Age

Staff in the 16-20 years age group have ‘average’ perceptions of equality of opportunity, higher than the mental health sector benchmark. 

Staff in the 41-50 years age group report on average lower perceptions of equality of opportunity than all other age groups, and the mental health sector benchmark, with a decreasing trend over time. 

Across 2020-21 the Trust continued its work to promote age equality between people of different ages. Key achievements include: 

• Working with Finance to ensure Older Adults Care Group is consistently considered for funding opportunities 
• Raising age discrimination to the Trust wide Equality and Diversity Steering Group 

Key findings - Age

Workforce age representation - Green

• The Trust staff in FTE posts grew by 8.4% over three years from 2836 to 3077 in 2020. 
• The largest absolute percentage increase in any age group in the workforce over the last three years was the extra 45 people in the 61-65 years’ group. 
• The smallest absolute percentage increase in any age group over the last three years was the extra 7 people in the 66-70 years’ group. 

Safe environment (bullying and harassment) by age - Green

• The 16-20 years group gave the highest safe environment score at 8.3 out of 10 of any age group in 2020, and just below the mental health provider benchmark for staff in that age group (8.6). 
• Scores decreased in 2020 (8.3) for the 66 and over age groups from 2019 (8.5), and either increased slightly or remained the same for all other age groups, the national trend increased (8.7) in the mental health benchmark for that particular age group (66+). 
• The 21-30 years group gave the lowest safe environment score at7.8 out of 10 of any age group in 2020, lower than the mental health provider benchmark for staff in that age group (8.3) and just lower than the Trust average score (8.0). 

Age equality, diversity and inclusion score 

• The 66 years’ + group gave the highest equality, diversity and inclusion score at 9.4 out of 10 of any age group in 2020, higher than the mental health provider benchmark for staff in that age group (9.2) and higher than the Trust average score (8.9). 
• The 41-50 years group gave the lowest equality, diversity and inclusion score at 8.8 out of 10 of any age group in 2020, lower than the community provider benchmark for staff in that age group (9.0), with a decreasing trend within the Trust over the past five-years. \

Next steps for age equality 2019-20

• Deliver a staff engagement programme aimed at identifying the experiences and needs of the growing number of staff aged 51+ years working at the Trust 
• Increase the awareness of age discrimination across the Trust