Equal Opportunities Policy
Introduction
The Register of Support Providers is committed to promoting equality
of opportunity in all aspects of the work of the project. As such, the
following Equality of Opportunity has been written to outline the
Register’s commitment to equality of opportunity.
The aim of this policy is to communicate the promotion of equality of
opportunity by the Register to all those accessing and participating in
the Register. This policy sets out:
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Statement of policy
To whom the does the policy apply to
Equality commitments
Implementation
Monitoring and review
Complaints
Should you require a copy of this policy in an alternative format,
please contact the Register directly at:
Register of Support Providers
Student Support Centre
Room 15G20H
Jordanstown Campus
BT37 0QB
Tel: 02890 366936
Email: supportproviders@ulster.ac.uk
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Statement of policy
The Register of Support Providers is committed to promoting equality
of opportunity. It is our policy to provide equality of opportunity to all
those accessing and participating in the Register, irrespective of:
 Gender, including gender reassignment
 Marital of civil partnership status
 Having or not having dependants
 Religious belief or political opinion
 Race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins,
being an Irish Traveller)
 Disability
 Sexual orientation
 Age
The Register is opposed to all forms of unlawful and unfair
discrimination. All those who access and participate in the Register
will not be discriminated against on any of the above grounds.
Decisions about recruitment and selection, promotion, training,
allocation of support and any other decision will be made objectively
without unlawful discrimination.
The Register recognises that the provision of equal opportunities is
not only good management practice; it also makes sounds business
sense.
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To whom does the policy apply?
The Register’s Equal Opportunities Policy applies to:
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Support provider applicants and prospective applicants
Support providers
Disabled students and prospective disabled students
All other stakeholders or interested parties
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Equality Commitments
The Register of Support Providers is committed to:
 Promoting equality of opportunity for all persons
 Promoting a good and harmonious environment for which all
persons are treated with respect
 Preventing occurrences of unlawful direct discrimination,
indirection discrimination, harassment and victimisation
 Fulfilling all our legal obligations under equality legislation and
associated codes of practice
 Complying with our own equal opportunities policy and
associated policies
 Taking lawful affirmative action or positive action, where
appropriate
 Regarding all breaches of equal opportunities policy as
misconduct which could lead to disciplinary proceedings
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Implementation
In order to implements it’s Equal Opportunities Policy, the Register of
Support Providers will:
 Communicate the policy to all those who access and participate
in the Register
 Provide equality training and guidance as appropriate
 Ensure that those who are involved in assessing candidates for
recruitment will be trained in non-discriminatory selection
techniques
 Incorporate equal opportunities notices into
communications practices ( e.g. newsletters, internet)
general
 Obtain commitments from other persons or organisations such
as agencies / external trainers that they too will comply with the
policy in their dealings with the Register
 Ensure adequate resources are made available to fulfil the
objectives of the policy
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Monitoring and review
The Register will establish appropriate information and monitoring
systems to assist the effective implementation of our equal
opportunities policy.
The effectiveness of our equal opportunities policy will be
reviewed regularly and action taken as necessary.
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Complaints
If you believe you have suffered from any form of discrimination,
harassment of victimisation through accessing or participating in the
Register of Support Providers, you are entitled to raise the matter
with the Register Team.
All complaints of discrimination will be dealt with seriously, promptly
and confidentially.
In addition, to our internal procedures, individuals have the right to
pursue complaints of discrimination under the following antidiscrimination legislation:
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Sex discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976, as amended
Disability Discrimination Act 1995, as amended
Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997, as amended
Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations
(Northern Ireland) 2003
Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998,
as amended
Employment Equality (Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland)
2006
Equal Pay Act (Northern Ireland) 1970
Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (NI) 2006
Further information and advice on equality legislation and how to
make a complaint can be sought from the Equality Commission for
Northern Ireland:
Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Equality House
7 – 9 Shaftesbury Square
Belfast
BT2 7DP
Tel: 02890 500 600
Textphone: 02890 500 589
Fax: 02890 248 687
Email: information@equalityni.org
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Website: www.equalityni.org
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