Equality and Diversity

🧠 What Equality & Diversity Mean Here

• Equality: Everyone gets fair treatment, whatever their background, identity or circumstances.

• Diversity: Difference is valued - whether neurotype, race, gender, sexuality, age, ability, or lived experience.

• Discrimination: Never okay. It means treating someone unfairly because of who they are (including unconscious bias).

• Harassment & Victimisation: Unwanted behaviour or punishment for speaking up - both taken seriously and not tolerated.

Protected characteristics include: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex, and sexual orientation (Equality Act 2010).

​

🌱 My Commitments

As a sole practitioner, I will:

• Treat every client with dignity, respect and fairness

• Make reasonable adjustments for access, communication, and sensory needs

• Offer information in different formats if needed (e.g. email instead of phone, easy-read, large print)

• Ensure booking, communication and therapy are inclusive and welcoming

• Be transparent about my policies and always open to feedback

• Challenge discrimination or harassment when I see it

• Keep learning through CPD and listening.
   

🛠️ Practical Standards

• Workforce: I work alone, so I hold myself accountable. I review this policy yearly or sooner if needed.

• Service Access: Therapy is offered based on fit and need - not labels or backgrounds.

• Information Access: I aim to comply with NHS Accessible Information principles (even though I’m a private service).

  • Ask about communication preferences

  • Use plain English

  • Offer alternative formats (e.g. email instead of calls, visual aids)
     

📢 Complaints & Concerns

If you ever experience discrimination, harassment or feel unsafe in any way, you can:

• Tell me directly - by email, contact form or in session

• Ask for adjustments to make sharing easier

• Expect compassion, confidentiality, and action

I take all concerns seriously and will respond with transparency and care.
 

🔐 Data Protection

Any information you share about protected characteristics or accessibility needs is stored securely, never shared without permission, and used only in line with UK GDPR.
 

🔍 Monitoring & Review

This policy is reviewed yearly or whenever needed due to legislation or feedback. You’re welcome to suggest changes - I want this policy to work for you, not just tick a box.
 

📎 Appendix (Examples of Unacceptable Behaviour)

These include, but aren’t limited to:

• Insults, name-calling, intrusive questions

• Misgendering or refusing to use correct pronouns

• Jokes about protected characteristics

• Sexual comments, staring, unwanted physical contact

• Excluding people from services or conversations

• Punishing someone for raising a concern

Even one incident can be harassment, whether intended or not.