NHS trusts among best employers for LGBT staff

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is named a star performer by charity Stonewall

Thirteen health and social care organisations have been named as top employers by equality charity Stonewall.

The organisations have made it onto the list of Stonewall's 2016 Top 100 Employers in Britain, which sets out the best employers for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people.

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which topped the list of inclusive employers last year, is now classed as a Stonewall star performer by ranking in the top ten at least three times in the past five years.

Star performers are no longer ranked on the top 100 list, having been judged to have ‘graduated’ from it and now work with Stonewall on initiatives to define future best practice.

The trust will mentor the local police force to ensure inclusive services in the region as well as working with Stonewall to develop guidance for public sector organisations across the UK.

The trust has its own mentoring scheme to develop staff from groups that are under-represented at management level.

The trust's acting chief executive Julie Hall said: 'This outcome does credit to our outstanding staff who treat every patient, service user and carer with dignity and respect, in a work environment where all employees are able to reach their full potential.'

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust is the highest performing health and social care organisation in this year's top 100 – in 32nd position – and is on the list for the first time.

Other health organisations on the list include Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust, London Ambulance Service NHS Trust and North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust (all joint 46th).

Stonewall account manager Luise Usiskin said: 'We're pleased to see health and social care organisations form such a prominent part of this year’s index – including last year’s top performer, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, now a Stonewall star performer.'

British intelligence agency MI5, which has its own LGBT network, ranked number one on this year's list.

Only local government performed better than the health and social care sector, with 15 organisations in the top 100.

Read Stonewall’s top 100 report here.