EQUAL Mainstreaming Policy Group
The Mainstreaming Policy Groups (MPG) key objectives, include information sharing, influencing and the building of interaction between the mainstream and the projects through effective communication.
» Terms of Reference
The Mainstreaming Policy Group is composed of representatives from relevant government departments and state agencies as well as representatives from the social partners and other organisations.
The MPG is a key aspect of EQUAL in Ireland, providing space wherein key relationships can be developed, critical lessons discussed and a space where learning can occur.
» Thematic Network 1
Inclusive Workplace: Accommodating Equality and Diversity in the Workplace
There are eight projects participating in this network. The network has met five times to date this year. The next meeting of the network will take place on 28 th November 2006.
The network undertook a mapping exercise to identify common issues being addressed by projects and to facilitate reaching agreement on the issues that would form the basis of a persuasive collective argument in relation to achieving or promoting a more inclusive workplace. As a result of that exercise, the network agreed to focus its efforts on the following:
- Learning emerging from the effective implementation of new approaches to recruitment and progression that benefit those who are typically excluded from the workplace; and
- Learning from the processes through which the projects have engaged with employers in order to secure their buy-in to proposed changes in relation to recruitment retention and progression in the workplace.
One of the mainstream targets of the network is the High Level Implementation Group, formed to promote a collaborative approach to the implementation of the National Workplace Strategy. In October, the network received a presentation on the National Workplace Strategy from Edna Jordan of the National Centre for Partnership and Performance (NCPP)
Over the remainder of the Programme, the network will focus on developing a persuasive collective case in relation to the above two areas supported by objectively verifiable evidence with a view to providing an input to the high Level Implementation Group and other mainstream targets.
» Thematic Network 2
Accommodating diversity in service provision
This thematic network involves the following projects: DP9; Carlow EQUAL; Equal Youth; Equal North East Mainstreaming Network; Transition Support; Roma Cultural Mediation Project; Tallaght Equal Assists; and You're Equal. The network has developed a work programme that encompasses three levels of engagement as follows:
- Dissemination - at this level, all projects have agreed to share information with one another, regarding events and news. Projects use the network as a resource and discussion forum. The group will establish an online discussion forum or community of practice.
- Co-ordination - at this level members of the group have agreed to work on developing a common language for interagency networking and the group sees itself as a forum for establishing good practice in relation to interagency communication. The group has identified over 20 different words that are used to describe different interagency activities. Over time, the group will focus on each of these terms with a view to establishing a common definition. To date, the group has focused on mentoring and is currently looking at profiling. There is a range of materials/ tools that have been developed by projects within this network that relate to such practices and these have been circulated across all members of the group.
- Collaboration - in 2007 it is anticipated that the group will hold a round table event involving key policy makers to share learning in relation to the work that has been undertaken to date.
One of the most interesting outcomes of the work of the group to date has been the increasing level of cross fertilisation and bi-lateral contact made between them. For example, DP9 has secured HETAC accreditation for its degree programme in occupational guidance and counselling and is including some of the practices presented within the group as part of the design for the degree modules.
NEXT MEETING:
» tbc
DOCUMENTS for download:
- Mainstream Policy Group meeting (5 September 2006)
- Download Meeting Minutes (pdf file 48kb) MPGmeeting-5-09-06.pdf
- Download Minutes of 28th February 2006 meeting (PDF file, 48 kb) MPGmeeting28-02-06.pdf - Presentations and
minutes of the Mainstream Policy Group meeting
(28th February 2006, Dublin)
- Download Minutes of meeting (PDF file, 48 kb) MPGmeeting28-02-06.pdf
Tony Tyrrell EQUAL TSS, "Thematic Networking in Round II":
- download PDF file (24 kb) ThematicNetworking-EQUALround2.pdf
Ciara Monaghan EQUAL TSS "Presentation on the Ideas Bank"
- download PDF file (224 kb) ideasbank.pdf -
The ideas bank - www.ideasbank-equal.info - has been developed to act as a "virtual innovation centre", a space where research, innovative tools and practices are housed. This accessible centre provides policy makers and practioners with a range of workable options in terms of responding to real challenges whether that be in terms of developing HR practice to accommodate a diverse workforce or gaining an understanding of how to develop and formalize real interagency co-operation. - Feedback from North-South Event (The Edge, Belfast) 5th July 2005)
- Proceedings of the EU Learning Seminar on Mainstreaming, hosted by the Irish Managing Authority in Malahide in April 2005. These include; the draft Mainstreaming Guide and inputs from individual member states on national mainstreaming strategies.
- MINUTES of the Sixth Meeting of the EQUAL Mainstreaming Policy Group (17th February 2005) - MPGminutes-feb2005.pdf (49 kb)
- EQUAL Mainstreaming Policy Group meeting (17th February 2005)
Agenda - MPGagenda17feb05.doc (25kb) - EQUAL Mainstreaming Policy Group meeting (30th June 2004)
Minutes: MPGminutes-june04.doc (79kb) - EQUAL Times (May 2004)
- EQUALtimes.pdf (10,6Mb) please contact us for a copy - EQUAL Mainstream Engagement
This document presents the policy relevance of EQUAL projects in Ireland as at March 2004: mainstream.pdf (5,6Mb) - "Accommodating Diversity in Employment and Provision" presents the conference papers and outputs of the North / South mainstreaming event that took place in November 2003: accomodating03.pdf (705kb)
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