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ON-GOING PROJECTS

Gender Equality

Participants - Northamptonshire

KALEEM Nasreen

Contact Details

Organisation       Northamptonshire County Council
Position              Head of Social Inclusion and Equalities

Tel. +44 1604 237991
Fax +44 1604 236644
E-mail nkaleem@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Work

Wide ranging experience of equality and social inclusion, including employment and economic development, developing equality strategy and policy; gender, disability and race equality, community and social cohesion, immigration and migrant women in the EU, Anti-discrimination strategies in the EU. Has worked as representative at many European Forums, including policy development for Black and Migrant Women (Brussels), Position of Migrant Communities and Local Government Strategies, (Valencia). Current interest, development of Single Equality Commission (UK), organisational culture change and diversity.

Good ways of involving women in decision-making

Developing decision making forums at local government level. Organisational development - Human Resource Strategies. Specifically developed, 'Women into Management' programmes (local government), grass roots voluntary sector development, voluntary/public sector partnerships. Cultural change and change management development in public sector organisations

Major obstacles facing women in becoming more involved in decision making

• Discrimination - women are still in a minority in decision making forums at middle to senior levels
• Access- women still bear the majority responsibility for family life and caring for dependents which limits the accessibility of decision making as this is still constructed on a 'male bread winner' model
• Multiple discrimination faced by Black and Minority Ethnic women, Disabled women, Young women and Lesbian women
• Poverty - women are more likely to be low paid and have fewer opportunities to progress in the workplace

 Participates: Turin PREW, Steering Group Meetings

O'GORMAN Stephen (Local Coordinator)

Contact Details

Organisation       Northamptonshire County Council
Position              Research & Information Officer For The Social Inclusion &                                 Equalities Team

Tel. +44 (0)1604 237884
Fax +44 (0)1604 236644
E-mail sogorman@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Work  

Research & Information Officer for the Social Inclusion & Equalities Team in Northamptonshire County Council. I also work as the Local Co-ordinator for the 'Latent Potential' project on behalf of Northamptonshire County Council. I was involved in monitoring and reporting on the implementation of Croatia's Constitutional Law on National Minorities (CLNM) for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe . The CLNM ensured the rights of ethnic minorities in and provided for the establishment of National Minority Councils in local government areas throughout Croatia , leading to more active participation of ethnic minority groups in their localities and broader community.

Good ways of involving women in decision-making

Through encouraging the establishment of voluntary and community groups which involve women.

My experience of this process was through working with the OSCE in post-war Croatia , where one means of regenerating conflict-affected communities has been the development of 'civil society'. Through involvement in voluntary groups, local women were able to become involved in issues immediately affecting their lives - health, culture, skills, employment etc. The result of such initiatives has been the empowerment of both women and their communities - a significant change from the despondency and disempowerment which preceded it.

Major obstacles facing women in becoming more involved in decision making

• Family and childcare issues.
• Low pay and lack of job-sharing opportunities.
• Sex discrimination - often compounded by other factors like race or disability.
• Under representation in senior management positions and public office.

Participates: Turin PREW, 2nd Steering Group Meeting

ROUND Gerda

Contact Details

Organisation       Northamptonshire County Council
Position              Committee Development Officer

Tel. +44 1604 237360
Fax +44 1604 236644
E-mail ground@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Work

I am the Area Committee Development Officer for Northamptonshire County Council, currently working towards establishing joint arrangements in partnership with our numerous districts and boroughs; increasing public awareness of the Committees; encouraging community engagement and participation in their agendas and activities; setting a robust and focused performance management framework in which effective links are established to the Local Strategic Partnerships and local community planning/plans; promoting the good governance and community leadership roles of the County Council in general and elected members in particular. I have been involved in developing Home Office technological solutions to social and community problems through the introduction of several town centre CCTV schemes, incorporating and piloting a scheme to monitor lone females/vulnerable adults returning to vehicles in Car Parks as well as developing a Shop Safe radio system. My involvement in the political process has entailed developing processes in relation to electoral matters on a local level - Electoral Registration Officer and my role in managing the Committee Support functions of a Borough Council.

