As a community interest, not for profit organisation, DHU Healthcare is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.
This week we’re celebrating Inclusive Recruitment as part of Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Week 2023, taking place from 9-12 May.
Inclusive recruitment is an opportunity for us to highlight the importance of diversity in the workplace and showcase the steps we have taken to ensure that our recruitment practices are inclusive and fair.
Unconscious Bias
A key part of promoting diversity and inclusion in our recruitment practices is through a newly developed unconscious bias training program, recently introduced and rolled out across DHU. The program, aimed at recruitment colleagues and others interested in taking part, encourages people to recognise their own biases, teaching them to become more aware of when they surface and how to overcome them. This has enabled DHU to attract and retain a diverse range of talent to create a workplace that better reflects the communities we serve.
We gathered some feedback from our first few sessions, one said: "I attended the Unconscious Bias Training provided by DHU and found it to be a great starting point to recognise how I see people in relation to myself. It made me consider more carefully my own actions and encouraged me to reflect on my practice and approach. It was a great informative session.”
Another who attended the same training told us: "This training really made me think about my own actions and reflections. I hadn’t appreciated before the potential impact this has on the people I meet or how I worked. I would highly recommend the session to everyone."
Welcoming and Supportive Workplace
We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce not only benefits our employees but also leads to better outcomes for the patients and communities we serve. By celebrating inclusive recruitment, we hope to inspire other organisations to prioritise diversity and inclusion in their recruitment practices and create workplaces that are welcoming and supportive for everyone.
Chris Rowe, DHU Healthcare's Head of Talent Acquisition, spoke about the journey DHU is taking to ensure inclusivity and equality, saying: "We are committed to providing a level playing field for all candidates, and that starts with ensuring our recruitment processes are free from any form of bias or discrimination. We are taking steps to ensure that our job descriptions and recruitment materials are inclusive and free from discriminatory language, and that we provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities and other protected characteristics.
“There is always work we can do to make our recruitment practices truly inclusive, and we are committed to continuing to review and improve our processes, encouraging feedback from all candidates to ensure that anyone looking to join us has an equal opportunity to succeed."
Inclusive recruitment is a time to celebrate our commitment to diversity and inclusion and recognise the importance of creating a more equitable and just society. We look forward to continuing our work to promote diversity and inclusion in our workplace and beyond.
Publish date: 11 May 2023