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Diversity Networks

Diversity Networks2025-01-27T16:20:34+01:00

Join the BIOS EDI Diversity Networks

At the British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS), we are excited to launch the new BIOS EDI Diversity Networks, which is a new initiative designed to foster an inclusive and collaborative environment where all voices are heard and celebrated. These Diversity Networks will create a safe, collaborative space for diversity representatives to connect, discuss, and share insights on challenges and key achievements within their specific area of diversity.  These groups will also act as an advisory group to provide diversity related support to BIOS leadership and BIOS members to help drive awareness and positive changes across the orthoptic profession.

It is expected that these EDI groups will change over time according to the requirements identified by the diversity network and BIOS.  The initial groups that will be piloted as part of the launch of our new BIOS EDI Strategy are as follows:

Please contact the EDI lead directly if you have any other ideas for new potential Diversity networks. [email protected]

Interested in joining a diversity network? Fill in your details here.

EDI Governance Structure

The EDI governance structure presented in the diagram below is designed to provide clear lines of leadership and support within the newly proposed EDI team.  Here’s a breakdown of each of the governance levels:

Click to expand

The BIOS Council provides overarching guidance and oversight for the EDI initiatives. They ensure that EDI strategies align with BIOS’s overall goals and values.

The EDI Lead is a member of the BIOS Council and is responsible for reporting on progress toward achieving the EDI strategy. They also set clear goals and objectives for each Diversity Network, overseeing progress, providing support to overcome challenges, and celebrating successes.

Each diversity group will have a designated Diversity Lead. These leads are responsible for the leadership and coordination of activities within their respective diversity groups, to achieve their set objectives. They will work closely with the EDI Lead to communicate successes, key challenges, improvements required and report progress against their network’s objectives.

Reporting to each Diversity Lead, the Diversity Champions will work together to identify barriers and address gaps in available online content and resources. They will propose ideas to tackle key issues, provide advice and support to BIOS leadership and members, and actively advocate for BIOS, the orthoptic profession, and their respective diversity group.

EDI Champions are individuals who wish to contribute to the EDI strategy without being part of a specific diversity group. They will report directly to the EDI Lead and will meet regularly throughout the year to collaborate and drive progress on EDI initiatives.

Roles and Expectations

This section outlines the key responsibilities and expectations for all EDI roles within BIOS.  Anyone thinking of taking on an EDI role should be:

  • Proactive and enthusiastic about EDI advocacy.
  • Dedicate time to attend EDI meetings and support initiatives.
  • Respect confidentiality and demonstrate professionalism.
  • Work collaboratively with the EDI Lead, Diversity Leads and other Champions to achieve shared goals.
  • Uphold BIOS’s commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion in all activities.

Role: Provide leadership and direction for all diversity networks, ensuring alignment with BIOS’s EDI strategy and setting clear objectives to ensure progress and successes are clearly tracked. The EDI Lead also serves as a member of the BIOS Council of Experts.

Expectations:

  • Awareness and Advocacy: Stay informed about EDI-related challenges and successes to actively promote awareness and understanding. Provide guidance and support to each diversity network, empowering them to highlight key issues and celebrate achievements specific to their focus areas.
  • Professionalism: Represent BIOS by ensuring all communications align with the BIOS strategy, EDI strategy, and policies, maintaining the highest standards of privacy and confidentiality at all times.
  • Strategic Oversight: Oversee delivery of the BIOS EDI strategy across all diversity networks and set measurable and actionable objectives to monitor progress and drive meaningful outcomes.
  • Policy Review: Review and advise on BIOS policies to promote EDI within BIOS.
  • Resources: Maintain a comprehensive understanding of EDI resources available through BIOS, other professional bodies, and national organisations such as NHSE, NES, and NHS Wales. Regularly review BIOS resources to ensure they remain current and relevant. Collaborate with diversity networks and BIOS operational staff to develop new EDI resources that address emerging needs and support inclusivity.
  • Communication: Maintain regular communication with each diversity lead, ensuring they are well-informed about new developments and initiatives. All communications intended for BIOS members must first be approved by the BIOS leadership and disseminated through the BIOS Communications and Policy Officer to ensure consistency and alignment with organisational policies.
  • Support and Guidance: Offer ongoing guidance and support to Diversity Leads and Champions, empowering them to effectively implement EDI initiatives within their respective areas.
  • Reporting: Regularly report to the BIOS Trustees and the Council of Experts on progress towards EDI objectives, providing insights and updates on key milestones and outcomes.

Time: Approximately 3 – 5 hours per week.

Role: Plan and oversee activities of the Diversity Champions, ensuring alignment with the BIOS EDI strategy and set objectives from the EDI Lead.

