Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
Valuing Diversity
Equality Impact Assessment
The Equality Impact Assessment should cover issues relating to race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion/belief and age.
Responsibility and Ownership
Service Area:
Lead Officer:
Team :
Policy and Improvement
Business Development
Background:
Business Improvement Team is primarily and internal team, who’s customers are personnel within Southend on Sea Borough Council, South Essex Homes and
some Council Partners / Contractors. Where redesigned processes impact on external Service users (Citizens, Businesses, Visitors) – Equality and Diversity issues
would be addressed under that Service areas own Equality and Diversity policies and procedures.
Stage 1: Scoping and setting hypotheses
A.
Setting your hypothesis: The first stage is to reflect on the current policy/services/functions, the information you have and to make a hypothesis of the issues
to be addressed. What do you think are the main issues relating to equalities in your service/policy area?
Current
Current
Not
policy/
policy/
known
services services
have a
have a
positive negative
impact
impact
Please tick appropriate column
Age
Consider
younger and
older people
√
1. Summarise the evidence to support your view
2. Summarise any barriers to access that may have an
impact (e.g. language, physical access)
Service users
Target training, workshops and BPR activity to users needs
(Therefore identify if any barriers likely to preclude participation
and address them)
Redesign of processes – ensure all key stakeholders are
identified and the process supports delivery of outcomes to
those stakeholders. – It is the service area who owns the
process – who are responsible for ensuring that these
redesigned processes continue to support Equality and Diversity
needs.
Workforce
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Areas that need improvement
Current
Current
Not
policy/
policy/
known
services services
have a
have a
positive negative
impact
impact
Please tick appropriate column
Gender
Consider
from point of
view of
women and
men
1. Summarise the evidence to support your view
2. Summarise any barriers to access that may have an
impact (e.g. language, physical access)
Areas that need improvement
Job Advertisement and the activities within the Business
Improvement Team don’t preclude anyone on the grounds of
age. Recent Job advertisement approved by HR conforming to
Equalities standards
Service users
Target training, workshops and BPR activity to users needs
(Therefore identify if any barriers likely to preclude participation
and address them)
√
Workshops and meetings are flexible in terms of times and
locations.
Redesign of processes – ensure all key stakeholders are
identified and the process supports delivery of outcomes to
those stakeholders. – It is the service area who owns the
process – who are responsible for ensuring that these
redesigned processes continue to support Equality and Diversity
needs.
Workforce
Activities within the Business Improvement Team don’t preclude
anyone on the grounds of Gender. – Fully supports the flexible
working policies to support those with child care arrangements
Race
Consider
Asian, Asian
British, Black,
Black British,
Chinese,
Mixed
heritage,
White British,
√
√
Small Business Improvement Team – 2 Male & 1 Female staff
members
Service users
Target training, workshops and BPR activity to users needs
(Therefore identify if any barriers likely to preclude participation
and address them)
Redesign of processes – ensure all key stakeholders are
identified and the process supports delivery of outcomes to
those stakeholders. – It is the service area who owns the
process – who are responsible for ensuring that these
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Format of final; output is normally Electronic
Documents – written in English. Intended
audience is internal, where English is
considered a necessary language for SBC staff
– current format may not be appropriate for all
circumstances – yet to identify stakeholders
where this has been an issue.
Current
Current
Not
policy/
policy/
known
services services
have a
have a
positive negative
impact
impact
Please tick appropriate column
other white
ethnic
groups, e.g.
eastern
European,
travellers
Religion/
Belief
Consider
people of
different faith
groups
including
non-believers
Disability
Consider
physical and
sensory
impairment,
learning
disabilities,
people with
mental health
issues
1. Summarise the evidence to support your view
2. Summarise any barriers to access that may have an
impact (e.g. language, physical access)
Areas that need improvement
redesigned processes continue to support Equality and Diversity
needs.
√
√
Workforce
Activities within the Business Improvement Team don’t preclude
anyone on the grounds of Race
Service users
Target training, workshops and BPR activity to users needs
(Therefore identify if any barriers likely to preclude participation
and address them)
Redesign of processes – ensure all key stakeholders are
identified and the process supports delivery of outcomes to
those stakeholders. – It is the service area who owns the
process – who are responsible for ensuring that these
redesigned processes continue to support Equality and Diversity
needs.
√
√
Workforce
Staff consulted express openness about religion/beliefs of
workforce
Service users
Target training, workshops and BPR activity to users needs
(Therefore identify if any barriers likely to preclude participation
and address them)
Redesign of processes – ensure all key stakeholders are
identified and the process supports delivery of outcomes to
those stakeholders. – It is the service area who owns the
process – who are responsible for ensuring that these
redesigned processes continue to support Equality and Diversity
needs.
Have catered for both visually impaired and deaf Customers in
the design of the Customer Contact Centre – making sure the
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On the surface this seems not to be a problem,
but we could approach local faith communities to
ensure we are aware of any issues from their
perspective and ensure that processes don’t
discriminate.
Do need better understanding of public holidays
and religious festivals to ensure that
meetings/activities don’t conflict.
Can alter venues and activities to cater for
Stakeholders needs – but physical access to the
Civic Centre can prevent active participation
(This is an issue already being addressed by
Facilities)
Need to review documentation to ensure that it
does not unduly discriminate
Current
Current
Not
policy/
policy/
known
services services
have a
have a
positive negative
impact
impact
Please tick appropriate column
1. Summarise the evidence to support your view
2. Summarise any barriers to access that may have an
impact (e.g. language, physical access)
Areas that need improvement
CRM system procured could cater for visual impairment and the
queuing system – provided adequate signage for deaf
customers – consulted with the Deaf society and internal deaf
staff members to ensure solution met requirements.
