Recruitment: Responding to Trends Barry Boffy Head of Inclusion - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Barry Boffy Head of Inclusion & Diversity

Police (Public) Sector Recruitment:

Responding to Trends

Now, before we start…..

Ask yourself:

“What exactly are we hoping to achieve?”

as preparation is key!

It’s really important to know (and state) in advance what your aspirations are; and how you will achieve them.

How Can You Prepare?

Prepare in advance by:

• Getting your evidence before taking action
• Being specific
• Taking legal advice if necessary
• Being clear on what you’re hoping to achieve, but….
• …not setting targets!
• Make sure everyone understands what you’re doing

And respond to the comments, complaints and concerns by:

• Explaining what you’re doing in a consistent, but simple way
• Evidencing why it's necessary
• Directing people to the guidance to look for themselves
• Being Firm. Stand your ground and don’t panic! Particularly……

Resorting to Positive Action?

Always remember…..

• The history of ‘Affirmative Action’ and previous

campaign strategies

• Barriers. Is your industry a traditionally

unattractive career option for some? How have you removed those barriers?

• Understanding the limited direct entry

possibilities into senior roles (& being honest about them!)

• Full time / Shift Work
• Physically demanding or dangerous work?
• Unattractive environment?
• Historical community tensions

Positive Action

What works…

• Consistent advertising with clear explicit

messaging to encourage all under- represented applicants

• Visual representation to show diverse

workforce

• Regular pre-employment workshops for

under-represented groups

• Clear understanding of where under-

representation is (geography & protected group)

• Incidental ‘advertising’ via operational

and community engagement

• Individual case-by-case failure review

What might not…

• Advertising in specialist publications

(Grazia etc.)

• Generalised ‘recruitment fayres’ as made

up of majority group candidates

• Being unrealistic or dishonest!

Positive Action in Practice (s.158 & s.159 EA2010)

To Summarise

• Understand your history & demographics
• Be clear on what you need to achieve, how you

will do this and whether Positive Action is actually necessary

• Be specific on what you’d like to achieve, and

why

• Be prepared to justify your decisions
• Be brave. Be bold. Be Honest. Be lawful…..
• Don’t be put off by trolls, naysayers and the
• uninformed. Stand firm!