My experience in all these areas and as an innovator within the Council led to my appointment as the Project Manager of the public, private partnership process of the council's 22 Support Service areas - a major and subsequent 'pathfinder' project for the local authority and the IdEA - Improvement and Development Agency

Good ways of involving women in decision-making

• By proactively seeking and acknowledging their input through consultation groups with a structured membership that reflects gender ratios in the workplace
• By changing the decision making process itself; to one where individuals are consulted directly at all levels rather than through the established lines of communication. This bypasses entrenched and established decision making forums such as works/office committees where there may be a history of gender biased membership based on traditional roles within the workplace.

Major obstacles facing women in becoming more involved in decision making

• Historical gender bias in the appointment process, certain roles are considered to be 'male' preserves - perpetuating the working environment in which males feel comfortable
• The competitive nature of the recruitment process can result in some cases in successful females sub-consciously regarding other females as a challenge to their success, inadvertently putting their female colleagues through the same over rigorous process that they endured to avoid any suggestion of favoritism
• Fear of the unknown amongst senior male executives who feel threatened by female executives/co-workers whom they believe may challenge their working practices and change things for changes sake – acceptance/ understanding of complimentary management styles and approaches

Participates: Birmingham PREW

CLARK Emma

Contact Details

Organisation       Northamptonshire County Council
Position              Strategic Policy Officer - Community Safety

Tel. +44 1604 236954
Fax +44 1604 236644
E-mail EClark@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Work

In my current role a lot of the work I do supports decision making for managers and members of the Council. I have been involved in the Northampton CASPAR Officers Group whose work includes deciding on a whole range of issues that will impact on crime and disorder in an area. I have also been actively involved in the setting up of the Corby Sunflower Centre and will continue as a member of the advisory group for the centre. Work I have produced directly for Councillors has included a review of the current Crime and Disorder Strategies across the County and also organizing a scrutiny committee on youth offending.

Good ways of involving women in decision-making

It is important to recognize the position and roles that women occupy both at work and home and then to adjust the situations where decisions are made so that the participation of women is easier. Decision making situations often favour men in the simplest of things such as time, place etc. Offering flexibility such as job-sharing, home-working and part-time working to fit in with womens lifestyles all aid the participation of women in decision-making at work. Simple adjustments can be made that allow women to participate such as providing child friendly meeting arrangements or even harnassing modern technology to allow remote access ie video conferencing.

Major obstacles facing women in becoming more involved in decision making

Today in Britain it is often assumed that women are choosing not to take part rather than being coerced into doing so. Our systems offer gender equality on paper and therefore the assumption has been made that we are all equal in gender terms. However the reality is that in practice things such as the 'glass ceiling' still exist and the stereotype of a women with power in decision making is often associated with overt masculinity. The biggest obstacle is that equality on paper has still not been completely translated to the 'ground'.

Participates: Turin PREW

THOMAS Gina

Contact Details

Organisation       Northamptonshire County Council
Position              Diversity Advisor – Human Resources

Tel. +44 1604 237338
Fax +44 1604 237377
E-mail gthomas@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Work

My role is to provide expert advice on Diversity and Equality of Opportunity in Employment policies and practices to facilitate the elimination of potential discriminatory barriers in employment and to help the County Council achieve a representative workforce. I lead on diversity development and promoting a culture in which equality values are supported and diversity highly valued.

Key responsibilities:

• To develop and implement policies and initiatives on Equality which are workable and support the County Council strategic object.
• To ensure equalities issues are taken proper account of in personnel polices initiatives and practices.
• To develop and implement council wide positive action initiatives and practices.
• To lead on the development of positive action initiatives.
• To provide practical advice, guidance and support to managers and personnel staff on equalities in employment.
• To attend and advise the County Council's Race and Equalities Employment Forum.

