The Ombudsman is pleased to publish the first in-depth Equality Plan, representing a step-change in how the office will support and promote equality both as a service provider and an employer.
The plan covers the period 2019/20 – 2021/22 and details specific actions that will be undertaken in 2019/20.
The plan will be instrumental in the office’s ongoing efforts to ensure equality considerations are at the heart of the Ombudsman’s work and how it is delivered.
The plan sets out 11 equality objectives, linked to the three core aims of the Ombudsman’s Corporate Plan 2019/20 – 2021/22.
These include capturing comprehensive and meaningful equality data from service users, targeting under-represented complainant groups and ensuring our services are accessible to all public service users in Wales.
The plan also outlines how the office will strive to ensure equality is embedded in the planning and implementation of the Ombudsman’s new powers as well as in all decision making.
Nick Bennett, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, said:
“While equality considerations have always been central to all we do, I believe that this plan represents a step-change in my efforts to embed equality considerations in all aspects of my office’s work.
“I would like to thank all the stakeholders who supported my staff and me in the development of this plan and look forward to further engagement with them and the public as I put these commitments into practice.”
The Ombudsman would like to extend special thanks for the insights and contributions of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Diverse Cymru, Age Cymru, Interfaith Council for Wales, Welsh Language Commissioner, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales and Future Generations Commissioner for Wales. He also wishes to thank the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action and Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services for facilitating communication with their members.
To read the plan, please click here.