WPCT EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) TEMPLATE (Screening and Full EIA Template)
Please use section 1 to screen your policy or activity to establish if it has any relevance to equality and diversity. Where relevance is established, proceed to a full impact assessment, using the template in section 2. Once the form in section 2 has been completed email to: varsa.shah@wpct.nhs.uk
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Screening your policy for relevance to equalities and equalities duties
(Policy in this context applies to strategies, decisions, plans, procedures, service, informal practices or customs which are embedded in our core functions, written organisational policies, change management activities) Screening must be done during the development or design of the policy and before it goes to any group or committee for approval. If it is going to the Board for approval, then it is a requirement of the Board that a full EIA is carried out where the policy is found to be relevant to equality and diversity. Screening is a short easy process which makes use of statistics, consultation outcomes, results of ethnicity monitoring, complaints, analysis of PALS, audit reports, research information, reviews demographic data. If there is no data, take action to collect the evidence of likely impact and revisit the document (it could be through PPI, research, consultations, desk research/interview, public health data). When screening a policy or undertaking a full assessment you can involve your team, other colleagues or partners in the sector and together consider the full implications of the policy and improvements to be made. Before you start screening do the following: • Be clear about policy aims, purpose, objectives and outcomes and beneficiaries • Use the evidence/data you have. However, if you have none or require additional information to make an informed decision, the put monitoring in place/gather some data to support the process • Ask the following questions and in conjunction with the evidence/data you have, your knowledge, expertise, partnership input, past experiences or research about how your policies have affected certain groups, national information about how some groups are affected by our activities/policies/decisions. Questions for You to use in the Screening Process Yes No
Does/will the policy or activity affect the public directly or indirectly ? Have there been or likely to be any public concerns about the policy or proposal? Does the evidence/data show an existing or likely differential impact for the different strands of diversity? Age, gender, disability, race, religion, sexuality Do/will people who belong to the different strands of diversity have different needs, experiences, issues or priorities in relation to this policy or activity (use evidence) Could the policy or activity affect how services, commissioning or procurement activities are organised, provided, where and by whom? Could the policy or activity affect our workforce or employment practices? Have complaints been received from different equality groups about the effect of this policy, proposal or our activities in general (having no complaints does not always mean there is no issue – always advisable to find out) Does the policy involve or will it have an impact upon • eliminating unlawful discrimination • promoting equality of opportunity • promoting good relations between diverse groups Is there likely to be an adverse/negative impact or risks to the organisation, for users, equality groups and staff if the policy or activity is implemented in its current format? Nil impact process stops here, see EIA template, complete the screening section and return to Varsa Shah Low impact 1 – 3 Yes’s, full EIA required by not an immediate priority, you can prioritise for later on in the year High impact, 4 – 9 Yes’s, full EIA required and immediately using the EIA template on page 2, do so in consultation with affected groups.
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FULL IMPACT ASSESSMENT TEMPLATE (EIA)
Where a policy or activity has been screen and relevance to equalities/equalities duties established, you are required under equalities legislation to undertake a full impact assessment in consultation with those directly affected or likely to be affected by the policy. Leads: _____________________________ Department:___________________________________ If a partnership please provide details of all partners New or existing policy:_____________ Policy name:______________________________________
ACTION
Brief summary of the policy aims, purpose, objectives and outcomes (include any aims in relation to equality, social inclusion)
Description/Details
Aims Objectives Outcomes Use this section to Briefly describe the data/evidence used in the screening process. Evidence can be existing or from other sources, can be gathered through consultations, research, interviews:
SCREENING or Assessing Policy Relevance to Diversity and Equality
Based on the questions, data and assessment against equalities duties, does the policy have relevance to equalities: YES NO • • If you answered YES, proceed with a full EIA If NO, explain briefly why, then process stops here. Sign and send your form to varsa.shah@wpct.nhs
Director/AD Sign_________________ Date:____________
FULL ASSESSMENT
Who are the intended beneficiaries from this policy/function
If your function/service is partly or wholly provided by an external organisation/agency on your behalf, list arrangements you plan/have in place to ensure that the function or service promotes equality. Include this in your improvement plan Explore evidence/data further, relate closely to equalities duties and explain the full or differential impact (negative, positive, neutral, intentional) of the policy/function on
What will this policy or function mean to the different equalities groups (you can consult with and in the case of disabled people involve them in identifying what this policy will mean to them)
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People from different racial backgrounds Disabled people (mental, physical, sensory, long term health, learning disabilities) Gender (male, female, transgender) Age (young and old) Religion or belief (inc non believers) Sexual orientation (lesbian, gay, bisexual) Does the assessment also show how the policy affects/likely to affect relations between different racial/equality groups
If YES, explain, if no please move on
If adverse impact is noted for any of the above groups can it be justified on the grounds of promoting equality of opportunity for one group or as part of a wider strategy of positive action relating to particular groups.
If YES, what will you do to limit adverse impact or any potential it may have for damaging relations between groups, or consider alternative policies that might better achieve the promotion of equality
Explain your plan of action for each relevant equality heading on the improve plan eg adapt the policy, find another way to meet the policy objectives, consider specific provision ie adopt changes in communication methods, language support, disability measures etc)
If it cannot be justified, does the adverse impact amount to unlawful discrimination
Where the impact is unlawful, the policy or element of it that is unlawful must be changed or abandoned. If unavoidable, then it must be justified as outlined in the question above
Consultation – who was/is likely to be consulted. (note consultation must be carried out with groups most likely to be affected by the policy). Consider fully needs of specific groups, eg access, language Results of the consultation if available about take up or appropriateness of the policy If you have insufficient data or knowledge about the equalities target groups needs, you will need to undertake further consultation Resource implications – will there be any eg financial, human resource implications to ensure that policy is non discriminatory?
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Please state and be clear about what and how much Monitoring and reviewing the policy Describe arrangements for monitoring or carrying out regular checks on the effects of this policy on different racial/equality target groups – ensure that improvements made carry on Please state when policy will be reviewed and in light of evidence collected Improvement/Action Plan State any changes or improvements made to the policy as a result of the EIA State any changes or improvements to be made to the policy its purpose, date and lead
Use this section to outline the improvements made or to be made. Please ensure that you outline the issue, actions taken or to be taken, who is responsible, completion date, review date, resources required or involved (financial, other) and what success looks like.
Publishing the results of EIAs – a list of EIAs undertaken need to be published on an annual basis – please ensure you send this completed form to varsa.shaha|@wpct.nhs.uk
Please send to varsa.shaha@wpct.nhs.uk Once you send this form through, we will review the screening and assessments carried. We will come back to you if any gaps are identified/give feedback where appropriate.
If you require some support or team based training or further information do contact varsa.shah@wpct.nhs.uk
Ensure your director or AD signs and dates
Director/AD____________________ Date:______________
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