1. Service Equality Team Equalities Impact Assessment Overview

2. Service Equality Team What is an Equalities Impact Assessment? An Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) is a systematic analysis of the effect or impact that an existing or proposed policy, service or function has on the promotion of equality.

3. Service Equality Team Aims The aim of EqIA process is to identify any positive or negative impact on the promotion of equality and the Trust’s equality groups. Age Disability Gender/Sex Race/Ethnicity Religion/Belief Sexuality

4. Service Equality Team EqIA stages There are three stages whilst carrying out an Equality Impact Assessment Initial – this process is a screening stage used to determine whether a policy or the operation of a service or function is relevant to the promotion of equality. Partial – this process is used to assess the likely impact a draft policy or proposed new service or function has on the promotion of equality. Full – this process is used to assess the actual impact an existing policy, service or function has on the promotion of equality.

5. Service Equality Team Initial Identify Function/Policy Assess Relevance Determine Priority SET Approval Sign off Publish Initial EqIA

6. Service Equality Team Partial Register Partial EqIA Gather Information & Consult Stakeholders Assess Likely Impact Develop Draft EqIA Submit Draft EqIA to SET Sign off EqIA Amended Proposal (if necessary) Publish EqIA Monitor Prepare for Partial EqIA No agreement on draft EqIA Set Approve Draft EqIA

7. Service Equality Team Full Prepare for Full EqIA Register Full EqIA Gather Written Information Consult Stakeholders Assess Actual Impact Develop Draft Action Plan Develop Draft EqIA Publish Draft EqIA Consult Stakeholders on Draft EqIA Sign off EqIA Publish EqIA Monitor Inform SET No agreement on Draft EqIA Potential Adverse Impact found after assessment Potential or Actual Adverse Impact No potential Adverse Impact found

8. Service Equality Team The Outcomes After the completion of the EqIA process you should have: A clear assessment of whether the policy, service or function, has a possible or actual impact upon the promotion of equality; A clear understanding whether there is an adverse impact upon the overall promotion of equality or the any of the Trust’s Equality Target Groups

9. Service Equality Team In the case of draft policies and proposed new services or functions an opportunity to remove any likely adverse impact or unlawful discrimination before the policy service or function is introduced In the case of existing policies, services or functions, an action plan for removing any adverse impact, and also a framework for monitoring any possible further negative impact The Outcomes

10. Service Equality Team Why Undertake an Equalities Impact Assessment? An EqIA needs to be undertaken for a number of reasons; Need to understand how inequality can be promoted through policy, function or service To ensure the management of equality and diversity is effective To make sure equality and diversity is monitored and evaluated The Law requires public authorities to carry out EqIA’s

11. Service Equality Team When to Undertake an Equalities Impact Assessment? When an EqIA should be conducted depends on what is being impact assessed. Using the Different Types of EqIA Processes InitialPartialFull Proposed (Draft) Policies  New Services  New Functions  Existing Policies  Existing Services  Existing Functions 

12. Service Equality Team Who Should Undertake an Equalities Impact Assessment? Who Should Conduct an EqIA? Policy author Service Manager EqIA Team Proposed (Draft) Policy  New Service or Function  Existing Policy, Service or Function 

13. Service Equality Team Publishing an Equalities Impact Assessment All EqIA’s will be published regardless of what type of EqIA it is once it has been completed and signed. This is to ensure: Openness and transparency Accountability Compliant with the law

14. Service Equality Team The Law and Equalities Impact Assessment There is a statutory framework governing EqIA’s. This means that conducting an EqIA is a legal process. Most public authorities have a duty to promote equality in the areas of: Race Disability Gender

15. Service Equality Team The Law and Equalities Impact Assessment The Trusts’ Equality and Diversity Framework – Action for Equality requires that EqIA’s should be undertaken in the additional areas of age, religion and belief, and sexuality. The law requires that EqIA’s (related to race, disability and gender) are published.

16. Service Equality Team The Law and Equalities Impact Assessment The CEHR may issue a Compliance Notice against a public authority that is not fulfilling any part of, or all of the duty to promote equality. This includes not completing EqIA’s, or not completing them correctly. Failing to comply with a Compliance Notice can lead to legal proceedings against the public authority.