Equality and diversity
Promoting equality of opportunity and good relations is of primary importance to the Trust to ensure our services are welcoming, person-centred and accessible for everyone.
The Equality Scheme is a statement of the Trust’s commitment to meeting its statutory duties under Section 75 of the NI Act 1998, outlining how the Trust will fulfil its equality duties. The Scheme is approved by the Equality Commission and details what we intend to do to improve fair and equal access to services and employment.
The Trust must promote equality of opportunity taking into account the nine equality categories between:
- Persons of different religions belief, political opinion, racial group, age, martial status or sexual orientation
- men and women generally
- persons with a disability and persons without
- persons with dependents and persons without
Equality and disability action plans
We worked with the five other trusts on the development of a five year Disability Action Plan and Equality Action Plan (2024-29) which outline actions and initiatives to address section 75 inequalities, improve equality of opportunity, promote positive attitudes for disabled people and improve their participation in public life.
The actions in the plans have been shaped by an audit of inequalities, engagement with experts by experience and key stakeholders and formal consultation. The Consultation Feedback Report, and associated easy read versions, details how the feedback we received shaped the plans.
We will report annually on our progress against the Plans via our S75 Annual Progress Report to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI), which is submitted at the end of August each year and is available on the website or by contacting the Trust Equality Unit.
The Trust has revised its Audit of Inequalities document which has helped identify the inequalities to be addressed in our plans.
If you require an interpreter, please contact equality.unit@northerntrust.hscni.net.
Equality action plans
Disability action plans
Annual equality progress reports
Each year the Trust publishes a progress report detailing how we are promoting equality of opportunity and implementing the commitments in our Equality Scheme.
- Equality Progress Report 2024-25
- Equality Progress Report 2023-24
- Equality Progress Report 2022-23
- Equality Progress Report 2021-22
- Equality Progress Report 2020-21
It is here that you will find what we are doing to meet our legal duties on equality of opportunity and find information on what progress we are making with screening and equality impact assessment of our policies and functions.
Equality, good relations and human rights
We are committed to the promotion of good relations amongst people of different religious belief, racial group or political opinion. Health and social care trusts have engaged with a number of stakeholders to produced our Good Relations Statement (PDF):
Working together we will promote good relations between people of different race, religion or political opinion.
This means that we:
- Will actively address and challenge racism and sectarianism in all its forms
- Will treat each other fairly, with respect and dignity
- Will make sure our spaces are shared, welcoming and safe
The Good Relations Statement is also available in easy read format.
Equality screening outcome reports
The screening process is used to identify which policies/proposals are likely to have an impact on equality of opportunity or good relations. Screening assesses the likely impact as major, minor or none. If it is decided that a policy/proposal is likely to have significant/major issues relating to equality, it is then necessary to carry out a more detailed exercise called an equality impact assessment (EQIA).
2025
- Screening Outcome Report September 2025
- Screening Outcome Report June 2025
- Screening Outcome Report March 2025
2024
- Screening outcome report March
- Screening outcome report June
- Screening outcome report September
- Screening outcome report December
2023
- Screening outcome report March
- Screening outcome report June
- Screening outcome report September
- Screening outcome report December
If you require screening documents in an alternative format, please contact equality.unit@northerntrust.hscni.net.
Additional resources
Multi-cultural beliefs
The Multicultural and beliefs handbook provides guidelines for treating people with different religions and/or beliefs. It includes general guidelines on cultural diversity, a culturally sensitive health and social care checklist, a section on spiritual and religious needs assessment and details on interpreting and translation services.
Making communication accessible to all
Making communication accessible to all is a guide for health & social care staff provides practical tips, advice and guidelines for health and social care staff to enable them to be more inclusive and accessible in their communication with service users. It aims to make staff aware of current legislation and will help staff create communication friendly environments that will improve access to health and social care services.
Hospital accessibility guides
The Trust has worked with AccessAble to create over 80 detailed Access Guides to facilities, wards and departments at Antrim Area Hospital and Causeway Hospital, including the maternity services, intensive care units, occupational therapy, and outpatients.
The Guides are also available via the AccessAble App which is free to download from the App Store and Google Play, giving you accessibility information at your fingertips during your hospital visit.
