The Scottish Government

Diversity Task Force 16th June 2004

Present:

1 Minute of previous meeting and matters arising

1.1

4.2 Impact

Audit Information: agreed to highlight and formalise - Contact Lynn Anderson

with any audit - to date none has been received.

4.4 Good email exchange has informed Paper 2

Action - Why were things not done?

Agreed to issue a summary of action points within 2-3 days of meeting

Review action points at next meeting.

4.2 Impact

Further request for information to secretariat

Timescale within next 2 weeks

· Pull all relevant information to secretariat

· Email and/or paper copies to Lynn Anderson

4.3 Communications

Networks require to be mapped. In particular, Groups/Professions in contact with, i.e. this agenda.

Agreed to feed though central portal out with and within group

National resource centre has national networks and these should be utilised

4.4 Gap between what is said and delivery

Good response so far

5. Terms of Reference

Paper 2 for today

6. Membership

Agreed to review membership, and suggestions for additional members welcome. The following have already been put forward:

Gillian Lenahan

Phillip Coghill

Susan Russell

The group agreed that there was a need for staff members in addition to trade union officials. It was highlighted that staff from Lanarkshire and Tayside had already volunteered. In addition Lynn has contacted other organisations for membership. It was noted that National Black organisations must be involved. The issue of lobby groups was discussed, and concerns that this group may be used as a business opportunity by some should be explored.

Further issues covered

· Possible size of the task force

· Corporate or activist based committee

· Representation on the 6 strands of diversity

· Important that the DTF be seen as inclusive but targeted.

It was agreed that the group should be overarching, focussed and with clear objectives.

2. Future Remit Structure and Membership

This document built on from comments received following last meeting.

3. Tool kits and Training

· Existing toolkits and training available were discussed. Further development of existing material through establishing a core database was identified. The need to identify training needs and whether this could be done on line.

· The need for quality assurance on diversity training was highlighted and the inclusion of diversity as mainstream education emphasised.

· Funding - there are untapped resources in training staff which could be utilised for this purpose. No point in devising schemes without resource to release staff. In terms of funding it was stated that there are some existing resources - monies within, for example, mental health.

. The practice of including diversity as part of job descriptions and the appraisal process was highlighted Unless diversity is included in job descriptions then it was felt that it has no meaning

The existence of those who "need" and who can be identified as needing diversity training was acknowledged but with no clear idea as yet as to how to target these individuals.

Rafik Gardee agreed to circulate the existing report on training requirements re diversity

The following were agreed as a possible way forward

· DTF will acknowledge and reward work others are doing

· DTF can make 'symbolic acts'

· Rebadge toolkits - training to training and learning

· Scoping developing and targeting

· Need to include formal evaluation input to this work and review at a fundamental level

i.e. will this work?

4 Date and time of next meeting

September 21st 0900-1230 Meridian Court

Lynn to contact i.e. work of expectations prior to next meeting

September meeting to review and set objectives - access possible resources

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