National Day for Staff Networks: Wednesday 12 May 2021
What is the National Day for Staff Networks all about?
Staff network groups in organisations across the UK are celebrating the National Day for Staff Networks on Wednesday 12th May 2021.
Also known as Networks Day, the national day for staff networks aims to encourage collaboration, support aligned activity and further inspire the voice of network members. Many staff networks provide employees from under-represented groups with valuable guidance and timely advice as they navigate their organisation’s culture and endeavour to offer their authentic best in the workplace.
This year sees the national day for staff networks celebrating its 5th anniversary! Five years of networks #makingworkbetter. It truly is a day of celebrating the diverse range of work across the public, private and voluntary sectors which continues to foster an inclusive workplace.
The theme for 2021 is #Togetherness.
We recognise that the people who work for us are our greatest asset and when they feel supported and happy in work this positivity reaches those very people we are here for – service users. We are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive organisation and ensuring that we harness the talents of all our staff fully.
One of the ways we wish to support this is through the development of specific staff networks that contribute to addressing and solving problems for all under-represented and disadvantaged groups and individuals within our organisation.
In celebration of Staff Networks Day 2021, please find out details about the networks available to our GMMH staff below.
BAME Network
Empowering BAME staff to achieve their potential through creating positive change. BAME (Black Asian Minority Ethnic) applies to everyone who self-identifies their ethnicity as other than White British.
- Empowering BAME staff to achieve their potential through creating positive change
- The network is a source of support for new and existing BAME employees on career pathways and development of opportunities GMMH wide
- The network also assists GMMH to meet strategic objectives to improve patient experience and staff experience by best utilising the skills and resources of its Black Asian and Minority Ethnic employees in order to add value to the organisation.
Our priorities are:
- Achieving a membership of at least 10% of GMMH BAME staff figures
- Systematically working through the networks 3 year action plan
- The action plan will be reviewed and updated on a yearly basis by the network steering group
- Improved BAME representation in junior, middle and senior leadership in the organisation by at least 10% by 2021
- Reducing the incidents of BAME staff going through the disciplinary process. The WRES report 2018 which showed that BAME staff were 2.64 times more likely to go through a disciplinary than their white colleagues
- Increase awareness in the organisation of BAME related issues.
Staff can find out about how to join on our intranet here.
Disability Network
The Disability Network is for staff with a disability or long-term health condition and their allies who work for GMMH. The group provides a platform for disabled colleagues to share work related experiences and influence future policy/practice.
Our aims are:
- To provide a regular forum for discussing disability related issues at work
- To provide networking opportunities/meeting other people with lived experience of disability
- To offer support, advice and information to all staff members
- To gain feedback from disabled staff, which is then fed back into appropriate GMMH forums
- To disseminate disability related information to all staff across GMMH
- To educate and promote good practice regarding disability, across the GMMH footprint
- To help make GMMH a great place to work.
Staff can find out about how to join on our intranet here.
LGBT+ Network
The Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust (GMMH) Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Trans (LGBT+) Staff Network aims to work in partnership with GMMH to create a safe, inclusive and diverse working environment that encourages respect and equality for all and a space that values and recognises the differences between sexual orientation and gender identity and works proactively to address these.
Our aims are:
- To provide a regular forum for discussing diversity issues at work
- To provide networking opportunities
- To offer support, advice and information to LGBT+ staff members
- To discuss and action feedback on LGBT+ staff-related issues
- To gain feedback from LGBT+ staff, which is then fed back into appropriate GMMH forums
- To disseminate LGBT+ related information to all staff across GMMH
- Organising social events.
Staff can find out how to join on our intranet here.