My role involves writing policies in relation to diversity issues for managers within the County Council. For example, recruitment and selection, guidance on the new regulations relating to Sexuality, Religion and Belief and the new Anti-harassment policy. The implementation of these new policies involves consultation with the Board, managers and Trade Unions.

I am responsible for managing a budget of 300K which will be used for the implementation of strategies to attract and retain people from under-represented groups to increase the diversity of the workforce, diversity training for all managers and employees and strategies to attract and retain people with disabilities into the organization. I have developed an action plan and implementation plan which will involve making decisions making Service Directors and being accountable to the Board as members for the achievement of the strategic goals to increase the diversity of the workforce

Good ways of involving women in decision-making

Consultation with women's groups or representatives of women's groups to the council is a way of involving women in the decision-making process through the collation of views and opinions on key issues.

I have also run a number of series of female employees within the council which gave them an opportunity to talk about the attraction to the county council as an employer and the career development opportunities which they have received. Theis gave an opportunity for the employees to develop an action plan which has influenced the development of the diversity action plan.

Introduction of development opportunities such as Springboard and Leadership programmes can give women the confidence to make decisions and to feel supported in the process.

Major obstacles facing women in becoming more involved in decision making

Within the County Council, in relation to senior management, 34% of the top 5% of earners are women, and therefore women are not representative at senior management level. This is evidenced by the fact that 80% of the workforce is women but these are at junior levels within the organization. It could be concluded that women do not feel representative of the organization and don’t feel that they have a voice at senior level.

Women do not feel confident that they are going to be supported in the decisions that they make by senior management.

Participates: Birmingham PREW

MILLER Helen

Contact Details

Organisation       Northamptonshire County Council
Position              Social Economic Co-ordinator

Tel. 44 1604 236457
Fax 44 1604 236644
E-mail Hmiller@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Work

Employed by Northamptonshire County Council for past 6years. I have worked in both community development and economic development. Current role is that of Social Economic Co-ordinator. Main areas of responsibility include - development of social enterprises in county, developing the infrastructure to support social enterprises and working in partnership with business support agencies to ensure high quality business support to new and existing SMEs. I am also board member and secretary for the Northampton Credit Union.

The Northampton Credit Union (NCU) is a financial co-operative which has a live or work common bond. NCU was born out of the borough council's employee credit union. I was responsible for leading the development of expansion of the common bond to benefit County Council employees and to open access to the rest of Northampton . This process involved lobbying both senior officers and politicians as well as the sector regulator.

I also played a key role in the development of the Sub Regional Strategic Partnership which is an economic partnership which draws down funding from Regional Development Agency to deliver economic and social projects in Northamptonshire.

Good ways of involving women in decision-making

Slowly - Women often lack the confidence to take responsibility quickly. Working in an informal environment/capacity and engaging women slowly but surely. Working in the community through initiatives such as the credit union which are about self help often give people the opportunity to engage in low level decision making and then build up their confidence as their understanding, skills and involvement increases.

Major obstacles facing women in becoming more involved in decision making

Confidence - women returners and women who may have stayed at home to look after dependents loose confidence very quickly and often under estimate their ability to undertake tasks/responsibilities. Confidence building is one of the key areas to tackle in terms of encouraging women to become more engaged in decision making at all levels.

Dependant care - women tend to carry the burden of responsibility for dependent care which can impact upon their careers and ability to undertake any training/ personal development because of the extra demand this would place on their time.

Perception - in some fields women are perceived as 'less professional' than men because they have a different approach and attitude to men. In the field of economic development most of the professionals have come from the planning profession which is highly dominated by men and it is a challenge for women to be taken seriously as they often have a different way of approaching partnership working and delivering initiatives.