Expectations:

  • Awareness and Advocacy: Stay informed about challenges within the diversity network and actively recruit new members to coordinate ideas for positive change and improvement.
  • Professionalism: Represent BIOS by ensuring all communications align with BIOS strategy, EDI strategy, and policies, upholding privacy and confidentiality at all times.
  • Meetings: Organise quarterly diversity meetings, set clear agendas, and document meeting actions and outcomes to track and communicate progress.
  • Ideas and Initiatives: Coordinate new initiatives to address barriers, identify current and emerging challenges, and develop practical, actionable solutions.
  • Communication: Maintain regular communication with the diversity network group, ensuring the EDI Lead and Diversity Champions are kept informed of new developments. Any communications intended for BIOS members must firstly be approved by BIOS leadership and shared to members through the BIOS Communications and Policy Officer.
  • Resources: Stay informed about available resources for the specific diversity network from BIOS, other professional bodies, and national organisations such as NHSE, NES, and NHS Wales. Schedule regular reviews of BIOS specific diversity resources to ensure they remain up to date, with support from BIOS operational staff. Contribute to the development of new resources to support the wider diversity network.
  • Support: Address issues or queries raised by BIOS members, offering targeted support within your diversity network. Serve as an advisor to BIOS on upcoming communications, celebrations, event planning, and other relevant initiatives.
  • Report: Regularly report progress on objectives to the EDI Lead, providing updates on achievements, challenges, and next steps.
  • Time: Approximately 2 – 3 hours per week.

Role: Serve as advocates and representatives for BIOS members, particularly those with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

Expectations:

  • Awareness and Advocacy: Stay informed about challenges within the diversity network and proactively offer ideas for change and improvement.
  • Professionalism: Represent BIOS by ensuring all communications align with BIOS strategy, EDI strategy, and policies, upholding privacy and confidentiality at all times.
  • Meetings: Attend quarterly meetings regularly, actively engaging in discussions by listening attentively and contributing ideas.
  • Ideas and Initiatives: Participate in discussions around current and emerging challenges, supporting the development of practical and effective solutions.
  • Communication: Maintain active communication within the diversity network group and assist in the creation of new communications for BIOS approval.
  • Resources: Stay updated on relevant topics and resources, ensuring that materials such as website content, online resources, diversity calendars, social media, and email communications remain current and relevant.
  • Support: Collaborate with other Diversity Champions to address issues or queries raised by BIOS members, providing targeted support within your diversity network. Serve as an advisor on upcoming communications, event planning, and other initiatives.
  • Feedback Collection: Assist in gathering feedback from various departments, ensuring that insights are comprehensive and effectively communicated to inform decision-making.
  • Time: Approximately 1 – 2 hours per week.

Role: Serve as advocates for BIOS’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) strategy, supporting its implementation and promoting inclusivity across all areas of the organisation.

Expectations:

  • Awareness and Advocacy: Stay informed about EDI-related challenges and opportunities, contributing ideas to drive positive change and improvement.
  • Professionalism: Represent BIOS in line with its strategic goals and EDI policies, maintaining privacy and confidentiality at all times.
  • Meetings: Attend regular meetings with the EDI Lead, actively listening and contributing to discussions.
  • Ideas and Initiatives: Collaborate on identifying and addressing current and emerging EDI challenges, supporting the creation of practical solutions.
  • Communication:
  • Resources: Stay updated on relevant topics and resources, ensuring that materials such as website content, online resources, diversity calendars, social media, and email communications remain current and relevant.
  • Support: Represent local BIOS members by proactively recognise new emerging EDI challenges and highlight successes within the EDI space. Collaborate with the EDI Lead and other Champions to develop impactful communications that highlight progress and promote inclusivity.
  • Feedback Collection: Gather insights and feedback from members to help shape and refine BIOS’s EDI strategies and activities.
  • Time: Approximately 1 – 2 hours per week.

How the Networks Will Be Managed

The Diversity Networks are to be coordinated by the BIOS EDI Lead, who oversees Diversity Leads appointed from within the BIOS community. Each Diversity Lead will be responsible for recruiting EDI Champions within their specific area of focus, creating a team that collaborates on issues relevant to that diversity area, to actively promotes EDI values, and provide valuable insights and recommendations to BIOS leadership.

This group will aim to meet on a quarterly basis, with each meeting generating recorded minutes, actions, and key decisions to ensure clear communication and accountability. Diversity Leads will also be responsible for compiling regular reports for the EDI Lead, who will in turn prepare an overarching report for BIOS Trustees, highlighting progress against agreed objectives and key achievements/challenges across all networks.

To support these efforts, each Diversity Network will receive a comprehensive set of resource templates designed to help them manage meetings, communications and submit new initiatives for approval from BIOS.  This structure is designed to ensure that each network is well-equipped to make a lasting impact and drive forward BIOS’s commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Get Involved and Make a Difference

Joining a BIOS EDI Diversity Network is a powerful way to contribute to a more inclusive orthoptic profession. Members who participate actively will have the chance to make a real difference, shaping the future of BIOS while building valuable skills and connections. We’re looking for committed individuals passionate about EDI to help lead and participate in these networks. BIOS will also recognise exceptional contributions with our new EDI Digital Badge programme, allowing members to display their commitment on social media and within professional circles.

Be part of something transformative—join a BIOS EDI Diversity Network today and help us build a community that truly reflects and respects the diversity of the people we serve.

 

Become a BIOS EDI STAR Today:

  • Support: Enhance personal and professional skills in communication, teamwork, leadership, and advocacy to engage inclusively and support others respectfully.
  • Trust: Foster an environment of trust, encouraging open and transparent dialogue where members feel safe to share ideas, experiences, and perspectives.
  • Active Belonging: Contribute actively to building a sense of belonging. Celebrate each member’s unique identity and ensure everyone feels welcomed, valued, and included.
  • Respect: Uphold respect, maintain confidentiality, and commit to being accountable in promoting and practicing EDI principles in every interaction.

Interested in joining a diversity network? Fill in your details here.