the Foundation Trust in delivering diversity and equality awareness, taking it to the widest possible audience without disrupting work and delivering it in the most cost-effective way. It has become the ‘backbone for where the Foundation Trust goes in the future’.
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Marshall ACM delivers a managed e-learning service to over 140 organisations across the public and private sector in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