Sexual
orientation
Consider
lesbian, gay
men,
bisexual and
transgender
issues
√
√
Workforce
Activities within the Business Improvement Team don’t preclude
anyone on the grounds of disability – however access to the
Civic Centre and some other buildings would prevent some
disabilities from being able to perform effectively in BPR
activities
Service users
Target training, workshops and BPR activity to users needs
(Therefore identify if any barriers likely to preclude participation
and address them)
Redesign of processes – ensure all key stakeholders are
identified and the process supports delivery of outcomes to
those stakeholders. – It is the service area who owns the
process – who are responsible for ensuring that these
redesigned processes continue to support Equality and Diversity
needs.
Workforce
Teams express anti-oppressive/anti-discrimination intent, but
there is a reluctance on grounds of sensitivity to explore issues
of sexual orientation amongst colleagues – this does reflect the
very intimate nature of this aspect of a person’s identity; but this
also indicates the level of damage that discrimination in this area
can cause.
Team has demonstrated active support for staff members
outside the immediate Business Improvement Team
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Need to find a supportive and acceptable way of
checking with the workforce that there is no
sexual orientation discrimination.
The ‘corporate’ message could be clearer about
non-discrimination and welcoming of people
from all backgrounds and sexual orientation etc
B. What do stakeholders/peers think of the preliminary view?
Limited consultation has taken place due to timescales available within which to complete the impact assessment, however each Business Improvement project
stakeholders are identified early on and activity is targeted to address their needs. Feedback from teams on working with Business Improvement has been positive –
issues relating to resistance to engage have been related to change management concerns rather than Equality and Diversity.
C. Assessing the preliminary evidence: what are your initial conclusions about your service currently and what additional information do you need for Stage 2 of the
assessment to test your hypothesis and make recommendations for improvement?
Initial conclusion is that this part of the service does meet statutory requirements with some areas for improvement as set out above. Process redesign must continue
to support these Equality and Diversity and not conflict with Services own procedures.
Stage 2: Information gathering and evaluation
A Policies and Plans
Key policies and plans for your area
Business Improvement Proposal CMT
Report
Business Improvement Plan
Extent to
which the
aims and
practices are
consistent
with the
Council’s
Equality
Policy
Grade 1-5 (1
low, 5 high)
5
Are there ways in which the key policies, plans and procedures for your services could
conflict with equality of opportunity or equal service provision? If so what are these?
5
SPRINT BPR Methodology
5
Core Competencies Framework
5
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B Legal Compliance
Are your services legally compliant with statutory duties in the relevant equality legislation? If you suspect there are areas of non-compliance you
should (a) check with Legal Services and (b) ensure these are incorporated into your action plan.
Race: YES
Gender: YES
Disability: YES
Sexual orientation: YES
Religion/belief: YES
Age: YES
C Impact of procedures on particular groups
Using any additional data gathered as a result of your Stage 1 evaluation, summarise the evidence of the way the policies/procedures impact on specific groups
(for example consider complaints, various forms of feedback, service monitoring reports e.g. take-up levels, contract monitoring reports, outcome of consultation
exercises)
Target training, workshops and BPR activity to users needs (Therefore identify if any barriers likely to preclude participation and address them)
Redesign of processes – ensure all key stakeholders are identified and the process supports delivery of outcomes to those stakeholders. – It is the service area
who owns the process – who are responsible for ensuring that these redesigned processes continue to support Equality and Diversity needs.
Are there any other unmet needs/requirements that can be identified that affect specific groups?
Yes, as identified in the scoping exercise
What can be done to improve access to/take up of services? (Consider for example provision of information in community languages, provision of some men
only and women only sessions, provide discounting for residents on low incomes, target recruitment publicity to better reach under-represented groups, positive
action schemes to encourage greater recruitment of under-represented groups, including work placement schemes for school leavers, further consultation with
local people)
As outlined above, actions will however need to be coordinated planned and delivered in conjunction with the wider service and department.
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Stage 3: Action planning – we are not yet at the stage of action planning
Objectives for improvement
Are these measurable?
Monitoring Arrangements
How will these be incorporated into monitoring of
management information
Race:
1. Consider equality & diversity issues as part of the
initial Business Analysis and Identification of
Stakeholders.
Current management information reporting arrangements to
continue.
2. Ensure Business Improvement activity workshops,
facilitation, BPR, Observations support stakeholder
needs with respect to equality & diversity.
Current management information reporting arrangements to
continue
3. Ensure that Business Process Redesign supports
the service areas equality and diversity policies/plans
Current management information reporting arrangements to
continue.
4. Ensure all Business Improvement staff have
completed the equality and diversity training
Reviewed as part of Appraisal process
Gender:
As above
As for Race items 1 to 4
Disability:
As for Race items 1 to 4
As above.
Sexual orientation:
As above
As for Race items 1 to 4
Religion/belief:
As above
As for Race items 1 to 4
Age:
As above
As for Race items 1 to 4
Other general service delivery:
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Responsible
By When
Impact Assessment Team Leader:
Signature:
Name:
Date:22.05.07
Quality assured by Assistant Director/Head of Service as an accurate and appropriate impact assessment and action plan:
Signature:
Name:
Date:
E-mail your completed impact assessment to Beverley Nash (Strategy and Performance) for publication on the intranet and council website.
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