CARE is committed to delivering equality of opportunity for all service users. This commitment is about providing a healthcare service that recognises respects and responds to the diversity of the local communities we serve.

We are all too aware of the damage and distress caused by stigma and discrimination.  Far too often, people with drug problems are denied a voice within society and face barriers to accessing employment, education and other opportunities as a direct result of their illness.

 

Discrimination of this nature comes in many shapes and forms. People are affected by it as a result of ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, gender, disability and sexuality. Within the counselling service we have a responsibility to tackle this wherever it happens, whomever it affects and in whatever forms it takes.

In order to achieve this, it is important for us to continually examine and reflect upon the impact of our attitudes and behaviour on colleagues, service users and carers. We cannot claim to deliver a quality service unless it is an equality service.

 

We shape our provision around the needs and preference of individual service users responding to different needs of diverse populations.

 

We welcome referrals from members of the Black and Ethnic Minority Communities and other under-represented groups from Hampshire.