Equality and diversity

Our approach to equality and diversity is at the heart of our efforts to meet the needs of our diverse communities. Diversity is one of our corporate values and is championed at Board and in our Executive Management team. Our commitment to equality and diversity aims to create a way of working that enables us to respond to the needs of all communities in a way that is fair and proportionate. 

Board advisory group

To support us in setting and delivering our vision for diversity we established a board advisory group for equality and diversity. Reporting to our board and executive team, the Equality and diversity advisory group - chaired by Dorian Leatham - consists of stakeholders with a commitment to and expertise in diversity issues. The advisory group continues to play an important role in developing new ideas, championing diversity and holding us to account.

• Equality and diversity advisory group members

Equality duties

As a public body the Equality Act 2010 requires us to meet certain statutory duties. These duties are unique to equality law because they give public bodies a legal responsibility to take proactive measures to address inequality. The purpose of the statutory duty framework is to assist public bodies to tackle persistent and long-standing issues of disadvantage. 

 The general duty requires us to give due regard to equality in the way we go about our business as an investor, enabler, regulator and employer. In doing this we must take steps to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act
• Advance equality of opportunity between people
• Foster good relations between people 

In addition, we are also required to meet a specific equality duty which only applies to certain public bodies like local authorities, schools, government bodies and the police. This requires us to demonstrate how we deliver equality outcomes by:

• Publishing annual equality information from 31 January 2012 that shows our performance and can be used by the public to hold us to account
  • Equality information 2012 - PDF (688KB) - published 31 January 2013
  • Equality information 2011 - PDF (590KB)

On 5 December 2011 we published a consultation on our future equality objectives. Although we were not required to consult on these objectives we have done so because we have a longstanding commitment to engage and listen to our partners and the communities we serve. Further information on our consultation can be found below:

• Read the consultation document - PDF (185KB)
• See the consultation response document - PDF (168KB)

Our equality objectives 2012-15

1. Promoting recognition of the value of accessible housing through our investment and enabling role

2. Promoting investment that meets the needs of older people

3. Promoting investment that meets the needs of Traveller communities

4. Promoting investment that meets the needs of BME and faith communities

5. Encouraging the participation of community / specialist providers in investment

6. Ensuring that the way in which the serious detriment test is implemented considers the impact on equality and diversity

7. Achieving a positive and fair working environment where diversity is led at all levels

8. Demonstrating effective diversity practice through the HCA Board, Regulation Committee and Advisory Groups

9. Improving the representation and visibility of disabled and lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) people in our workforce

On 19 November 2012 we published an equality and diversity strategy – PDF (311KB) setting out how we plan to achieve these objectives.