EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) PRO-FORMA
Legislation says that the University must take steps to understand the effect, or potential effect, of its
policies* on different groups of people. This is to ensure that a policy is neither directly nor indirectly
discriminatory and to identify how it does, or could, advance equality and foster good relations
between different groups of people.
Legislation groups people by ‘protected characteristics’ and it is these ‘protected characteristics’ that
need to be considered when carrying out an EIA.
The protected characteristics are: disability, race, sex, age, gender reassignment, marriage and
civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
Your help is needed to do this, not just because the law says so, but because the University is
committed to equality of opportunity for all and to ensuring that all the University’s policies are
developed with an awareness of their consequences for different groups of people.
Heads of Sections/Departments are responsible for ensuring this form is completed for each policy
they ‘own’. It should take no more than 30 minutes to complete. Questions 1-6 only of this EIA proforma need to be completed for new policies. For existing policies, please answer all the questions.
Policies should be assessed for their effect on equality every 3-5 years.
* For the purpose of EIAs, the term policy refers to formal policies, procedures and processes. It does
not include informal policies, procedures or processes.
Name of policy
Disability Statement
Web address of policy
http://www.essex.ac.uk/academic/docs/regs/disability.shtm
Policy-holding Department/Section
Is this a new or existing policy?
Academic Registrar’s Office
Academic Section
Existing
Date assessment completed
04/04/2013
Name and job title of person completing
pro-forma
Adam Atkins
Academic Section Project Assistant
Q1. What is the purpose of the policy?
This statement communicates the University’s commitment to being accessible to individuals with
disabilities and gives a brief overview of the reasonable adjustments that are made in accordance
with its equality policy and strategy.
Q2. Does the policy involve, or have consequences for, the people the University serves and
employs?
Yes. The statement demonstrates the University’s commitment to equality and describes some of the
ways in which support provisions are put in place to best support students with disabilities.
Q3. Does the policy require decisions to be made in relation to individuals or groups of
individuals?
Yes. Student Support staff will require evidence of an individual’s condition and then make
arrangements for support provisions accordingly.
Q4. What is the decision-making process and is it fair and transparent?
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Before support provisions are put in place, students must provide medical evidence of their disability.
Student Support will then arrange an assessment that will outline what support provisions are
required. These are then implemented for the student as to best support them in the completion of
their degree course.
This process is in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and involves reasonable adjustments being
made so that individuals with disabilities can have access to the support they are entitled to.
Q5. Please give details of what equality training is/will be provided for decision makers?
All staff involved in this decision-making process have received training on the Equality Act and the
requirements it places on the University. Those in casework management roles have received
additional training on determining what adjustments are reasonable.
Q6. Referring to the list of protected characteristics at the top of this form, how do you/will you
monitor the effect this policy has on groups of people with these PCs?
Student Support records all students that use the Disability Service and has a record of all the support
provisions put in place. These records are used in the Student Support Annual Report to inform future
initiatives and strategies aimed at creating a more inclusive environment and to better promote the
services offered by the Student Support Disability Team.
Any students who encounter difficulties as a result of their disabilities, but have not made themselves
known to Student Support, are encouraged by their department to make contact so that provisions
can be put in place.
Any detrimental effect on persons with any particular protected characteristic identified by monitoring
or complaint will be investigated and if necessary appropriate remedial action will be taken.
Q7. Referring to Q6 above, have you identified any positive or negative impact on any group of
people who share a protected characteristic?
The Disability Statement demonstrates the University’s stance on inclusivity and promotes an attitude
of understanding towards individuals in higher education that have a disability. The statement also
acts as a means of referral providing a way in which current and prospective students can learn more
about what sort of support they can look to receive and where they can go to receive it.
Q8. Have there been any complaints or issues raised about the policy in relation to its effect
on people who share a protected characteristic?
No
Q9. Are there any (further) measures that could be taken to continue to ensure the policy is
neither directly nor indirectly discriminatory? e.g. additional data collection/monitoring or
training.
The Disability Statement is quite brief and could elaborate on the confidential nature of the service
offered to students accessing the support services at the University. However, it does signpost
readers to the Disability Service Web pages that provide all the relevant information.
Q10. Have you identified any ways in which the policy does, or could advance equality or
foster good relations between different groups of people?
The Disability Statement communicates the University’s commitment to equality and offers an
understanding of the need to provide additional support to students with disabilities when they are
completing their studies.
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Please now email the completed form to diversity@essex.ac.uk. The Equality and Diversity
Committee (EADC) have responsibility for overseeing the completion of EIAs. Equality and Diversity
will assess the information provided in the first instance and will either:
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Decide that no action is required and report this to the Equality and Diversity Committee;
Recommend actions to be taken and report this to the Equality and Diversity Committee *;
Refer the EIA to the Equality and Diversity Committee who have the option to require a more
detailed assessment be carried out.
The individual completing the EIA pro-forma will be informed of the outcome of the assessment by
Equality and Diversity as soon as possible after submitting the form.
*If Equality and Diversity recommend action(s) be taken, a report outlining the progress made against
the recommended actions will be requested one year after the EIA has taken place.
For completion by Equality and Diversity
Name of Policy
Disability Statement
Should this EIA be referred on to the Equality
and Diversity Committee for further
consideration?
No
If no, what recommendations, if any, should
be made to the Policy-holding
Department/Section?
None
Date:
13 September 2013
Signed
Karen Bush, Equality and Diversity Manager
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