How I Created a DEI Leader's Toolkit

As a consultant for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion I join organisations at a range of different points on their journey. When creating a leader’s toolkit for Diverse Educators it was important to me that it would be useful for DEI leaders and also for organisation leaders so that they know what is entailed in this specialist area of work. It was also important that it met the needs of leaders at all stages, be that those who have recently been appointed, or those who have been working in this capacity for some time. It was important to me that everyone find something new or challenging in this toolkit. 

Clarifying the role of DEI Leader

The beginning of the DEI toolkit outlines specific details about what the role is and how it relates to key legislation such as The Equality Act 2010. I outlined the main roles and responsibilities that a DEI Leader must deliver on in the toolkit as:

• Analysing data to identify barriers for individuals and groups of people

• Scrutiny of existing policies and practices effecting all stakeholders

• Evaluating, designing and implementation of a diverse and representative curriculum

• Supporting teaching and learning to meet the needs of all learners

• Supporting the safeguarding of students with protected characteristics

• Working closely with the SENDCO in order to meet the needs of all learners

• Contributing to the wellbeing strategy for staff and colleagues

• Working closely with governors and trustees to help drive the impact of DEI for the
  school

• Delivering training and updates to staff, governors, and trustees

• Implementing a review and quality assurance strategy to ensure DEI remains current
  and relevant

• Celebrating the diversity of their organisation, the UK, and the world

• Providing training for staff including governors in matters relating to The Equality Act
  2010 and any changes in terms and methodology

By providing this list of roles and responsibilities, I aimed to provide a useful resource for those who are considering appointing a DEI Leader in their school, and those who are being asked to take on this responsibility. Why is this important? This role is still relatively new, and people are not sure what the impact of DEI can be in a school, how it is measured and how to deliver on it effectively. In my work, I encounter people who are in the role of DEI Leader without a proper job description or understanding of how their work supports and drives stakeholder experience, and Improvement Plan outcomes. 

This list of roles and responsibilities should at least offer points for discussion as organisations begin to implement and refine their DEI aims. 

Why I Chose Specific Resources

The Equality Act 2010 covers nine specific characteristics. As a DEI Consultant I believe our responsibility is to create an inclusive environment for all. It was hard for me to not provide specific resources for each protected characteristic as there are so many excellent resources available, but it was important for me to focus on the role of leader. Therefore, the resources I chose for the DEI Leaders toolkit were selected to support an overarching view of the role of DEI leaders. To collate them, I asked myself:

• What do I need to know about trying to create an inclusive environment?

• How can I ensure I surround myself with diverse voices and attitudes to current trends in DEI?

• How do I place my work in the context of activism, equal rights, and the need to work within specific guidelines and frameworks in a school?

• How do I find the time for my subject knowledge development, and what platforms and media work within the parameters of busy lives?

• How do I place wellbeing, support, collaboration, and networking at the heart of any DEI Leader’s toolkit?

I hope that the range of articles, blogs, podcasts, videos, and other resources are useful for anyone who is currently in or about to embark on their DEI Leadership journey. 

To find out more about the work and I can I support DEI Leadership in your organisation here, or you can purchase an Inclusion Toolkit and apply it to your organisation here.