Race equality duty

Race equality scheme

The health and social care sector was exposed as “laggard” in terms of its compliance with the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 by the Health Care Commission investigation, in August 2006. Within the context of this scheme, employers are urged to carefully consider how they can build a clear and explicit infrastructure upon which to deliver coherent race equality outcomes.

The RCN's Race Equality Scheme (RES) shows how we will promote race equality and meet the range of specific duties within, such as monitoring employment and service delivery outcomes.

The race equality scheme can be downloaded (PDF 150.9KB).

The Race Relations Act

The Race Relations Act provides protection from racial discrimination in the fields of employment, education, training, housing, and the provision of goods, facilities and services. You have the right not to be discriminated against because of your race. This includes your national origin, colour, and ethnicity.

The Act was amended in 2000 to create a powerful piece of legislation in driving forward equality. The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 was enacted following the publication of the McPherson Report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. It forces the majority of public authorities to carry out a general duty to promote:

Many public authorities also have a number of specific duties, including:

  • publishing a race equality scheme
  • assessing the impact of its policies and functions upon people of different racial groups
  • monitoring by racial group the recruitment and career progression of staff and the recruitment and progress of employeess
  • publishing the results
  • training employees on race equality issues.

The amended Act applies to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). There is a separate Race Relations Order which applies to Northern Ireland (and a separate Equality Commission for Northern Ireland).

What is a race equality scheme

A race equality scheme (RES) should give you information about the things a public authority will do to ensure that it meets its responsibilities under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

What should it contain?

A RES should show how the organisation:

  • determines which of its functions and policies are most relevant to race equality
  • ensures that all groups benefit from the services they provide and are not placed at a disadvantage
  • consults with a range of different groups
  • deals with complaints about they way it manages its race equality responsibilities
  • trains its staff in their responsibilities under the Act
  • publishes the results of any consultations, assessments and monitoring on race equality.

More information is available on the Commission For Race Equality website at: www.cre.gov.uk.