Breaking through: leadership and race equality in the NHS

Breaking through: leadership and race equality in the NHS

Breaking through: leadership and race equality in the NHS

Foster C. Equal Opportunities Review (UK), May 2007, No. 164, Start page: 10, No. of pages: 7

Purpose – Describes Breaking Through, a program developed in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) to support black and ethnic minority people to reach leadership positions within it. Design/methodology/approach – Discusses why it is important for the quality of the services delivered by the NHS that black and ethnic minority people are employed at all levels within it, particularly at leadership levels. Sets out the initiatives that have been launched to increase diversity within the NHS before explaining the Break Through program and the training, development and career support it offers to black and ethnic minority employees. Underlines that the program is mainstreamed and open to all staff. Assesses the impact of the program and profiles the experience of two people who have taken part in it. Findings – Reports that the Break Through program is in its fourth year and has already enrolled more than 400 participants. Concludes that the NHS has made significant progress in attracting black and ethnic minority people to work in professional posts and to sit on the professional executive committees. However, underlines that there is still need for progress. Originality/value – Profiles the race equality programs developed by the National Health Service.ISSN: 0268-7143Reference: 36AL903

Keywords: Equal opportunities, Ethnic groups, National Health Service, Diversity management, Leadership, United Kingdom, Health care