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
Student Support Mental Health Crisis Intervention Policy
Web address of policy
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/stdsup/policies/mhealth_crisisintr.shtm
Policy-holding Department/Section
Student Support – Academic Section
Is this a new or existing policy?
Existing
Date assessment completed
11/01/2013
Name and job title of person
completing pro-forma
Adam Atkins Graduate Trainee
Rachel Fletcher Director of Student Support
Q1. What is the purpose of the policy?
The policy provides University staff with a co-ordinated and managed response to situations where a
student’s behaviour is causing concern, because it is disruptive, aggressive or if they appear to be
putting themselves or others at risk. The policy outlines the limits to which staff can provide support
before needing to refer the case onto another agency.
Q2. Does the policy involve, or have consequences for, the people the University serves and
employs?
Yes. The policy explicitly states that the University has a responsibility to protect both students
experiencing mental health difficulties, and those that might witness visible signs of mental health. It is
with this responsibility that the policy outlines how best to balance the needs of these two groups. The
limits outlined in the policy also provide guidance to staff with regards to how and when a student’s
case should be passed onto another agency (internal or external). Whether or not these guidelines
are acknowledged, can have serious consequences for both the student in question and those
individuals surrounding the student.
Q3. Does the policy require decisions to be made in relation to individuals or groups of
individuals?
Yes. The policy outlines how University staff should look to respond in instances whereby the mental
health of a student is causing concern. University staff must make an assessment of whether the
1
support they can provide is appropriate for the needs of the student and those surrounding the
student, or if more specialist support is needed from another agency (internal or external).
Q4. What is the decision-making process and is it fair and transparent?
When a student is exhibiting behaviour which is causing concern as a result of their mental health, the
policy outlines how University staff should look to encourage the student to engage with Student
Support in the first instance. If the student refuses to engage in support but continues to be a cause
for concern, the policy outlines how the Deputy Director of Student Support (Wellbeing) should be
notified so that appropriate action can be taken. If at this stage, the student is continuing to cause
concern and is again refusing to engage with support, the Director of Student Support will make a
recommendation to the Vice Chancellor that the student be excluded from campus.
At each stage of this process, decisions are made by a number of individuals, in a case conference
type format, and based on an assessment of risk. Clear records are kept at each stage of the
process, noting who made the decisions and why. At each stage, the situation is reassessed in order
to best support the student in question, and those surrounding them.
Q5. Please give details of what equality training is/will be provided for decision makers?
All University Staff members have access to the Student Support Mental Health Crisis Intervention
Policy, which outlines the parameters for which staff can look to assess whether a student should be
referred on to appropriate support. The policy is available to all staff for reference throughout the
academic year.
All new Student Support staff are also required to complete the online equality and diversity training
programme.
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?
The policy acknowledges the University’s responsibility under the Equality Act not to discriminate
against students with disabilities, including mental health difficulties, and to make reasonable
adjustments to ensure that students with disabilities are not placed at a disadvantage. However, the
policy also outlines the limits to which this support can be provided. It acknowledges that in some
circumstances the support needs of some students with mental health difficulties will be too great for
the University environment. The policy therefore outlines the process of referral if this is the case.
Q7. Referring to Q6 above, have you identified any positive or negative impact on any group of
people who share a protected characteristic?
The policy outlines a co-ordinated and managed response to situations where a student’s behaviour
is causing concern, because it is disruptive, aggressive or they appear to be at serious risk and where
it is not considered appropriate to apply University disciplinary procedures because the root of the
problem appears to be mental health related. In these situations students are encouraged to engage
with support so that further difficulties can be avoided.
Before the policy was in place, students whose behaviour was causing concern (because of a mental
health difficulty/disability) were usually dealt with by the Discipline office. Using this policy is more
appropriate and reduces the negative impact upon students whose behaviour may be out of their
control because they are unwell and who may have been subject to punitive sanctions prior to the
implementation of the policy.
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
2
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.
Further mental health awareness training for non-specialist staff could be provided to ensure that staff
are aware of the issues pertaining to student mental health and behaviour.
Q10. Have you identified any ways in which the policy does, or could advance equality or
foster good relations between different groups of people?
Yes. The policy takes into account the different needs of different students and outlines a process
whereby special consideration is given to cases where it is not considered appropriate to apply
University disciplinary procedures because the root of the problem appears to be mental health. In
noting this need for a different approach the policy is also promoting an understanding between
people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
By addressing difficult behaviour in an appropriate and timely fashion, this should limit the impact on
other members of the university community and so maintain or prevent a deterioration in relations
between the student concerned and others.
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:



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
Student Support Mental Health Crisis
Intervention Policy
No further consideration required at present.
Should this EIA be referred on to the Equality
and Diversity Committee for further
consideration?
If no, what recommendations, if any, should
be made to the Policy-holding
Department/Section?
Consideration should be given as to which nonspecialist staff would benefit from mental health
awareness training and appropriate training
identified and delivered.
Date:
25 January 2013
Signed
Karen Bush, Equality and Diversity Manager
3