The Charterhouse is a significant heritage site dating back to 1611 based in the heart of London on the border between Islington and the City of London. We provide an almshouse to a community of up to 40 men and women (who are still known by the historic term as ‘Brothers’ ), which includes a Care Quality Commission Registered Domiciliary Care Service. We are also a registered charity, and a member of the Almshouse Association. The Charterhouse is therefore subject to the guidance and regulation of the Charity Commission and the CQC.

At the Charterhouse, as with historic sites all over the UK, our long and extraordinary history includes people and associations that are offensive. While we cannot erase them, we are committed to both recognising these painful aspects of our past, acknowledging and accepting them as such, and ensuring that we learn from them. This is so that we can set in place appropriate policies, interventions and interpretation making changes that may be judged, and found proactive and progressive, by the standards of today and in the future.

We know that learning from our past supports us to inform the kind of organisation that we want to be now and in the future. Our current strategy aims to create a Community of Excellence for the Care of Older People, across the pillars of Care, Place and Sustainability. This is all underpinned by a commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Financial Resilience and Estate Management.

Our approach to EDI recognises the importance of diversity and of promoting an inclusive culture, and we are committed to equity in all our activities. We accept our responsibility to challenge and reduce unfair disadvantage by adapting our operations and services, including our care and support services, to make them accessible to our residents, potential residents, visitors, staff and users of our site. We seek to ensure that those we work with and support do not feel discriminated against on the grounds of their protected characteristics and in line with our charitable objectives, as set out in the Equality Act 2010, which comprise:

• age
• gender reassignment
• being married or in a civil partnership
• being pregnant or on maternity leave
• disability
• race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
• religion or belief
• sex
• sexual orientation

The Charterhouse staff have a responsibility to ensure that they practice and promote EDI in their roles. We also work with a wide variety of organisations and individuals, such as contractors, consultants and suppliers. Their support and co-operation to adhere to our policies and our commitment to EDI is essential. Deliberate acts of discrimination, including victimisation, harassment, instruction, or pressure to discriminate, will result in serious disciplinary action taking place possibly including dismissal of employees and termination of contracts with external agents.

We are supported in the design and implementation of this work through an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Assembly (our Board of Governors). The Committee works alongside staff, including three members of our Senior Management Team, Governors and Brothers, in fulfilling its duties.

Employment

The Charterhouse is a Living Wage Employer.

The Charterhouse is committed to promoting equity and diversity within our employment policies, practices and procedures. We are an organisation where diversity is valued, and we want our community to reflect the diversity in our local community. We recognise our responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010, which protects individuals against discrimination at all stages of employment. The Charterhouse promotes an environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation. Our aim is that no employee or potential employee receives less favourable treatment or consideration in any aspect of employment policy, practice or procedure on the grounds of age, disability, sex, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership status.

Our commitment to diversity is promoted through our values:

• Honesty, by working in an ethical way;

• Caring, with dignity and respect for the individual;

• Fairness, towards all individuals in our community;

For details of job vacancies at the Charterhouse click here.

Recruitment

Governors
As with employing staff, our recruitment processes for selecting Governors are robust, rigorous and transparent and ensure that the individuals who join our organisation have been selected and appointed through a fair and equitable process for all. We continually strive and challenge ourselves to be more inclusive in all that we do. We appoint individuals irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation, and welcome applications from all individuals who share our core values, and who reflect the wide life-experiences of those that visit, learn and live with us.

Brothers
Our culture is one that supports equity, diversity and inclusion. We oppose and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind and welcome applications from all regardless of race, colour, gender, creed, sexual orientation or religion. We welcome single people, including those widowed or divorced.

Volunteers
Our policy towards volunteer recruitment is open and inclusive.

Collections Development Policy

The collections of the Charterhouse reflect its diverse history, and in developing these collections we ensure due diligence in accordance with the Museum Code of Ethics.   In terms of display and interpretation, we aspire to a strategy that is transparent, honest, and frank.

Gift Policy

As a charity, the Charterhouse is grateful for and reliant upon public donations to support its work.   However, we will only accept gifts that are compatible with our gift policy and that will not compromise our charitable mission and ethos.

Investments

The Charterhouse supports the need for responsible investing. A working group has been established to consider the Environmental, Ethics, Social and Governance (ESG) impact surrounding the investments we hold and will incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis, decision-making processes and its policies and practices. The working group considered the policies of the three investment managers and accepted that they were aligned to the values and ethics of the Charterhouse. The three managers of the portfolio have also committed to take ESG matters issues into consideration when assessing individual investments and actively engage with the charity to improve their ESG policies and practices.

Public Engagement

We are an almshouse charity housed in a significant heritage site which we want to share with the public and preserve for future generations. We endeavour to be as open, inclusive and accessible as possible for all visitors within the limits of taking into account the privacy of the residents, and the historic nature of the buildings.

We also have a Community Engagement programme, ensuring that we share our spaces and stories with local communities who might not otherwise be able to visit.  Click here for details of our Community Engagement initiatives.