Community Impact Assessment Form
For a summary of this Community Impact Assessment, click here
Title of Community Impact Assessment (CIA): Children and Families Act – Planning & Commissioning
Directorate:
Children’s Services
Date of assessment:
Names and roles of people carrying out the community impact assessment. (Please identify Lead Officer):
Section A – What are you impact assessing?
(Indicate with an “x” which applies):A decision to review or change a service
A strategy
A policy or procedure
A function, service or project
X
Are you impact assessing something that is?:New
Existing
Being reviewed
Being reviewed as a result of budget constraints
X
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Describe the area you are impact assessing and, where appropriate, the changes you are proposing?
The Children and Families Act,, which will become law on the 1st September 2014, will aim to improve services for vulnerable children and support strong
families. It will underpin wider reforms to ensure that all children and young people can succeed, no matter what their background. The Act will reform the
systems for adoption, looked after children, family justice and special educational needs. It will encourage growth in the childcare sector, introduce a new system
of shared parental leave and ensure children in England have a strong advocate for their rights.
This Community Impact Assessment will look specifically at the system for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN), including those who
are disabled. The Act will extend the SEN system from birth to 25, giving children, young people and their parents greater control and choice in decisions and
ensuring needs are properly met. It will:

replace old statements with a new birth- to-25 education, health and care plan (EHC) so that children’s special educational needs are picked up early and
support is routinely put in place quickly;

offer families personal budgets;

improve cooperation between all the services that support children and their families, requiring local authorities and health authorities to work together.
There 5 key areas to be covered by separate Community Impact Assessments are:
1. Local Offer
2. The Education, Health and Care Plan
3. Personal budgets
4. Transitions
5. Planning & Commissioning
This Community Impact assessments will cover the following area:
5. Planning & Commissioning: With the introduction of Education, Health and Care plans the Children and Families Act place a requirement for Local Authorities
and health organisations to commission services jointly to meet the needs of children and young people with SEN & disabilities.
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Section B – Is a Community Impact Assessment required (Screening)?
Consider what you are impact assessing and mark “x” for all the statement(s) below which apply
Service or policy that people use or which apply to people (this could include staff)
Discretion is exercised or there is potential for people to experience different outcomes. For example,
planning applications and whether applications are approved or not
Concerns at local, regional or national level of discrimination/inequalities
Major change, such as closure, reduction, removal or transfer
Community, regeneration and planning strategies, organisational or directorate partnership
strategies/plans
Employment policy – where discretion is not exercised
Employment policy – where discretion is exercised. For example, recruitment or disciplinary process
X
If none of the areas above apply to your proposals, you will not be required to undertake a full CIA. Please summarise below why a full
CIA is not required and send this form to your directorate equality link officer. If you have identified one or more of the above areas, you
should conduct a full CIA and complete this form.
Equality Areas
Indicate with an “x” which equality areas are likely to be affected, positively or negatively, by the proposals
Age
X
Religion and/or belief
Disability
X
Sexual Identity
Gender (including pregnancy and maternity and
marriage and civil partnership)
People on a low income (socio-economic inequality)
Gender reassignment
Other (please state below) (For example carers, ex
offenders, refugees and asylum seekers, gypsies and
travellers)
Parents and carers
Race
X
If any of the equality areas above have been identified as being likely to be affected by the proposals, you will be required to undertake a
CIA. You will need only to consider those areas which you have indicated are likely to be affected by the proposals
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Section C – Monitoring information
C1 Do you currently monitor by the
following protected characteristics or
equality areas?
Yes (Y) or
No (N)
Age
Y
Disability
Y
Gender (including pregnancy and maternity
and marriage and civil partnership)
Gender Reassignment
N
Race
N
Religion and/or belief
N
Sexual Identity
N
People on a low income
(socio-economic inequality)
N
If no, please explain why and / or detail in the action plan at Section E how
you will prioritise the gathering of this equality monitoring data.
N
Y
Parents and carers
Other (please state) (For example carers,
ex offenders, refugees and asylum
seekers, gypsies and travellers)
Section C (continued) – Consultation
C2 Are you intending to carry out consultation on your proposals?
The Children and Families Act requires the Local Authority and its partners, and Clinical Commissioning Group, to act consistently with the joint commissioning
arrangements, to keep them under review and to update them.
To develop and implement the joint commissioning arrangements between the Local Authority and Clinical Commissioning Group a working group was created
with key partners, this has enabled the effective consultation on and dissemination of information related to the developments and implementation of the
requirements.
Governance for this area of work is through JAMB for Children’s Services and the Children & Families Act Project Group. Any policy will first go to these meetings
before going to the Health & Well-Being Board.