Participates: Toledo PREW

FOULKES Christine

Contact Details

Organisation       Northamptonshire County Council
Position              Business Development Manager, Community Services

Tel. +44 1604 236889
Fax +44 1604 237600
E-mail cfoulkes@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Work

I currently sit on the Strategic Management Team for the community services group of Northamptonshire County Council (Adult Social Care/Libraries/Adult Education/Tourism). My role includes policy advisor, developmental work re performance, generating initiatives (e.g. workforce development).

Good ways of involving women in decision-making

My work environment is currently male dominated. My experience suggests that women respond better when a holistic, creative (organic) view is taken rather than a hierarchical or highly structured approach.

Major obstacles facing women in becoming more involved in decision making

I would say partly conditioned behaviours - women's non-verbal behaviour being generally less assertive; men's views given more credence; problems accepting women as authority figures etc.

Participates: Toledo PREW

PATEL Dipana

Contact Details

Organisation       Northamptonshire County Council
Position              Local Strategic Partnerships Officer

Tel. +44 1604 236416
Fax +44 1604 236644
E-mail dpatel@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Work

• Assist in the development of strategic partnerships which are about making sure the boundaries of organisation/ agencies; boundaries of geographies etc disappear so that services can be delivered to people and communities
• I have experience in organizing complex issues around future community planning needs, and have in past been involved in numerous activities
• Currently my voluntary work includes:
• vice chair of Northamptonshire Racial Equality Council; other than supporting the chair I also am involved in promoting racial equality and stamping out racism and racist practice
• Justice of Peace (magistrate)of the Northamptonshire Commission area
• Member of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) East Regional Advisory Council

Good ways of involving women in decision-making

• Good shadowing and support to allow women to come forward and take part in meetings
• Understanding social and political base that women have come from in order to make contribution valid i.e working/ life balance situation

Major obstacles facing women in becoming more involved in decision making

Women, due to social and political oppression, have low confidence levels which therefore do not 'allow' them to be involved in decision making

Participates: Toledo PREW

BRUCE Rosemary

Contact Details

Organisation       Northamptonshire County Council
Position              Corporate Support Manager

Tel. +44 1604 237442
Fax
E-mail rbruce@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Work

I have had previous experience of participating in decision making in the gender field by being involved in a gender equality action group in the county council which proposed policies in order to encourage recruitment and progression of women in the organisation. We also organised a series of women into public life conferences to attract women in the community to undertake roles which support political, social etc. development

Currently my role involves doing projects which contribute to organisational policy e.g. developing a new appraisal system for the organisation

In future I will be developing the council's response to implementing the Disability Discrimination Act and supporting the integration of the equalities agenda into mainstream council activity.

Good ways of involving women in decision-making

• Where a culture has been developed where women are respected for what they can bring to the table and where the necessity for emotional intelligence is recognised
• There are now more women MPs than ever before and I think has had a very positive effect on party politics, although there is still a long way to go

Major obstacles facing women in becoming more involved in decision making

• Women's own perception of them being able to make a difference
• Macho cultures which traditionally respect a more aggressive male approach to decision making and policy developing
• Outdated organisational structures which make it hard to achieve a work/life balance and make being involved difficult e.g. expectation that people can attend meetings at times difficult to attend etc.
• Handling adverse comments;
• Representation in the media and being taken seriously, while having one's perspective also treated in a fair way;
• Getting beyond the image (woman) to the message

Participates: Belfast PREW

REES Haydn

Contact Details

Organisation       Northamptonshire County Council
Position              European Officer and Acting NILES Project Manager

Tel. +44 1604 237230
Fax +44 1604 236644
E-mail hrees@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Work

I represent the County Council at regional and European level. I am involved in the decision making process for the East Midlands European Office as well as other European projects. I chair the county council's European Social Fund working group, which steers our approach to ESF

Good ways of involving women in decision-making

Women are involved in the work that I do anyway. The majority of the reps on this group are female. The group decides when to meet and the appropriate times.

Major obstacles facing women in becoming more involved in decision making

Work/ family balance?

