Diversity

A key CSP mission is to protect and further advance the interests and working lives of our members – physiotherapists, physiotherapy assistants and physiotherapy students. To this end, the CSP is working to ensure that equality and diversity principles are fully integrated into all areas of the Society’s services.

Please use the links below to view the content:

Diversity Network Groups

There are currently three CSP diversity network groups:

  • Black Minority Ethnic (BME) network
  • Disabled Members network
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) network

These groups provide the opportunity for their members to meet to discuss clinical and workplace issues that have particular relevance to equalities, to hear speakers and to network. For more information on our diversity network groups please see our diversity network groups page.

CSP Equalities and Diversities Group

The CSP’s Equalities and Diversities Group (EADG) reports directly to Council and meets twice yearly. It comprises representatives from various members’ groups, including the BME, LGBT and disabled networks, and from particular areas of expertise. Staff from relevant functions of the CSP also attend. The group is co-ordinated by the CSP’s Employment Relations and Union Services (ERUS) function.

The role of the EADG is to develop and promote diversity/equality to the Society’s membership and to examine all diversity issues likely to affect entry to the physiotherapy profession and CSP members. The group also:

  • prepares guidelines for members and staff on particular issues
  • publicises and widens knowledge of diversity issues amongst the CSP’s membership, staff and others
  • informs, influences and liaises with relevant agencies, NHS Employers and government, in particular, to develop training in diversity issues
  • ensures that all information, briefings and policies produced by the CSP show evidence that diversity issues have been incorporated during their development

The Equalities and Diversities Group is currently engaged in developing guidance on sexual orientation monitoring, contributing to CSP guidance on clinical placements for disabled students and an equalities training toolkit for CSP stewards.

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CSP staff Equalities Improvements Group (EIG)

The CSP’s Equalities Improvements Group (EIG) was established in early 2003 following internal audits carried out across the CSP’s facilities and services in 2002. Comprising staff representatives from all parts of the organisation, the principal purpose of the group was to co-ordinate action to implement the recommendations arising from the audit, and to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

The group’s achievements to date include:

  • the development of a comprehensive guide and self audit form for training, workshops, meetings and other events
  • improvements to the access to the CSP’s Bedford Row office, including more induction loops for people hard of hearing, a text phone at reception, vibrating bleeps to alert deaf visitors in case of fire, improved signage and refurbishment of the accessible toilets
  • updating of software in the CSP’s Learning Resource Centre to enable visually impaired visitors to access databases (see below for more information on support for members with disabilities)
  • the introduction of Diversity Officers for all Clinical/Occupational Interest Groups and training days for these Diversity Officers
  • targeted recruitment to try to develop a more diverse staff profile to reflect the population, for example by advertising the CSP annually in the Ethnic Britain directory and through using ethnic minority and disabled websites
  • updating the CSP’s Equalities and Diversity Policy

The Equalities Improvements Group is currently engaged in equality monitoring and will be conducting an impact assessment in 2008/09 in order to be able to make a systematic assessment of the CSP’s progress on equalities issues.

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Support for members with disabilities

The CSP is very grateful to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) who funded the purchase of a 64-cell Braille keyboard, which is now available via an appointment system in the CSP Learning Resource Centre (LRC). The 'Brailliant' keyboard gives Braille users tactile access to a computer. Anyone wanting to make use of this resource needs to make an appointment at least twenty four hours in advance of their visit, in order to give staff time to charge up the keyboard so this resource will be fully operational for their visit. Appointments to visit the CSP Learning Resource Centre can be made by telephoning 020 7306 6666 or by emailing enquiries@csp.org.uk.

The LRC also has the Cicero package, which allows users to scan a document and then have it read out to them via speakers or headphones. There is a magnifier/screen reader package (ZoomText Xtra 8.0) which, for example, magnifies the computer desktop and reads from documents created in Word etc. The LRC also has the JAWS (Windows version 8.0) screen reader package which works with web pages. There are two alternative keyboards available to work with the PCs in the LRC: one has yellow keys with black writing on them, and one has black keys with white writing on them. There is also a CCTV available: this enlarges text from books and journals and projects the enlarged image onto a computer screen.

The LRC Enquiry Desk has a hearing induction loop to assist visitors who wear a hearing aid. Finally, the LRC is accessible to wheelchair users.

Useful websites

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