DTL AS AN EMPLOYER

DTL's long-term goal is to ensure that the composition of its team grows to reflect the communities it serves. DTL believes that by applying good equal opportunities policies and practices in the recruitment and employment of staff and volunteers, the organisation will also improve its practices towards its clients and contribute towards making its services more responsive to the needs of different sections of the community. Consequently DTL's equal opportunities policy as an employer should not be seen in isolation but as part of an overall approach and commitment to staff, clients and the wider community.

DTL is dedicated to the promotion of equal opportunities in all aspects of employment. Hence this policy applies to vacancy advertising, selection and recruitment, training, promotion and conditions of service.

To ensure this policy is implemented effectively, DTL maintains records of employees' and applicants' racial origins, gender, sexual orientation and disability and ongoing monitoring and analysis to ensure the promotion of equal opportunities.

DTL AS A SERVICE PROVIDER

DTL aims to provide a range of services which recognises the needs and expectations of people from different sections of society. In particular DTL seeks to ensure that its services are as accessible and available as possible to all people irrespective of their age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, ethnic or cultural background, their drug using status or criminal record.

To this end DTL will:

• Respect the rights of all who come into contact with the organisation through the provision of a professional and high quality service which, as far as possible, meets the individual needs of clients.
• Seek to identify the needs of disadvantaged groups relevant to DTL services and attempt to ensure equality of opportunity of access to these services.
• Promote and encourage the take up of its services amongst specific groups in society who face disadvantage or discrimination or who have distinct needs which are not being met by existing services.
• Develop its methods of service delivery to make services more accessible to sections of society who have particular communication and information needs which disadvantage them in respect of existing services.
• Attempt to ensure that no client or client group is treated less favourably on any discriminatory ground in the provision and availability of services.
• Confront discriminatory and unfair policies and practices by other organisations or institutions which affect DTL's client group.
• Ensure that all those involved in the delivery of services understand that they are expected to demonstrate a commitment to equality of opportunity by implementing the principles of DTL's equal opportunities policy.

MONITORING, CONFIDENTIALITY AND GOOD PRACTICE

DTL recognises the importance of continuous development of effective monitoring and review of the implementation of equal opportunity policies. Appropriate methods of monitoring service delivery in terms of equal opportunity targets will therefore be developed.

Methods of monitoring equal opportunities will fully take into account the DTL policy of maintaining confidentiality in respect of all client contacts. In addition, all monitoring procedures will ensure that the effectiveness of DTL's service and its accessibility to clients is in no way compromised by intrusive monitoring methods. If clients do not wish to answer questions raised by equal opportunity monitoring their wishes will be respected.

DTL WILL MAKE THIS STATEMENT AVAILABLE TO CLIENTS AND COMMISSIONING BODIES UPON REQUEST