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If “yes”, please give details of your consultation exercise and results below
Working Group summary:
The Local Authority has commissioned a range of services to meet the needs of children with a disability, some of which are only available following an
assessment of need whilst others are universally available. There are currently a number of panels in operation to ensure resources are allocated fairly and in line
with assessed need.
The development of Personalised Budgets will give families greater flexibility and they may not wish to purchase the services previously available to them. This
will mean some services will need to be reduced or will not be commissioned at all in future. New services may need to be commissioned or parents given the
flexibility to spot purchase as required. Decisions will need to be made as to what parents can purchase and whether the LA will impose minimum standards
particularly in relation to safeguarding.
Key objectives identified by the working group:
1. Review and define the roles of the various partnership boards, HWB, CYPT, SSCB.
2. Review and define the role of resource allocation panels (Continuing Care, Disability Resource, Complex Needs).
3. Ensure all planned procurement is flexible enough to take us through this transition period while ensuring providers understand the changes and
remain viable. (Working closely with the Voluntary & Community Sector Work Stream).
4. Explore opportunities to commission in different ways.
5. Explore frameworks to support parents in choosing providers.
6. Develop a Needs Assessment and a Commissioning Plan
Section C (continued) – Analysis
C3 What information has been analysed to
inform the content of this CIA? What were
the findings?
Please include details of, for example,
service or employee monitoring information,
consultation findings, any national or local
research, customer feedback, inspection
reports, and any other information which will
inform your CIA.
Please specify whether this was existing
information or was obtained specifically in
relation to this equality analysis and CIA
process
Key areas:
 Need to demonstrate the joint planning and commissioning between the Local Authority, and the
Clinical Commissioning Group – a joint statement has been developed.
 There is a range of provision currently in place which should meet the majority of SEND needs,
however if a parent / carer identifies additional needs then a joint commission and / or personal
budget will be allocated.
 As a result of the point above, only a low percentage of children and young people will qualify for
funding.
 Reviewing the funding panels process and timelines – to make best use of Officer time and ensure that
outcomes of assessments are notified within appropriate timescales.
Issues identified:
 Funding has been held back in case any additional areas of support are identified
 There is little evidence from Pathfinder LA’s of significant take up of personal budgets. However this
may be a useful way of providing culturally sensitive services
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Section D – Potential impacts and how these will be addressed
Could your proposals have a differential
Yes (Y) No (N)
Explain impact(s) and what evidence or data exists to support your
impact relating to age equality
analysis?
Will people within certain age ranges not be
Services wil be available up to the age of 25 instead of 18 but there should not be any
Y
getting the outcome they need?
Will people within certain age ranges be
disadvantaged as a result of your proposals?
If the impact is negative, how will it be
reduced or eliminated?
If you are unable to eliminate, reduce or
mitigate negative impacts, are your
proposals potentially discriminatory on the
grounds of age?
Will the proposals mean that people within
certain age ranges will experience positive
outcomes?
Highlight any positive impacts
Are the proposals likely to impact on
community cohesion?
Is there potential to enhance relationships
between people who share a protected
characteristic and those who do not?
Identify areas where there is potential to
foster good relations
negative impacts.
Services wil be available up to the age of 25 instead of 18 but there should not be any
negative impacts
Y
N
Section D (continued) – Potential impacts and how these will be addressed
Could your proposals have a differential
Yes (Y) No (N)
Explain impact(s) and what evidence or data exists to support your
impact relating to disability equality
analysis?
Will people with a disability not be getting the Y
The expectation is that the changes will only have an impact on a small number of
outcome they need?
Will people with a disability be
disadvantaged as a result of your proposals?
If the impact is negative, how will it be
reduced or eliminated?
If you are unable to eliminate, reduce or
mitigate negative impacts, are your
proposals potentially discriminatory on the
grounds of disability?
children and young people, specifically those whose parents / carers identify additional
needs for their CYP.
In these instances the expectation will be that either a joint commission or allocation of a
personal budget will be allocated to meet the specific requirements.
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Will the proposals mean that people with a
disability will experience positive outcomes?
Highlight any positive impacts
Are the proposals likely to impact on
community cohesion?
Is there potential to enhance relationships
between people who share a protected
characteristic and those who do not?
Identify areas where there is potential to
foster good relations
These proposals should give familires more choice and greater flexability
Y
N
Section D (continued) – Potential impacts and how these will be addressed
Could your proposals have a differential
Yes (Y) No (N)
Explain impact(s) and what evidence or data exists to support your
impact relating to gender equality (this
analysis?
includes pregnancy and maternity and
marriage and civil partnership)
Will men, women or boys and girls not be
N
getting the outcome they need?
