Recommendation 12

HM Government Acknowledged

3.11 The Government agrees that Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) and Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) data should be included in the ‘balanced basket of indicators’ for Integrated Care Systems. 3.12 Our view is that the targets which organisations set themselves should also be ICS Model Employer goals. This is to avoid the potential inconsistency between how ICSs are measuring their own progress and how NHSE/I are measuring ICS progress. To be a model employer, the NHS needs to be more inclusive – embodying a diverse workforce at all levels and bringing the wealth of experience and perspective for delivering the best outcomes for all communities that it serves 3.13 Systems and providers have been provided bespoke target WRES metrics to focus on for 21/22 based on 2020 WRES survey results. This will involve each system focusing on 1-2 WRES metrics to target action and make improvements. ICSs and regions are also being supported to develop robust and ambitious action plans. The support offer from the national team will be tailored for each system as required, to ensure subject matter expertise and oversight of progress. 3.14 A long-term strategy for implementation of the WRES is being developed, which will examine the efficacy of existing Model Employer goals. It will also explore the possibility of ICS Model Employer goals being set by ICSs themselves, that are based on the system specific WRES/WDES metrics and the interventions and support already in place or planned. 3.15 As part of the wider ICS development work underway, a System Workforce Improvement Model is being developed to ensure that future workforce within ICSs are reflecting the equality, diversity and inclusion priorities of NHSEI. 3.16 For social care, our ambition is for the WRES to inform workforce equality and health inequalities policy development. From April 2021, Phase 1 of the WRES began implementation in 18 local authority social service departments. The Chief Social Worker’s Office is working across the sector and Government on these plans via a central Programme Management Team which includes Site Engagement Leads, and the WRES Advisory Group made up of senior leaders and professional representatives across social care. The Programme Management Team is working closely with local authorities to design and implement their Borough Action Plan which will strategically plan a set of core actions to address areas of improvement that the WRES indicators identify for their area. Following evaluation of Phase 1, our aim is to begin implementing the WRES across social care. 3.17 As part of our plans set out in the White Paper, “People at the Heart of Care: Adult Social Care Reform”, we want to ensure that every member of the social care workforce has equal access to support to develop their careers in social care. We are also supporting individuals within the workforce through unprecedented investment in wellbeing and mental health support.