Equality and Diversity

DS Counselling Training – Equal Opportunities Policy

Introduction

The primary purpose of DS Counselling Training is to extend opportunities for education and training to all members of the community. Every student will have equal opportunity to enter a course/learning programme and to progress on that course/learning programme. Every student has the right to respect for their own background and culture but equally respect that of others.

Commitment

To this end, DS Counselling Training is committed to the elimination of unlawful discrimination and to the promotion of equal opportunities for all, irrespective of age, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, religious belief, sexual orientation, political opinion or whether or not you have a disability or dependants.

In our policies and practices DS Counselling Training will seek to enhance the self esteem of all those it serves and to provide a learning environment in which each individual is treated with respect and is encouraged to fulfil his or her potential.

We will seek to promote equality of opportunity across all our functions namely:-

·      Access and recruitment

·      Admissions and retention

·      Assessments and progression

·      Provision of student services and related facilities

·      Teaching, learning, examining, curriculum development and quality assurance

·      Community links and partnerships

Selection for a course/learning programme and for progression in the course/learning programme will be on the basis of ability, qualifications and aptitude. In selection or progression there will be no direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation or harassment on any of the grounds stated in paragraph 3 above.

The commitment to equality of opportunity is a fundamental policy that pervades all DS Counselling Trainings activities. All members of DS Counselling Training team expected to uphold the policy and to ensure that their actions embody the commitment. Every student will be treated with respect and dignity and every student will be expected to treat staff and other members of DS Counselling training team with respect and dignity.

General Principles

As DS Counselling Training seeks to prevent direct and indirect, overt and covert discrimination and instil equality, fairness and good relations into the ethos of the Company, we require staff, students and visitors to behave in a non-discriminatory manner and to support, implement and develop institutional practices and procedures that promote and reinforce equality of opportunity and treatment for all. 5

The right of every student to equality of opportunity is embodied in our Equal Opportunities Policies and is fundamental to all aspects of operation of the Company.

Consequently direct discrimination on the grounds of age, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, religious belief, sexual orientation and whether or not you have a disability or dependants is not acceptable and will not be tolerated by any member or student of the Company. We will take appropriate disciplinary action where individuals discriminate, incite others to discriminate, or disrespect others in this way by language or action.

Equally, the Company will not accept indirect discrimination, in which an action, direction or procedure leads to unfair treatment, exclusion or disadvantage in respect of a particular group even though the action, direction or procedure itself is not intended to have this effect. Our aim is to prevent this from happening and by monitoring our policies, training staff and taking action when appropriate, we hope to achieve this aim. Indirect discrimination may also result in disciplinary action.

Students and staff are required to make themselves familiar with, and adhere to, the policies in place in the Company which promote equality of opportunity and good relations as well as adhering to the guiding principles of equality of opportunity and good relations. All staff and students must be treated with respect and dignity irrespective of their age, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, religious belief, sexual orientation and whether or not they have a disability or dependants.

Students are expected to behave in a way which respects and appreciates the diversity of the staff, learners and the culture of others within our community.

DS Counselling Training will consider any reasonable adjustments necessary under their Reasonable Adjustment & Special Consideration policy which can be viewed on our website. Please see a copy of the Reasonable Adjustment Statement in our student handbook.

Recruitment

DS Counselling Training will endeavour to reach the widest possible potential student market. All material advertising courses will contain a statement promoting equal opportunities and will not be confined to particular geographical areas or media publication which may exclude particular groups. Eligibility criteria for each course/learning programme will be clearly and publicly stated and adhered to for the purposes of selection and applicants may ask for the reasons why their application has been unsuccessful.

Harassment, Grievance and Disciplinary Policies

Any student who believes that he or she has been the subject of discrimination or harassment has recourse to the company’s harassment or grievance procedures for students.

Alternatively if a student believes DS Counselling Training may have breached the commitments in its Equality Scheme they may lodge a complaint under the Complaints