Soon after the murder of George Floyd in the US, front line staff in Adult Social Care told us that they wanted to do more to protect staff from racial and prejudicial behaviour in the workplace. 

In response to this, the Senior Management Team in Adult Social Care agreed to work with stakeholders across the Adult Social Care system in Camden to develop a shared commitment to combating racism in the workplace, expressed as 'Zero Tolerance' of racist abuse and prejudicial behaviour. 

Staff across Adult Social Care, commissioning, local providers, trade union reps, learning and development and HR have contributed towards the development of the following documents:

1. Memorandum of Understanding: The MoU is intended to ensure that all Camden staff and involved agencies commit to a shared commitment to tackling racist abuse in the workplace, and apply this shared guidance to ensure regulation and investigation in response to incidents of racist abuse.                                            
2. Reporting abuse: Guidance for staff and front line managers. This guidance explains how to report abuse, and what process should be followed if you do.
3. Managers guidance: responding to persistent racist abuse. This guidance document is for managers, and explains what process should be followed if racist abuse is persistent. Following feedback from managers who have used this guidance, we are now working to develop a suite of restorative practice tools for teams to use in working with people who are persistently abusive. In the mean time managers are recommended to consider whether a Family Group Conference might help reduce abusive behaviour.
4. Zero Tolerance Flyer: There is No Place for Hate information flyer.  This can be printed by practitioners and issued to residents during visits. 
5. The Discrimination Hub has recently been launched and is a new approach to reporting racism at work.  The Discrimination hub is a safe space for staff to talk to someone about their experience and the impact it has had on them at work.  The hub operates on an appointment basis and appointments are available between 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday at the Crowndale Centre.  You can book an appointment using the online booking form or by calling 020 7974 3488. 

These documents have been written for Camden Council staff, and Adult Social Care providers commissioned by the Council. 

Each of these three documents is new, and we know they are not perfect. We would like to continue to refine and improve them over time with your input. If you have any feedback please email Andrew Reece ([email protected]).