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
Drugs and Alcohol Policy for Students
Web address of policy
http://www.essex.ac.uk/academic/docs/regs/rpp.shtm
Policy-holding Department/Section
Is this a new or existing policy?
Academic Registrar’s Office
Academic Section
Existing
Date assessment completed
12/04/2013
Name and job title of person completing proforma
Adam Atkins
Academic Section Project Assistant
Q1. What is the purpose of the policy?
This policy outlines the University’s stance on issues relating to the use and misuse of drugs and
alcohol by members of the University community.
Q2. Does the policy involve, or have consequences for, the people the University serves and
employs?
Yes. The policy provides information on the actions that the University might take in situations relating
to the misuse of alcohol or drugs by the members of its community. The actions are described in line
with the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Alcohol Licensing Act 1964.
Q3. Does the policy require decisions to be made in relation to individuals or groups of
individuals?
Yes. The policy states that members of the University community should report incidences of
disruption as a result of drugs or alcohol misuse, and offers guidance on where one should go to
report an incident.
Q4. What is the decision-making process and is it fair and transparent?
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The policy outlines the University’s responsibility to its community in relation to maintaining a
professional working and learning environment, and how it must therefore act in situations where
disruption may occur as a result of alcohol or drug use. Should a member of the university community
wish to report a concern surrounding the misuse of drugs or alcohol, the policy outlines the different
ways in which a report can be made and suggests some of the actions that the University might take
in dealing with a report.
These actions are suggested in line with the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Alcohol Licensing Act
1964.
The policy also states that should an individual have concerns about their own use of alcohol or
drugs, they should seek advice and that the University will regard anyone seeking support as having a
health problem and will provide assistance to enable appropriate help or treatment to be accessed.
This demonstrates a supportive response and a way in which fair treatment can be administered to
those seeking help or support.
Q5. Please give details of what equality training is/will be provided for decision makers?
All staff involved in the decision making process will have completed the University’s equality and
diversity online 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?
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?
Yes: The policy has a positive effect as it outlines procedures and gives advice on matters relating to
alcohol and drug use that might disrupt the campus community. This enables the maintenance of a
professional working and learning environment for all community members including those with
protected characteristics.
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.
No
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 policy gives advice to all members of the University community on matters relating to disruption
as a result of alcohol or drug use.
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
Drugs and Alcohol Policy for Students
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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