Equalities Impact Assessment
Services to Children in Need
Date: May 2005
Record of Equality Impact Assessment
Department/Service Area
Children's Social Services - Services to Children in Need
Equality areas assessed1
Race; Culture; Language; Religion; Disability; Gender;
Relevant Key Stakeholders
Service Users, particularly those from minority ethnic communities
Children's Social Services Staff
Other agencies
Policy assessed2
The Child Care Strategy.
Services to Children in need of Protection
Services to Children and Families in need of Support
Services are provided under the terms of
 The Children Act 1989
 The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000
 The Adoption and Children Act 2002
 The Children Act 2004
and other relevant legislation and Government Guidance.
These impose on the Local Authority various duties, including:
 To safeguard and promote the welfare of children
 To investigate concerns or allegations which suggest that a child may be
suffering significant harm.
 To look after children who cannot be looked after by their families; and to
promote the welfare of such children.
 In providing services to take account of the wishes and feelings of the child.
 In providing services to have regard to the race, language, religion and cultural
needs of the child.
Therefore, services are provided to
 Children in need of protection, and their families
 Children looked after
 Children who have left the care of the local authority
 Children in need of support, and their families.
It is important to note that this is not a universal service, but is targeted at those
who are assessed as being in need of services.
1
2
Specify from race; disability; gender; sexual orientation; religion or belief; age
Name of policy; brief description of its purpose, services governed by it and who it is
intended to serve
Related Policies and Procedures
Children's Services Procedures
ACPC Procedures
Data collection and consultation3
Extensive data is collected on service activity and performance against
Performance Indicators. This is reported on a Quarterly basis through the Activity
and Performance Monitoring report produced by the Management Information
Service. This includes some statistical information on ethnicity, including
comparisons of the number of children from ethnic minority backgrounds on the
child protection register/looked after compared with the numbers in the general
population.
For example 16% of child protection (section 47) assessments are carried out on
non white children - 10.7% in relation to dual heritage children.
There is also information on referrals by ethnicity and looked after children by
ethnicity. The numbers are small and require some caution but suggest that while
black children and those from dual heritage backgrounds are over represented,
those from Asian backgrounds are under-represented.
Information on the extent to which services comply with Section 22 of the Children
Act 1989 (regard to race language religion and culture) is gathered through the
work of the Black Cases Panel. This also looks at issues of gender - but only in
relation to the children considered.
The Department has not carried out any consultation specifically related to this
assessment, but members of the Children's Services Management Team meet on
a regular basis with representatives of the Black Workers Group, when discussions
include attention to service issues.
The Department is a lead member of the Area Child Protection Committee
(ACPC). The Development Subcommittee of the ACPC oversees the work of a
culturally appropriate practice subgroup, which has been involved in monitoring
procedures as they are developed and has developed certain specific procedures.
The ACPC has also run a Communities Day to involve community leaders and
representatives in discussions on issues relating to the protection of children.
Issue: What consultation can/should we carry out as part of this exercise?
3
Outline what data was collected, what consultation took place and what other references
were used in carrying out the assessment
Key findings4
The Black Cases Panel was established in 2000 to examine the Department's
work with black children and families and to help social workers and other staff to
ensure that the cultural etc needs of ethnic minority children are addressed within
assessments and met within services.
Over the period since, a number of findings and issues have emerged and these
have been reported on an annual basis. Where appropriate the findings have
been shared with other services (Education, CAMHS).
The main findings have included:
 The need to improve information gathering on the exact racial and cultural
origins of children assessed, particularly those from dual heritage backgrounds.
 That children of dual heritage are consistently over represented in referrals to
the Department and in active cases. Identification of this issue led to increased
support to a project - Two Halves One Whole - offering support and work on
identity issues to children from dual heritage backgrounds and their parents.
 The complexity and variety of the multi-cultural composition of the population as
children from increasingly varied backgrounds have been considered.
 That black children and families continue to experience racist abuse and
intolerance; and that some services, including some schools address this
inadequately (this was reported to Education and contributed to a positive
approach to the issue).
 That adoption services to black and minority ethnic children are positive and
work hard to ensure culturally appropriate placements with no significant delay.
 That private fostering of black, particularly African, children remains a concern
which merits particular attention.
 That constant attention is needed to ensure that the Department is able, as far
as possible to provide culturally appropriate or sensitive placements for black
and minority ethnic children.
 That there are particular issues relating to asylum seeking children and that the
Department's approach to this area of work is effective.
 The importance of liaison with adult services where issues such as adult mental
ill health affect the welfare of children.
 That over the period that the Black Cases Panel has met, practice has
developed such that attention to the needs of minority ethnic children and
families is more likely to be considered as an integral part of assessment and
service provision.
Conclusions5


4
5
Within the Social Services Department, particular attention is paid to assessing
the needs of children from minority ethnic communities.
The Black Cases Panel has acted as a focus for this work and has been
commended as a good practice initiative.
Summary of results of the assessment
Conclusions drawn from the results of the assessment in terms of the equality impact of
the policy

Reports from the Panel have drawn attention to policy, practice and resource
issues. These have been reported to CSMT and other agencies and bodies as
appropriate.
Action(s)6
The Black Cases Panel identifies specific actions that need to be taken.
Specific actions arising from this Assessment:

Monitoring7
Actions identified and the response to them are followed up and the outcome
reported in the subsequent report of the BCP
Authorisation8
?
Contact9
Service Manager, Child Protection and Review Unit, Chair of Black Cases Panel.
0116 265 7409. bparker@leics.gov.uk
6
7
8
9
Measures to be taken to mitigate any adverse impact
Arrangements for monitoring implementation of measures to mitigate impact
Name and post of officer authorising outcome of assessment
Contact details to discuss or comment on the impact assessment