The Ten Essential Shared Capabilities

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• Race equality and cultural capability
  • 1. How BME service users have experienced mental health services
  • 2. Key factors from this overall experience
  • 3. Defining race and culture
  • 4. Breaking the Circles of Fear
  • 5. An organisational focus on change
  • 6. A holistic approach as the key to assessment
  • 7. Delivering race equality
  • 8. Links to further learning
  • 9. Definitions
  • 10. Legal Context - Race

10: Legal context – race

Race Relations Act (1976, Amendment 2000)

The Act builds on the Race Relations Act of 1976 by imposing on Public Authorities a general duty to eliminate unlawful discrimination with regard to all of their functions. In addition the authorities need to be able to demonstrate active promotion of race equality. Compliance is mandatory and the Commission for Racial Equality has enforcement powers.

The specific duties that an Authority will have to address are to:

• assess which of their functions are relevant
• assess the impact of current policies on race equality and of policies being developed
• consult with minority ethnic community and user groups
• develop ethnic monitoring systems and publish the results
• ensure that its information and services are accessible to all ethnic groups – including BME groups
• ensure that training in delivering race equality is in place
• publish a Race Equality Scheme and action plan for implementation and monitoring
• report on progress with the Scheme.