Equal Opportunities Statement

We recognise that certain groups in society are disadvantaged and they often do not have equal access to jobs and services. In the provision of housing services and employment of staff to provide these services, all members of Progress Housing Group will seek to ensure that they treat all people according to their needs.

All applicants will be treated equally. No person applying for housing, or for a job, or for contracts within Progress Housing Group, will be treated less favourably than any other person or group of persons because of their race, colour, ethnic or national origin or because of their religion, gender, sexuality, disability, appearance, age, HIV status or martial status.

We will ask people applying for housing and employment for information which will help us monitor our progress towards equal opportunities. This information will be recorded on a separate sheet to keep the information confidential. We will monitor and take action to put right any imbalances in our policies and practices.

In carrying out this equal opportunities policy, all members of Progress Housing Group will actively assist disadventaged groups to benefit for our housing services.


Housing Services

Progress Housing Group and its member will take steps to encourage applications for housing for all parts of the community. We will monitor each stage of our application and allocation process to ensure that every application for housing is treated fairly and no individual is discriminated against. We will monitor and regularly review our letting policy.


Employment

All members of Progress Housing Group will advertise jobs in such a way as to encourage applications of all parts the community. We will regularly review and monitor our recruitment and selection policy to ensure that no job applicant or employee is treated less favourably than another. The results of the monitoring are reported to the board of management on a quarterly basis.

We will monitor training to ensure that all employees receive equality of opportunity and, where appropriate, Progress Housing Group will provide staff from minority groups with special training facilities to enable to compete or qualify for positions within Progress Housing Group.

Progress Housing Group values its employees and has been rewarded the Investor in People standard.

All employees will be required to ensure that their personal conduct within the group reflects the equal opportunities policy. Staff will be encouraged to develop awareness of the issues and training is provided.


Board of Management

In the composition and operation of the Board of Management we will be mindful of our commitment to equal opportunity.