Equality Objectives 2012 - 2016
RPA is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. As an employer we are also committed to equality and valuing diversity within our workforce.
On 31 January RPA published workforce equality information in the first step to meeting our legal requirements under the specific duties regulations of the public sector Equality Duty.
Based on that information we have worked closely with Defra to develop and publish Departmental equality objectives for our people which will steer the direction across the Defra Network, including the Agencies. These objectives are based around the four pillars of Defra’s People Strategy and mirror the commitments in the Civil Service Diversity Strategy in relation to Capacity, Culture, Commitment and Capability.
RPA will report into Defra against these objectives via refreshed Governance arrangements. Progress against the overarching People Objectives will form part of Defra’s annual diversity monitoring.
More information on what Defra is doing is available on the Defra Diversity Pages.
We have also looked closely at our customer information and have developed additional equality objectives for the Agency that are aligned to our strategic aims and our Business Plan. These objectives cover the four year period from April 2012 to 31 March 2016.
RPAs Equality Objectives for 2012-16 will be published on our external website at the same time as our Business Plan.
We will demonstrate progress against these objectives by refreshing our equality information as and when updates are available, but at least every year by 31 January, and by providing progress reports in the RPA Annual Report from April 2013.
It is important to note these objectives do not capture the full range of work that is carried out by RPA, but focuses on the key areas where we believe we can have the greatest positive impact on our people and customers in line with our strategic aims.
Further information about the specific duties and the requirement to publish equality objectives can be found on the Government Equalities Office website.
Page published: 5 April 2012