Participates: Belfast PREW

MAHMOOD Yasmin

Contact Details

Organisation       Northamptonshire County Council
Position              Social Inclusion & Equalities Officer in Social Inclusion &                                   Equalities Strategy - Project

Tel. +44 1604-236236
Fax +44 7711278782
E-mail YMahmood@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Work

Managed a voluntary-community group working to provide advice, support and day care services for Asian women and girls in Northampton in a range of areas - including, services for the elderly, physically disabled, domestic abuse, carers, youth, employment and training.

Participated in:

• Black & Ethnic Minority steering Group for developing services for domestic abuse victims in Northamptonshire
• Single Regeneration Budget 5 in Northampton - services and funding
• Northamptonshire Black History Project Management Committee

Good ways of involving women in decision-making

• Encouraging public participation through membership on management committees of voluntary and community groups, health and education forums, such as Patient & Patient Involvement in Health , U.K. and School Governorship.
• Through local support networks

Major obstacles facing women in becoming more involved in decision making

Some of them include:

• Household and caring responsibilities
• Lack of encouragement
• Insufficient information
• Lack of confidence
• Low self-esteem
• Physical, visual or mental impairment
• Age (Too young or too old?)

Participates: Turin PREW

APEA Joe

Contact Details

Organisation       Northamptonshire County Council
Position              Manager, Community Access & Language Service (CALS)

Tel. +44 1604601817
Fax +44 1604637390
E-mail Japea@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Work

I have sat on a number of Steering Groups/ Management committees that influence policy and decision making in various organizations. In my current role at CALS I often make decisions that have political, social, economic or cultural implications.

Good ways of involving women in decision-making

Creating an enabling environment that makes it possible for women to participate e.g. flexible working arrangements

Seeking women's views/ encouraging champions to present those views and being receptive to them

By Positive Action aimed at making it possible for more women to be involved in decision making.

Major obstacles facing women in becoming more involved in decision making

• Stereotyping e.g. some people's perception of women as being too emotional to make rational decisions and questioning their objectivity in decision making. The perception that women can't cope with stress etc
• Society's views and attitudes to what being a woman means, the 'traditional role' - e.g. responsibility for the home, childcare, the man should be the breadwinner etc
• Lack of adequate provision to enable participation e.g. timing of meetings, lack of affordable childcare provision, attitudes to mothers returning to work after maternity leave (sidelining) - These can impact negatively on opportunities to participate
• Some men may feel threatened
• The perception of women with dependants as being more of a 'risk' to operational needs e.g. stability of headcount, seen as having less focus, misplaced loyalty
• 'Closed shops' that make key decisions and the lack of opportunity or a 'break' into these 'closed shops' which are often dominated by males
• Not enough flexibility/ opportunities to attain further qualifications

Participates: Turin PREW

HERBERT Tim

Contact Details

Organisation       Northamptonshire County Council
Position              Community Safety Information Officer

Tel. 01604 237072
Fax 01604 236644
E-mail therbert@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Work

I have been working for the county council in a number of strategic and information roles for 5 years. All of my work has involved supporting the decision making process of the council in a variety of ways. This has included providing reports and information for councilors to ensure decisions are made in a democratic and appropriate way. I have worked closely with elected representatives during key decisions for the council including the annual budget.

Good ways of involving women in decision-making

The best examples have always involved genuine empowerment of women - ie allowing proper delegated power to ensure that decisions that are taken are actually acted upon. It is essential that in forums and on project work clarity is given about what the scope of the decision making powers is. Giving decision making powers to women at work shows there is confidence in their ability and will certainly promote involvement in the decision making process.

Major obstacles facing women in becoming more involved in decision making

The obstacles are deep seated cultural, political and social beliefs that impact upon how women are viewed, and view themselves in the work place. Greater awareness is needed by employers to understand that legislation is not merely enough to involve women in a more meaningful way. Employers need to develop and act upon more work-life balance policies to overcome barriers which have traditionally excluded women.

Participates: Belfast PREW