Workforce WRES and WDES Equality Standard

The Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) was first introduced in April 2015.

As part of the NHS standard contract all NHS Trusts are required to publish their annual WRES report each year. The Valuing Our People Group oversees the actions from WRES action plan.

Together these are used to support, ensuring consideration is given to people with characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010 in both service delivery, commissioning and as an employer.

The standard requires organisations to demonstrate progress against a number of indicators of workforce equality.

The NHS Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) is designed to improve workplace experience and career opportunities for Disabled people working, or seeking employment, in the National Health Service (NHS). The WDES follows the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) as a tool and an enabler of change.

The WDES is a series of evidence-based Metrics that will provide NHS organisations with a snapshot of the experiences of their Disabled staff in key areas. By providing comparative data between Disabled and non-disabled staff, this information can be used to understand where key differences lie; and will provide the basis for the development of action plans, enabling organisations to track progress on a year by year basis. The WDES provides a mirror for the organisation to hold up to itself, to see whether or not it sees a reflection of the communities that it serves.