Dignity and inclusion portfolio

A group of graduates on the Pier

The Dignity and Inclusion Portfolio (DIP) is a programme of training and resources which seeks to engage participants in building their awareness and understanding of topics related to‌ equality, diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing in the workplace. More specifically, it is designed to help you understand:

how people should be treated at work, their rights to dignity, and how best to create an inclusive workplace
what you can and should do when things go wrong e.g., when poor behaviour develops into bullying or harassment.

The sections below provide further information about the overall programme and each of the activities and resources within it. The individual elements can be taken in stand-alone form or as part of a portfolio which secures a ‘certificate of recognition’ once the required courses are completed.

The courses are designed to be useful to all staff, with some being especially useful for those with responsibility for others.

Scheduled dates will be included in the programme overview section, with direct links to book places included where possible.

Programme overview

The Dignity and Inclusion Portfolio provides a range of training and resources which relate to themes around dignity and inclusion at work.

These are divided into those that are relevant to all staff, those that are of particular relevance to staff with responsibility for others (mainly those with line management responsibility) and 'other related training'.

The Portfolio is open to all staff and staff may opt to attend any of the workshops offered, subject to availability. All scheduled courses are bookable via PDMS, the University's course booking system.

Certificate of recognition

Staff may also register for the Dignity and Inclusion Portfolio Certificate., and will be issued with a certificate of recognition on completion of:

A minimum of 3 'core' elements, and:
A minimum of 4 optional elements

You may apply for your certificate of recognition on the basis of prior learning. Attendances at relevant events during the previous 3 years may contribute to completion.

Programme outline

The full programme is outlined in the downloadable document below. This indicates which of the elements are core and which are optional. It also provides short descriptions of each element and a link to the relevant booking screen on PDMS for any scheduled instances.

DIP programme overview (PDF, 309 KB)

Registration

To register as a participant on the Dignity and Inclusion Portfolio (DIP), complete and submit the short DIP Registration form (on PDMS)

Once your request has been accepted, previous attendances relevant to the portfolio within the last 3 years will be included and will contribute towards portfolio completion.

Updating your record and claiming your certificate

As you complete the core and optional training courses, your training record will be updated automatically in PDMS. Once the required number of elements have been completed (a minimum of 3 core elements and a minimum of 4 optional elements) you should email diportfolio@st-andrews.ac.ukand ask for your certificate to be issued. Your training record will be validated and a certificate will be prepared for you. You may be contacted to attend a Passport Graduation event to receive your certificate, or you may request to have the certificate sent to you directly.

For all staff

There are a number of workshops which address the themes of dignity and inclusion at work, which are offered to all University staff:

For all staff:
Assertiveness skills	Existing	In a short time, participants will discover how becoming more assertive can be of benefit to them not only at work, but at home. They will also have the chance to both learn about and practice using some assertiveness techniques. By the end of the workshop, participants will: Understand the difference between aggressive, assertive and passive behaviour Be familiar with assertiveness techniques Be able to behave in an assertive way using assertiveness tool	Search PDMS
Creating positive outcomes from difficult conversations	Existing	This one day workshop will give practical insight into succeeding with difficult conversations. It draws on practical concepts from the areas of conflict management, mediation and influencing.	Search PDMS
Dealing with difficult behaviour 1 & 2	Existing	Participants will engage in personal work and dialogue to explore the different types of behaviour in self and others. Case studies will be discussed to look at where behaviours originate and how each individual works with them. This course is set to increase self-awareness, assertiveness and confidence in dealing with difficult behaviour.	Search PDMS
Dignity and Respect Policy in Practice	New	A recent study by the YouGov on behalf of the TUC found that around a third of staff in the UK had been bullied in the workplace. Bullying and harassment have negative impacts e.g. low morale and is detrimental to mental health. This can result in a loss of productivity and absence which will affect the success of the organisation. This workshop has been designed to build awareness of what bullying and harassment means in the workplace and what actions are available to staff through the Dignity and Respect at work policy. The workshop is for all staff, but those who have responsibility for others are particularly encouraged to attend. Objectives As a result of attending this workshop, participants will: understand what is meant by bullying and harassment be aware of the impact both on the individual and the university of inappropriate behaviour have discussed some case studies and concluded whether bullying and harassment took place be clear on the processes (both formal and informal) to deal with potential cases of bullying and harassment.	Search PDMS
Diversity in the workplace	Existing	Online diversity training is for all University staff and is updated frequently to be compliant with the Equality Act (2010). By completing the training employees can understand ‌their legal responsibilities with updated equalities laws in relation to the workplace, the service user and the studying environment.	Access Online Training
Pronoun and Gender-inclusive Language – Training Video	New	This training video is designed to equip staff and students with a basic understanding of the importance of adopting an inclusive approach towards gendered language and the use of pronouns within the University community. The intention of this video is to provide people with the tools and understanding to help you treat everyone with respect and dignity with respect to gender and inclusivity.	Access Online Training
Quiet leadership	Existing	Quiet leaders bring a sense of calm, projecting quiet, reassuring confidence, and creating an atmosphere where others can think well for themselves. This one-day programme offers key insights on an approach to management and leadership that can help to transform the way we engage with others at work. Through a combination of practical techniques and supporting information from neuroscience, participants are offered an opportunity to reflect on current practice and consider the impact of doing things differently.	Search PDMS
Resilience in the face of change	Existing	The pace of life in just the last few years has become relentlessly faster and more demanding, resulting in a disconnect between mind and body. Maintaining Mental Wellness has become one of the greatest challenges of the modern age. Our attention is constantly under siege and our focus can become blurred by multiple distractions which can have a negative impact on us and our colleagues. Become aware of our mindset and learn how much of our response is within our control. This session will help participants to build resilience by learning how to: Choose where to place their attention. Manage negative thought patterns. Build a positive, attentive and confident mindset. Connect to life in high-resolution – be present. Listen deeply and create space for their response. Realise that multi-tasking is inefficient. Use Mindfulness exercises that can be built into daily life.	Search PDMS
Unconscious bias	Existing	This course explores the implications of our tendency to hold natural bias and the impact that this can have in the workplace and on organisational performance.	Access Online Training

