Equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging
The General Osteopathic Council is committed to promoting equity, valuing diversity and embracing inclusivity throughout our work as a regulator, as a service provider and as an employer.
The following information is available in Welsh: Cydraddoldeb, amrywiaeth a chynhwysiant
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging framework
Our work is informed by our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) framework which sets out our current position and where we hope to be by 2030. Our framework also explains in detail how we hope to achieve progress against our four objectives:
Promote equity
- We will ensure that our regulatory activities are fair, taking account of existing inequalities, and free from unlawful discrimination, and that this approach is reflected in the standards we set for the osteopathy profession. We will ensure the fair treatment of people so that our practices and policies mean identity is not a predictor of opportunity or outcome. We will strive to recognise and take account of the barriers already existing for some people in order to promote equal opportunity and access.
Value diversity
- We will listen to, engage and communicate with a diverse range of stakeholders, using a variety of channels, in an accessible and timely manner. We will recognise the equal value of diverse voices and make strong decisions based on diversity of views. We will value diversity in our recruitment and development of staff, non-executives and stakeholders and in the ways that we work.
Embrace inclusivity
- Diverse and inclusive organisations outperform homogenous businesses. We will ensure our culture and values enable those who wish to work with us – including our staff, members of governance, our key stakeholders and patients - are confident that they will feel valued, enabled and empowered to contribute as equals, and that their views will be taken into account fully with respect and dignity.
Create belonging
- We will create a psychologically safe organisation where our people (staff and non-executives) feel confident to be themselves, without risk of embarrassment or rejection, to help us to be the best possible regulator we can. We will ensure our people feel can be creative and innovative, and can constructively challenge existing practices for the benefit of patients, osteopaths and stakeholders.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Pilot
In 2022 GOsC carried out a pilot to gather views from osteopaths about the questions and messaging we hope to use when collecting information on, and monitoring, diversity in the profession. In doing so, we hope to understand how our processes and procedures may impact on those with protected characteristics.
The findings of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) pilot, which included a survey and a series of online focus groups, was published March 2023. Read the EDI pilot findings report.
You can find out more about the pilot and our work to progress the report’s recommendations on our Equality, diversity and inclusion research page.
Students with a disability or health impairment
We want to ensure that people with disabilities who want to become osteopaths can choose to consider education, training and a career in osteopathy.
We therefore publish guidance for osteopathic students and osteopathic education providers about students with a disability or health impairment.
