Staff Networks

The Trust has developed a set of dynamic staff networks to support us on our journey to becoming a fully inclusive organisation where people matter most. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion are the ‘Golden Thread’. Our Networks provide a forum for staff to come together, share ideas, raise awareness of challenges and support each other. They are also a source for the Trust to consult on key workforce priorities, which they help shape and feed into. They support the Trust in promoting equal opportunities, respecting and acknowledging the diversity of staff who work for us, the patients and their families we care for, and other stakeholders who are part of our wider community.

Our Staff Networks are a testament to our commitment to diversity and inclusion. They are open to all, regardless of their employment journey, as allies or as individuals who identify with a protected characteristic. Each network, with the Trust’s support, works on a set of priorities and actively raises awareness by celebrating key inclusion calendar events. Their achievements are a source of pride and inspiration for us all.

We have a dedicated Equalities Team based at Russells Hall hospital consisting of a head of equalities, equalities business partner and a network coordinator. The team has a large portfolio of support available to all staff and managers across the organisation including, equality, diversity and inclusion training and education, policies, guidelines, and much more.

LGBTQ+ Staff Network

The key objectives of our Network are to:

Give LGBTQ+ employees a voice through empowerment, support and a means of raising collective issues in relation to their employment.
Represent the interests of LGBTQ+ employees within the Trust.
Work with senior management and all employees regardless of banding or role to build an organisation where equity and equality of opportunities exist for all.

EmbRACE Staff Network

The key objectives of our Network are to:

Provide staff from diverse backgrounds and cultural heritages with a voice through empowerment and support with a welcoming and safe space.
Represent the interests of black, Asian and staff from different ethnic minorities within the DGFT.
Work with senior management to build an organisation where equity and equality of opportunities exists for all.

Disability Staff Network

The key objectives of our Network are to:

Give employees with a disability or long-term condition a voice through empowerment and support and a means of raising collective issues in relation to their employment.
Represent the interests of disabled employees within The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust (DGFT).
Work with senior management and all employees regardless of banding or role to build an organisation where equity and equality of opportunities exist for all

Women’s Staff Network

The key objectives of our Network are to:

Provide staff who identify as women with a voice through empowerment and support and a means of raising collective issues in relation to their employment.
Represent the interests of women within the Trust.
Work with senior management to build an organisation where equity and equality of opportunities exists for all.

Armed Forces Staff Network

The main objectives of the Network are:

To provide an arena where issues can be openly discussed and signposts to external services or staff side representatives.
To influence policy making and monitor existing policies to ensure that equality is proactively considered.
To co-ordinate internal events and initiatives to promote the Armed Forces Network.
To support local and national Armed Forces events and initiatives
To raise the profile of the Armed Forces Community.
To promotes opportunities for social networking.

The Group have been supporting the Veterans Aware accreditation and the Trust are proud to have been awarded the Veterans Aware Kite mark in December 2023.

Staff Carer Network

The Staff Carer Network is newly formed. The network supports employees who are Carers. It is a source of information for Carers as well as a way to improve the wellbeing of staff and provide an opportunity for peer support.

The main objectives of the Network is:

To help reduce the isolation that can be felt by staff carers.
To raise carer awareness across the Trust.
To signpost and refer carers to additional support provided both internally and externally.
To influence policy making and monitor existing policies to ensure that equality is proactively considered.
To co-ordinate internal events and initiatives to promote the Network.
To support local and national Carers events and initiatives.
To collaborate with the EmbRACE, Disability, Women’s, Armed Forces & Veterans and LGBTQ+ Staff Networks to promote intersectionality and provide peer support.

Our new bi-Monthly newsletter

Find out what the equalities team and the staff networks are working on and how they are making a difference to the staff and in turn the patients we serve. We produce bi- monthly newsletters, to read the latest versions please click on the links below. If you would like to know more please email: dgft.edi@nhs.net

Staff Networks

LGBTQ+ Staff Network

EmbRACE Staff Network

Disability Staff Network

Women’s Staff Network

Armed Forces Staff Network

Staff Carer Network

Our new bi-Monthly newsletter

2025 newsletters

2024 newsletters