Equality and diversity

Hampshire County Council strives for equality of opportunity in all activities, as an employer and service provider.

Corporate commitment

We will:
  • Recognise that passive policies will not reverse discrimination and disadvantage
  • Seek to implement best practice in all ongoing and future work
  • Redress unfair discrimination against disadvantaged people
  • Help disadvantaged groups to access the same opportunities
  • Continue to build a workforce which reflects the diversity of the local community, encouraging applications from people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations and ethnic backgrounds, including the armed forces community
  • Remove discrimination against any employee or applicant in their access to employment, training, working conditions, promotion or dismissal

Disability Confident Committed Employer

We want to
  • build a workforce which reflects the diversity of the local community. We encourage applications from people of different ages or ethnic backgrounds
  • remove discrimination against any employee, worker or job applicant in their access to employment, training, working conditions, treatment at work, promotion or dismissal
  • Ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible
  • Communicating and promoting our vacancies in methods accessible for all
  • Offering interviews to any disabled person who meets the essential criteria for the role
  • Anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments for staff and candidates, as required
  • Supporting any existing employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition

Please ensure that you complete the disability section of the application form so that we can treat your application appropriately. If you are invited for interview, you will be asked if you need any reasonable adjustments, which we will make wherever possible.

Employee Networks

The Council has three employee networks:

  • Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Network
  • Disability forum
  • Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Network

These groups meet quarterly and are open to any employee. They recognise the importance of intersectionality and the Chairs of the groups meet regularly to organise joint sessions to ensure a collective approach. Each group has role models and champions who can offer support.

LGBT+ Network

A group of staff who promote better equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members of staff and service users.

Aims of the LGBT+ Network:
  • Provide a safe and supportive space for LGBT+ staff
  • Raise awareness, knowledge and understanding
  • Improve policy and practice
  • Improve service delivery

Disability Network

The Disability Network promotes inclusion and equality of opportunity for colleagues with a disability.

Aims of the Disability Network:
  • Develop an organisation that is inclusive for people of all types of disability
  • Provide learning opportunities relating to disability
  • Advise colleagues on making products services and processes accessible and inclusive
  • Signpost employees and managers to disability support and advice
  • Work in partnership

Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Network

Aims of the BME Network:
  • The BME Network exists to ensure that BME matters are considered for staff of black, Asian and ethnic minority heritage.
  • To drive forward racial equality within the County Council, as an employer and service provider
  • Ensure that BME colleagues and service users are listened to and included
  • Ensure that sufficient weight is given to members’ diverse views and experiences
  • Ensure respect for everyone and make our collective voice heard