Will men, women or boys and girls be
disadvantaged as a result of your proposals?
If the impact is negative, how will it be
reduced or eliminated?
If you are unable to eliminate, reduce or
mitigate negative impacts, are your
proposals potentially discriminatory on the
grounds of gender?
Will the proposals mean that men or women,
boys or girls will experience positive
outcomes?
Highlight any positive impacts
Are the proposals likely to impact on
community cohesion?
Is there potential to enhance relationships
between people who share a protected
characteristic and those who do not?
Identify areas where there is potential to
foster good relations
N
N
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Section D (continued) – Potential impacts and how these will be addressed
Could your proposals have a differential Yes (Y) No (N)
Explain impact(s) and what evidence or data exists to support your
impact relating to equality for people
analysis?
planning, undergoing or who have
undergone gender reassignment?
Will people planning, undergoing or who
N
have undergone gender reassignment not
be getting the outcome they need?
Will people planning, undergoing or who
have undergone gender reassignment be
disadvantaged as a result of your
proposals?
If the impact is negative, how will it be
reduced or eliminated?
If you are unable to eliminate, reduce or
mitigate negative impacts, are your
proposals potentially discriminatory on the
grounds of gender reassignment?
Will the proposals mean that people
planning, undergoing or who have
undergone gender reassignment will
experience positive outcomes?
Highlight any positive impacts
Are the proposals likely to impact on
community cohesion?
Is there potential to enhance relationships
between people who share a protected
characteristic and those who do not?
Identify areas where there is potential to
foster good relations
N
N
Section D (continued) – Potential impacts and how these will be addressed
Could your proposals have a differential
Yes (Y) No (N)
Explain impact(s) and what evidence or data exists to support your
impact relating to race equality
analysis?
Will certain racial groups not be getting the
N
outcome they need?
Will certain racial groups be disadvantaged
as a result of your proposals?
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If the impact is negative, how will it be
reduced or eliminated?
If you are unable to eliminate, reduce or
mitigate negative impacts, are your
proposals potentially discriminatory on the
grounds of race?
Will the proposals mean that people within
certain racial groups will experience positive
outcomes?
Highlight any positive impacts
Are the proposals likely to impact on
community cohesion?
Is there potential to enhance relationships
between people who share a protected
characteristic and those who do not?
Identify areas where there is potential to
foster good relations
N
N
Section D (continued) – Potential impacts and how these will be addressed
Could your proposals have a differential
Yes (Y) No (N)
Explain impact(s) and what evidence or data exists to support your
impact relating to religion or belief
analysis?
equality
Will people of certain religions or who have
N
particular beliefs not be getting the outcome
they need?
Will people of certain religions or who have
particular beliefs be disadvantaged as a
result of your proposals?
If the impact is negative, how will it be
reduced or eliminated?
If you are unable to eliminate, reduce or
mitigate negative impacts, are your
proposals potentially discriminatory on the
grounds of religion or belief?
Will the proposals mean that people of
certain religions or who have particular
beliefs will experience positive outcomes?
Highlight any positive impacts
Are the proposals likely to impact on
N
N
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community cohesion?
Is there potential to enhance relationships
between people who share a protected
characteristic and those who do not?
Identify areas where there is potential to
foster good relations
Section D (continued) – Potential impacts and how these will be addressed
Could your proposals have a differential
Yes (Y) No (N)
Explain impact(s) and what evidence or data exists to support your
impact relating to sexual identity
analysis?
equality
Will gay, lesbian and/or bi-sexual people not
N
be getting the outcome they need?
Will gay, lesbian and/or bi-sexual people be
disadvantaged as a result of your proposals?
If the impact is negative, how will it be
reduced or eliminated?
If you are unable to eliminate, reduce or
mitigate negative impacts, are your
proposals potentially discriminatory on the
grounds of sexual identity?
Will the proposals mean that gay, lesbian
and/or bi-sexual people will experience
positive outcomes?
Highlight any positive impacts
Are the proposals likely to impact on
community cohesion?
Is there potential to enhance relationships
between people who share a protected
characteristic and those who do not?
Identify areas where there is potential to
foster good relations
N
N
Section D (continued) – Potential impacts and how these will be addressed
Could your proposals have a differential
Yes (Y) No (N)
Explain impact(s) and what evidence or data exists to support your
impact on socio economic equality
analysis?
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(people on a low income)?
Will people on a low income not be getting
the outcome they need?
Will people on a low income be
disadvantaged as a result of your proposals?
If the impact is negative, how will it be
reduced or eliminated?
If you are unable to eliminate, reduce or
mitigate negative impacts, are your
proposals potentially discriminatory on the
grounds of socio economic inequality?
