Equality Questionnaire
This questionnaire is a pre Equality Impact Assessment tool which will enable you to decide whether or not
the new, proposed or significantly changed policy/ practice/ procedure/ function/ service needs to go
through a full Equality Impact Assessment. For further information on the equality questionnaire see the
guidance.
Name of policy/ practice/ procedure/
function/ service being assessed:
LLR Autism Strategy Group ( Formerly the Aspergers
Planning Group and incorporates the Autism Initiatives for
Leicestershire )
Department and Section:
Adults and Communities
Name of lead officer and others completing
this assessment:
Martin Hall
Contact telephone numbers:
0116 3053623
Date EIA assessment completed:
May 2013
1.
What is its purpose?
A previous EIA was completed for the Aspergers Planning Group Work Plan. This group has now
become the Autism Strategy Group (Aspergers being a form of Autism) and has a new action plan.
The Autism Strategy Group is a requirement in the NICE clinical guideline 142. This new action
plan includes County specific initiatives as well as those which apply across LLR.The County
actions are
 Contribute to the mapping process of adults with Autism across Leicestershire
 Promote and evaluate staff training, provided by the Leicestershire Social Care Development
Group , for staff and providers across Leicestershire
 Looking at promoting Autism services to enhance the market
 Encourage local colleges and FE providers to provide appropriate services for adults with
Autism
 Provision of good quality information
 Launch and maintain the Champions network
 Raise awareness amongst employers and employees of Autism and appropriate support
 Raise awareness with voluntary groups to encourage those with Autism to volunteer
 Identification of carers , followed by the offer of a Community Care Assessment
 Undertake further research identifying people with Autism in the Criminal Justice System
 Completion of the Department of Health’s Autism self assessment in July 2013.
The Strategy Group has representation from the 3 Clinical Commissioning Group’s for
Leicestershire and Leicester City, the 3 Local Authorities, Health, Parent/Carers and adults with
autism.
What are its main objectives?
Implement the pathway for diagnosis and ensure it is followed by the offer of a personalised needs
assessment and appropriate support
Increase awareness and understanding of Autism amongst frontline professionals
2.
Improve access to services and support so people can live independently within the community
Consider the role of the family carers and the support they need
Work with local partners to plan and develop appropriate services for adults with autism to meet
identified needs and priorities
What will it achieve? Who are its beneficiaries?
3.
4.
Develop and publish the Diagnostic Pathway
This will be for Health Professionals,GP’s,Social Care staff , Parent/Carers and Adults with Autism
Develop and deliver the Autism Training Package to increase understanding and knowledge
of Autism
This will be for staff in Targeted and Universal Services, Parent/Carers and Health.
Review the implementation and outcomes of Personal Budgets and the ability of the market
to provide appropriate services.
This is for adults with autism and providers
Ensure Carers are identified and have accessed to an assessment and good quality advice
and information
This is for Carers of adults with autism
Complete the annual self assessment for the Department of Health
This is required to evidence our response to the Autism Act and Autism Strategy
Who is responsible for implementing it?
The Autism Strategy Group of which I am the lead for Leicestershire County Council
Yes
Has prior consultation on the proposal been undertaken?
5.
6.
7.
Has this consultation indicated any dissatisfaction with it
from a particular section of the community?
No
Consultation took
place prior to the
Autism Act in
2009 and NICE
guidelines in
2012.
Adults with
Autism
highlighted issues
that formed the
basis of the
Autism Act and
Strategy
If yes to Question 6, please state what this dissatisfaction is:
The areas highlighted are
 Lack of understanding about Autism across the population and services
 Lack of employment opportunities
 Inconsistent approach to Community Care Assessments and subsequent support
 Lack of Diagnostics Services across the Country
Yes
8.
Is there evidence or any other reason to suggest that it
could have a different effect or adverse impact on any
section of the community? Or more specifically, one or
more of the protected characteristics?
9.
Is a system in place to monitor its impact?
No
x
We are required to
complete a self
assessment by the
Department of
Health. The
assessment requires
us to demonstrate
progress on the key
elements of the Act.
The next
assessment will be
July 2013.
10.
If yes to Q9, what does this monitoring show?
The self assessment in 2011 highlighted the need to demonstrate more progress on the
identification of adults with autism known to the Department. This action has been followed through
with the introduction of the new IAS system later this year.
Note: If no to Question 9, you will need to ensure that monitoring systems are established to check for
impact on all nine protected characteristics.
11.
Who is likely to be affected by the proposal? Which of the protected characteristics? (Please tick)
Explain how each protected characteristic is likely to be affected below:
[NB. Alternatively, if no protected characteristic is deemed to be affected, please explain why]
Yes
Gender Reassignment
X
Comments
Diagnosis is available irrespective of age .Leicestershire
is fortunate that diagnosis is available locally.
Adults with autism are often recorded as either a
Learning Disability or Mental Health on data bases. This
makes the recording of actual numbers difficult. The
introduction of the IAS system will improve data
collection.
Access to services are not restrictive
Marriage and Civil Partnership
X
Access to services are not restrictive
Pregnancy and Maternity
X
Access to services are not restrictive
Age
No
X
Disability X
Race X
The autism prevalence study carried out by Leicester
University highlighted the difficulties of engaging with
BME groups to take part in the study. The work we are
carrying out with GP’s, through accurate read coding of
patients, should mitigate against this and provide more
accurate information.
As above
Religion or Belief X
Sex X
Sexual Orientation
Other groups e.g. rural X
isolation, deprivation, health
inequality, carers, asylum
seeker and refugee
communities, looked after
X
Current statistics show that more males are diagnosed
than females. Currently 4:1.This will change in the future
with better awareness raising and improved access to
diagnosis.
Access to services are not restrictive
LCC commissions two services which will support Carers
of people with Autism
 Support for Carers Leicestershire
 Pilot GP Health and Wellbeing Service
children, deprived or
disadvantaged communities
Community Cohesion
12.
Other comments:
13.
Decision:
No Impact
X
Positive Impact
The Autism Awareness Training is available to any
organisation or individual in Leicestershire to improve
understanding and awareness of autism.
x
Neutral Impact
Negative Impact or
Impact Not Known1
Note: If ticked ‘Negative Impact or Impact Not Known’ box at Question 15, will need to progress to full EIA.
14.
Proceed to full EIA?
Yes
15.
No
x
What are your reasons for your decision? The service incorporates safeguards against potential
discrimination and represents a marked improvement in service response to sufferers of the
condition across the board, partly in response to the targets set by the earlier EIA.
1st Authorised signature (Lead Officer): ……………………………………………………..
Date: ……………………………………..
2nd Authorised Signature (Member of DMT): ……
Date: ………29/05/2013………………………………
Once completed and authorised by the Departmental Equalities Group, this
Equality Questionnaire will need to be published on our website.
‘Impact Not Known’ – tick this box if there is no up-to-date data or information to show the effects or
outcomes of the function, policy, procedure or service on all of the equality strands.
1