Key actions for members

The following key actions are intended to support NHS organisations and boards in translating insight into action and creating more equitable leadership environments for ethnic minority staff. 

1. Embed anti-racist leadership

Provide leadership development that helps leaders understand the lived experiences of ethnic minority staff and equips them to recognise and address inequity within their own teams. Anti-racist leadership should be recognised as a core expectation of all leaders. 

2. Strengthen leadership accountability

Review how race equality outcomes are monitored and reported. Incorporate measures relating to staff experience, leadership diversity and progression into governance arrangements and leadership objectives.  

3. Strengthen leadership progression pathways

Assess whether ethnic minority staff are progressing through leadership pathways at the same rate as other staff groups, including within clinical, nursing and medical leadership. Review recruitment, promotion, succession planning and talent management processes to identify and address barriers to progression. 

4. Establish formal sponsorship opportunities

Move beyond mentoring alone and introduce formal sponsorship arrangements for aspiring and emerging ethnic minority leaders. Ensure sponsorship is transparent, monitored and embedded within leadership development programmes. 

5. Strengthen support and reporting mechanisms

Review existing arrangements for reporting racism, discrimination and exclusion. Ensure staff have access to trusted support, clear escalation routes and confidence that concerns will be addressed appropriately. 

6. Strengthen the measurement of ethnic minority staff experiences

Build on existing WRES and NHS Staff Survey measures by capturing additional aspects of staff experience, including belonging, psychological safety, sponsorship and retention. Use quantitative and qualitative evidence to understand where inequalities persist and whether improvements are being experienced by staff.