Equality
The Christian Ambulance Association (CAA) is an independent staff support organisation. CAA functions to support Christians in the ambulance services. The Aim for CAA is to support staff with a focus on the Christian faith and those issues impacting people of faith, and also to increase awareness and improve understanding of the Christian faith. The CAA is open to all who identify themselves as Christian, supporting the aims of the CAA. We believe that supporting people of faith and raising awareness of that faith within the workplace will improve patient care and experience in the communities we serve.
We also believe that by tackling faith-based inequality and discrimination our members can be properly supported in their own work settings, and supporting others around them. The CAA will work with Christians, enabling members to make a positive contribution to the work environment, other employees, and the communities we serve. The CAA will provide the interface between Christians and workplaces facilitating increased understanding, and engagement between staff of the Christian faith and the wider staff group. We see ourselves as a key part of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in ambulance services. We are ready to engage with, and play our part in leading, the EDI work in each region as we support the right of others to equality and inclusion, expecting the same for Christian believers. We want Christians to feel able to live out their faith in their work.
We embrace the positive approach in health services to multi-faith networks and we also believe it is important that Christians are supported in having their own faith identity as Christians, distinct from other faith groups. We want our members to feel supported to engage consistently in support of the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion whilst maintaining the principles and priorities of the CAA. This may include:
Support those for whom Christian faith is a defining part of their identity, to achieve a faith and work-life balance.
-
Increase awareness of the Christian faith amongst ambulance people, including promoting their beliefs and challenge misperceptions; to celebrate key dates in the calendar.
-
Increase the understanding of the commonality and differences between faiths.
-
To raise awareness of challenges that staff of faith face and ensure appropriate solutions are introduced through consultation.
-
To treat all information disclosed in the meetings (including that obtained from secondary sources) in a confidential and ethical manner.
-
To build relationships and contacts with external faith-based and multi-faith groups and networks within local communities, including external organisations and through blue light collaboration.