5 March 2025
A recent event hosted by NIPEC was attended by over seventy staff from the Trusts and education providers with over sixty percent of the participants being ethnically diverse. The Regional Ethnic Diversity Collaborative received an update on work led by NIPEC to monitor and review the access to education for the ethnically diverse workforces of nurses, midwives, AHPs and their support staff in Health and Social Care Trusts and the independent sector.
During the event participants heard colleagues recount their own career journeys and development, offer some advice and highlight how they addressed some challenges along the way.
Workshop participants were pleased to have the Minister of Health attend and in his address say:
“As Health Minister, I have seen first-hand how our healthcare system relies on the commitment, passion, and professionalism of healthcare workers from all backgrounds and walks of life. I am incredibly proud of the diverse talent we have across the healthcare sector. This diversity undoubtedly makes us stronger, and I want to take the opportunity to recognise the significant contributions made by nurses, midwives and allied health professionals as well as doctors, support staff, and so many others who have come to Northern Ireland from around the world.”
Beena Tharun, Assistant Service Manager, BHSCT and Cathy Lavery, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, SHSCT, the co-chairs of the NIPEC Project Board associated with the work, both agreed that the ethnically diverse range of speakers, who included nurses, midwives, AHPs and support staff, were inspirational in sharing their career journeys. Beena and Cathy, along with Mary Frances McManus, Deputy CNO who was attending on behalf of the CNO, addressed the delegates providing further information on the recently launched Cultural Competency Framework, the work of the Project Board and the CNO priorities.
Helping facilitate the discussions and group activities were NIPEC Professional Officers Biji Jose, BHSCT, Deepthi Roshan, SHSCT, Jonah Atos, WHSCT and Winston Orong, SEHSCT, who were thanked for their dedication and hard work, alongside Jincy Labade, NHSCT and AJ Biacolo, Independent Sector who were both unable to attend on the day.
Cathy McCusker, Senior Professional Officer, NIPEC and the Project Lead presented the results of the staff and organisational surveys which formed the basis for a very engaging discussion.
In the closing remarks, Bronagh Scott, NIPEC Chair, thanked the everyone who had been involved in the workshop and all who are working in this important area to make progress and commented:
“We have provided an update today from the staff and organisational surveys that have recently been completed. Thank you to everyone who gave their voice to this important regional work and for the useful input today in discussing the findings. The feedback provided will help now to prioritise the actions to take forward for 2025-2026. NIPEC looks forward to working with key partners to make further progress.”