For line managers

Relevant training offered specifically to staff with line management responsibility includes:

For those with responsibility for others:
Diversity for managers	Existing	By the end of this workshop, participants will: Understand what their responsibilities are as a manager Be aware of the implications of the Equality Act Know about the different Equality Strands Be aware of compliance and improvement in relation to E & D inclusion Know about Equality Impact Assessments	Search PDMS
HR policies for managers	Existing	This short course is led by an HR Business Partner to explain the key HR policies, particularly relating to performance, which Managers in the University need to be aware of. The course will be an interactive one, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions.	Search PDMS
Managing people: motivation and performance	Existing	One of the most challenging aspects of being a manager is managing the performance of staff. It can be difficult, particularly when managing under-performance, to know how best to broach the issue and what measures to put in place. This course is targeted at staff in management positions and focuses on understanding when performance needs to be addressed, how it can be approached and how motivation is a central issue to individual performance.	Search PDMS
Mentally healthy workplace for managers (includes both online and f2f elements)	Existing	This course has been designed by the NHS and aims to develop and share good practice in promoting positive mental health and wellbeing, thereby contributing to a more open workplace culture. This course uses a blended learning approach which includes an online module and participatory session. The online component will take approximately 2 hours and must be completed prior to the course.	Search PDMS

Other relevant training

There are a number of other workshops which are relevant to the theme of 'Dignity and Inclusion at Work' which may also be of interest:

Other relevant training:
Age awareness for people managers	Existing	"Diversity & Inclusion is high on the agenda of many organisations particularly surrounding disability, gender and ethnicity but our research shows age inclusiveness can be overlooked. You may not be aware of the negative impact that age bias and discrimination can have on your organisational culture. Stereotypical attitudes to age can impact how both customers and employees are treated." Age Scotland This workshop aims to: Raise awareness and knowledge of ageism among employees as a personal workplace responsibility Enable managers to respond effectively to ageism issues experienced in your workplace Minimise risks associated with age diversity in the workplace and ensure legal compliance Ensure cohesiveness within your workforce where staff of all ages feel supported by both their employer and co-workers	Search PDMS
Dementia awareness for people managers	Existing	Around 90,000 people in Scotland live with dementia, a number expected to DOUBLE in the next 25 years. As changes to retirement and state pension rules make working beyond age 65 common, more people will experience early symptoms of dementia while in employment. Many workers are also unpaid carers for someone who has dementia and a growing number of people will be affected by dementia, directly or as a dementia carer. The workshop is all about interactive learning including a combination of practical activities, video clips and small group discussion. The content is aimed at specific employee groups. Typical topics will include: Dementia; what it is and why it’s relevant to the workplace How to communicate effectively and empathically with someone who has dementia The symptoms and risk factors of dementia Employers’ legal obligations when someone has dementia, or is a carer How those with dementia, or a carer, may be supported to continue in employment Support available to employers and employees with regard to dementia	Search PDMS
Eating well – menopause	Existing	This session has been designed to provide information about foods which can exacerbate, cause, and relieve menopausal symptoms. It will be delivered by a mixture of presentation and activities. Lifestyle factors will also be considered and discussed. The objectives of the workshop are to understand: understand what menopause is learn about specific foods to decrease menopausal symptoms learn about specific foods and lifestyle practices to relieve menopausal symptoms The workshop includes activities to understand the concepts and make better choices.	Search PDMS
Let’s talk menopause	Existing	The workshop is open to all to discuss, inform and educate on the effects of the menopause. This will encompass individual learning as well as group discussion, personal experience and theory. There will be many helpful reading resources and social networks to consider on completion of the workshop. Sylvia Hillman, a St Andrews Psychotherapist, will be running this workshop. All information discussed in the room with Sylvia, as a facilitator and therapist, will remain confidential. The objectives of the workshop are to understand: peri-menopause menopause post menopause helpful resources on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Common symptoms of change Healthy choices to consider at home and work	Search PDMS
Wellbeing for carers	Existing	As a carer, wellbeing is of double importance. This informal, interactive course will help to establish ways of staying well under the pressures of caring. Caring needs consideration and time to reflect and plan how to be the best one can be whilst maintaining the everyday demands placed on one and learning to cope with change.	Search PDMS

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