Will the proposals mean that people on a low
income will experience positive outcomes?
Highlight any positive impacts
Are the proposals likely to impact on
community cohesion?
Is there potential to enhance relationships
between people who share a protected
characteristic and those who do not?
Identify areas where there is potential to
foster good relations
N
N
N
Section D (continued) – Potential impacts and how these will be addressed
Could your proposals have a differential
Yes (Y) No (N)
Explain impact(s) and what evidence or data exists to support your
impact relating to any other equality
analysis?
groups, for example, carers, ex
offenders, refugees and asylum
seekers, gypsies and travellers)?
Will people within any other groups not be
N
getting the outcome they need?
Will people within any other groups be
disadvantaged as a result of your proposals?
If the impact is negative, how will it be
reduced or eliminated?
If you are unable to eliminate, reduce or
mitigate negative impacts, are your
proposals potentially discriminatory for
people within any other groups?
Will the proposals mean that people within
N
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any other groups will experience positive
outcomes?
Highlight any positive impacts
Are the proposals likely to impact on
community cohesion
Is there potential to enhance relationships
between people who share a protected
characteristic and those who do not?
identify areas where there is potential to
foster good relations
N
Section E – Action Plan and review
Detail in the plan below, actions that you have identified in your CIA, which will eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity
and/or foster good relations.
If you are unable to eliminate or reduce negative impact on any of the equality areas, you should explain why
Impact (positive or
negative) identified
Proposed action
Person(s)
responsible
The Children and
Families Act – Planning &
Commissioning CIA has
identified impacts, both
negative and positive.
Where will action
Target date
be monitored? (e.g.,
Directorate
Business Plan,
Service Plan,
Equality Action
Plan)
To be identified
As required
Required outcome
The Children and
Salford City
Completed CIA and
Families Act will come
Council, Salford
annual review of
into effect from 1st
Clinical
action plan
September 2014, and
Commissioning
will transform the way
Group
that services in relations
to children and young
people with SEND will
be delivered.
Could making the changes in any of the above areas have a negative effect on other groups? Explain why and what you will do about
this.
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Review
Your CIA should be reviewed at least every three years, less if it has a significant impact on people.
Please enter the date your CIA will be reviewed ……………………..You should review progress on your CIA action plan annually.
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Section F – Summary of your CIA
As your CIA will be published on the council’s website and accessible to the general public, a summary of your CIA is required. Please
provide a summary of your CIA in the box below.
Summary of Community Impact Assessment
Brief summary of proposal or what you are impact assessing
The Children and Families Act requires the Local Authority and its partners, and Clinical Commissioning Group, to act consistently with the joint
commissioning arrangements, to keep them under review and to update them.
How did you approach the CIA and what did you find?
A working group was established with commissioners from both the Local Authority and the Clinical Commissioning Group to ensure that the joint
planning and commissioning process was developed and implemented in partnership.
The findings in the CIA were taken from the working group, who identified key objectives and potential issues.
What are the main areas requiring further attention?
Key areas:




Need to demonstrate the joint planning and commissioning between the Local Authority, and the Clinical Commissioning Group – a joint
statement has been developed.
There is a range of provision currently in place which should meet the majority of SEND needs, however if a parent / carer identifies
additional needs then a joint commission and / or personal budget will be allocated.
As a result of the point above, only a low percentage of children and young people will qualify for funding.
Reviewing the funding panels process and timelines – to make best use of Officer time and ensure that outcomes of assessments are
notified within appropriate timescales.
Summary of recommendations for improvement
All policy and commissioning activity that results as a consequence of the Children and Families Act will undergo a CIA to eliminate discrimination
and ensure that services meet the needs of the target group.
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Section G – Next Steps
Quality Assurance
When you have completed your CIA, you should send it to your directorate Equality Link Officer who will arrange for it to be quality
assured. Your CIA will be returned to you if further work is required. It is important that your CIA is robust and of good quality as it may
be challenged
“Sign off” within your directorate
Your directorate Equality Link Officer will then arrange for your CIA to be “signed off” within your directorate (see below). Your directorate
Equality Lead Officer or other senior manager within your directorate should “sign off” your CIA (below).
Name
Signature
Date
Senior Manager
D. A. Fallon
09/09/14
Lead CIA Officer
Publishing
When your CIA has been signed off within your directorate, your directorate Equality Link Officer will send it to Elaine Barber in the
Equalities and Cohesion Team for publishing on the council’s website.
Monitoring
Your directorate Equality Link Officer will also send your CIA to your directorate Performance Officer where the actions identified within
your CIA will be entered into Covalent, the council’s performance management monitoring software so that progress can be monitored
as appropriate.
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