Furthering Occupational Therapy

As organisations and individuals nationally are being asked to pause and reflect on their diversity and equality the Trust is also responding to this call and embracing the opportunity.

Over the next weeks the Trust will be examining its values and beliefs with regard to diversity, equality and inclusion of minority groups in the work that we do towards our charitable purpose of the furtherance of occupational therapy. This will also include looking at how our values align to our actions in the support we offer, how we are perceived by minority groups and how accessible we are to those individuals. We will update this webpage with our progress on this important work over the coming weeks.

If you would like to share your experience of us, in confidence, please email Pam at secretary@elizabethcasson.org.uk or Dee at chair@elizabethcasson.org.uk

19 August 2020

Currently the Elizabeth Casson Trust gathers very limited data concerning visitors to our web pages or applicants for funding. As a first response to understanding our reach to minority groups we will soon start collecting demographic data on visitors to our website and on individuals applying for funding support. The questions we will ask will reflect those asked by HCPC of all registrants.

HCPC is currently analysing their data (https://www.hcpc-uk.org/resources/policy/research-brief-analysis-of-hcpc-registrants-equality-diversity-and-inclusion-edi-data/) and, once published, the Trust will benchmark its data against our profession’s profile with regards to diversity. The results will help to inform our future engagement strategy to ensure as many occupational therapists as possible are aware of the Trust, the work we do and the support we offer.

For all questions visitors and applicants will be able to choose not to participate in sharing their data or to opt out of responding to individual questions. Data from applicants will be pseudonomysied, as defined by the Information Commissioner’s Office, and held in accordance with GDPR requirements. For individuals applying for funding, the questions will not be part of the application form itself.

This is the first of a number of plans that the Trust is making so that we can develop our diversity, equality and inclusion work. Further updates will be published in due course.

27 August 2020

The Elizabeth Casson Trust remains committed to inclusive support, with and for occupational therapists, in our shared pursuit of advancing our profession and practice.

Our trustees want to be assured that we are taking all possible steps to deliver on our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusivity therefore we are commencing a programme of work to examine our activities specifically from this perspective.

Our initial goals are to involve, listen and learn. We will commission input support from colleagues from diverse and minority groups so that trustees can gain understanding, consider recommendations, take required action and make any adjustments to the work of the Trust.

We are confident that this work will inform and strengthen our future plans as we deliver the strategic intentions and objectives of our charitable trust which aims to support and develop all registered occupational therapists and the profession.