- Conference
- 2026 National Community Conference and Seminar
- Date
- 5 November 2025
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that a number of community organisations have funding and commissions from the National Health Service (NHS). As part of the contract compliance, they are encouraged to adopt the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) and Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES), which are vital tools in addressing systemic inequalities faced by our Black and disabled members. Further, for those community organisations that provide mental health services, they are required to report on their progress against the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF). There are no equivalents in the devolved Nations.
Currently, there is no specific NHS workforce equality standard to support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Plus (LGBT+) staff in the same way. LGBT+ staff, while supported by a growing body of inclusion policies, do not benefit from a dedicated Workforce Equality Standard that can effectively address systemic issues and barriers faced by LGBT+ staff. Data collection and monitoring on LGBT+ staff experiences are inconsistent across the community sector, making it challenging to fully understand and address disparities in recruitment, retention, and career progression.
Conference notes that UNISON’s Health Service Group are advocating for the introduction of a LGBT+ Workforce Equality Standard, which would provide NHS Trusts and community organisations delivering health services with clear metrics to ensure equality for LGBT+ staff, enhance data collection on LGBT+ staff experiences, and guide necessary policy improvements.
Conference calls on the Community Service Group Executive to:
1)Work with the Health Service Group Executive to consider the impact of the requirements of PCREF, WRES, WDES and a potential LGBT+ Workforce equality standard on members working in the community sector.
2)Produce guidance on the application of workforce equality standards in the community service group.
3)Work with UNISON’s National LGBT+ Committee to highlight the relevance of an LGBT+ Workforce Equality Standard implemented the NHS for our members working in community.