Race equality through leadership in social care

Published: 2004

This booklet is entitled Race Equality through Leadership in Social Care. It has been commissioned and edited by the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS), The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and has been produced by the Race Equality Unit (REU) with support from the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) for leaders in Social Care not only to acknowledge the progress that has been made but also to help all social care organisations accelerate progress to achieve equality of access and beneficial outcomes for all people in their communities.

Research has shown that organisations that are successful in this area of diversity are in that position because of effective leadership. This booklet does not question the leader’s commitment to race equality but acknowledges that the provision of culturally sensitive services and supportive employment practices can be very challenging.

This booklet will enable you to

• Argue the case for race equality in your political, managerial and business environments
• Identify actions that a leader can take to promote good practice in this area of work
• Prepare a leadership check list to enable you to engage all managers and measure success
• Work in a multiplicity of environments and take the lead in this vital area of work

It is about action; it is concise and is intended to be a basis of discussion in your management teams. It has arisen from work carried out by the partners listed above to help social care organisations respond to the requirements of the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000. It is hoped that the actions you take will make a positive contribution towards a society that actively enjoys race equality.