Lead Member – Councillor Lezley Picton – Leader and Portfolio Holder for Policy, Strategy, Improvement and Communications.

Report of Sam Williams, Assistant Director – Workforce and Improvement

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet –

1.     Adopted the proposed protocol attached at Appendix 1 t

2.     Signed up to the Safe Ageing No Discrimination (SAND) Covenant, as the first to be considered under this protocol, with the following provisos:

· that assurances be given by SAND to seek to support work across the Protected Characteristic groupings of Age and Sexual Orientation, recognising depth and diversity within these groupings as well as their particular field of working with older people;

· that officers engage with SAND itself and share and develop joint good practice with other advocacy organisations, to complement engagement efforts with and for all Protected Characteristic groupings.

The Leader and Portfolio Holder for Policy and Strategy, Improvement and Communications introduced the report which sought Cabinet agreement for a protocol for determining whether to approve proposals to sign up to specific covenants and campaigns. If approved Cabinet was asked to sign up to the Safe Ageing No Discrimination (SAND) Covenant, the first to then be considered using this protocol.

Members noted that SAND CIC is a group working to improve the experience of older and old lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people as they access health and social care services. Groups and organisations in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin local authority areas had been invited to sign up through a Covenant to five broad commitments, agree an annual action plan for change, and then report progress and share their next year plan at an annual event.

Members wholeheartedly supported the proposals and it was

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet –

1.     Adopted the proposed protocol attached at Appendix 1 t

2.     Signed up to the Safe Ageing No Discrimination (SAND) Covenant, as the first to be considered under this protocol, with the following provisos:

· that assurances be given by SAND to seek to support work across the Protected Characteristic groupings of Age and Sexual Orientation, recognising depth and diversity within these groupings as well as their particular field of working with older people;

· that officers engage with SAND itself and share and develop joint good practice with other advocacy organisations, to complement engagement efforts with and for all Protected Characteristic groupings.