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This Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Week (10-14 May 2021) we are delighted to welcome Mercy Kaggwa as Norfolk Community Heath and Care NHS Trust’s first dedicated Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Advisor. Mercy joins NCH&C from the N&N where she was the B.A.M.E Staff Network Co-Chair, and where she also continues to be the Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals Charity Fundraising Coordinator.

This newly-created role reflects the importance of equality, diversity and as a factor in the delivery of high-quality patient care, staff retention and improving engagement levels and staff experience across organisations, and Mercy will engage with staff across NCH&C to help the continual improvement of our positive and inclusive workplace culture, developing a range of equality, diversity and inclusion related initiatives and projects in support of the trust’s equality, diversity and inclusion ambitions, as well as those set out in the NHS People Plan.

Alex Watson, HR Business Partner, said: “We're delighted to welcome Mercy to NCH&C. In this new role, Mercy will make a crucial contribution to the programme of work that looks to eliminate inequalities and influence and embed inclusion within our organisation to benefit our staff, our patients and the community to which we provide services."

Mercy will also play a key role in supporting the trust’s compliance with statutory and public sector equality duties, including the Equality Delivery System, Workforce Race and Disability Equality Standards and Gender Pay Gap, as well as supporting activities to maintain the trust’s Disability Confident status. Working closely with the Talent for Care team she will support the development of opportunities for people with Learning Disabilities and other under-represented groups. She will also contribute to a wider review of trust recruitment practices to ensure staffing reflects the diversity of our community.

Mercy said: “Inclusion is at the heart of healthcare. Working together to treat patients and improve lives within our region and beyond within the NHS cannot be accomplished without true inclusivity. Our county has become richly diverse within recent years and proves to continue with trend: gender, race, religion, ability and  sexuality are issues that affect us all and are issues in which we can support each other in living and working together successfully no matter who we are or where we come from. I hope that my passion for inclusivity supports the already amazing work that the HR team and staff reps here at NCH&C have been carrying out and I look forward to learning, educating and implementing positive effective change on this journey with you all.