Thursday 27 March 2025
The new course, which begins in April 2025, is designed to educate patients on key aspects of equality, diversity and inclusion, promoting a more inclusive and respectful community within its Ridgeway secure inpatient service in Middlesbrough.
The course will be delivered through four interactive workshops or may be adapted into shorter sessions. Subjects will cover race, disability, gender and age discrimination, as well as the Equality Act 2010 and its impact on everyday life.
Those who complete the unit of learning will receive an official AQA Unit Award Scheme certificate.
Andy Longstaff, education lead at Ridgeway, created the course after recognising the need to support patients to learn about equality, diversity and inclusion.
He said: “I believe our Ridgeway service is a pioneer for a course of this nature being available to mental health patients.
“Previously there wasn’t an AQA course for equality, diversity and inclusion.
“I wrote a brand new course unit which was approved by our own Trust EDI colleagues, and then AQA reviewed and accredited it.
“We hope that this initiative will lead to a greater sense of community within our Trust.
“What better way to recognise a patient’s commitment than by awarding them an AQA certificate, celebrating their efforts and progress.”
TEWV has a diverse workforce, with many disability-declared, black and minority ethnic (BAME) and lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) colleagues employed across the Trust.
Richard Hand, general manager at Ridgeway, alongside key leaders from TEWV, have pledged support for the initiative, leading by example by attending the launch of the course and supporting patients during their learning.
“This course is a significant step forward in creating a more inclusive environment for both colleagues and patients at Ridgeway,” said Richard.
“By equipping patients with knowledge and awareness, we hope to foster a culture of mutual respect, reducing incidents and ensuring a safe space for all. This is a key part of our commitment to equality,” he continued.
AQA is the UK’s leading exam board for GCSEs and A-levels. However, the Unit Award Scheme allows all learners to engage with learning and have their achievements formally recognised.
Adrienne Nichols, AQA Head of Unit Award Scheme, said: “We’re proud of the Unit Award Scheme and the way it helps learners from all kinds of different backgrounds to gain recognition of their achievements.”
The course is entirely voluntary; patients can self-enrol or be referred by staff who are encouraged to identify participants who would benefit from the training.
