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: Specialist Services
Lead Officer:
Team : Marigold team and Child & Family Consultation Team social work staff
Brief Summary of Services being provided by the Marigold Family Resource Centre and the Child & Family Consultation Service
The services offer assessment and therapeutic intervention to those children, young people and their family’s who are recognised as needing a higher level
of social care and/or health involvement than would normally be offered by primary health and social care services/. The Child & Family Consultation Service
provides a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary response, including psychiatric, nursing, psychological, therapeutic and social care support, to the emotional
and mental health needs of those children, young people and their family’s who require assessment and therapeutic intervention from a tier III level health
service. It provides this service to children between the age ranges of 0-18 and their parents/carers in order to both prevent and overcome emotional and/or
mental disturbance. The Marigold F.R.C. provides a range of statutory and preventative services to children and their families/
M
Aims & Objectives of Service
Marm
The |M
aims of these services are to offer a range of assessment and support services to children, young people and their family’s, particularly where those
children
and young people are at risk of experiencing significant harm within their family setting. The services aim to ensure that children can remain with
The
their parents, or foster-carers in respect of Looked After Children, and that the reasons for the child or young persons emotional and/or behavioural
difficulties is fully understood within his/her social and familial context. One of the primary aims and objectives of the Child & family Consultation Service
is also to identify those children and young people who are experiencing, or who are at risk of experiencing, a mental disorder as defined by the
Diagnostic & Statistical Manual on Mental Disorder (DSM,Volume IV) and to provide appropriate assessment and therapeutic intervention where
necessary. The Marigold Family Resource Centre accepts referrals from First Contact and CAFS Teams. Services are provided for children in the 0-18
age range and include: parenting assessments, parenting groups, positive parenting programmes, parent-child game, counselling and individual work
with children, such as safekeeping and life story work.
Sources of Evidence and Data
Information from the following documents has been taken into account during the preliminary stages of the Equlaity Impact Assessment;;
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The Children Act 1989
Community Care Act 1990
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996
Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000
Adoption and Children Act 2004
Children Act 2004
Mental Health Act 1983
The Race Relations Act 1978
Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2005
Human Rights Act 1998
The National drivers that provide the direction and standards for the provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and which both
the Child & Family Consultation Service and the Marigold Family Resource Centre adhere to are;
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The Southend CAMHS Strategy (2006-2009) Document
Every Child Matters
The Children & Young Persons National Services Framework (NSF) Document
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
Marigold:
Services are offered to parents of children of all ages, but
parents of pre-school children could be disadvantaged because
there is no child care on the premises. Where parents are not
able to make their own child care arrangements, they may then
not be able to attend the service. This is evidenced by a recent
survey where parents mentioned the need for child care and by
feedback from other agencies.
All agreements with service users contain a specific statement
that users/staff at the centre will not be subject to discriminatory
language or behaviour relating to age.
All parenting assessments and programmes take into account
parents’
and
children’s
age/race/gender/disability/sexual
orientation and religion/belief.
Child & Family Consultation Service provides a reasonably
comprehensive mental health assessment and intervention
service for the 0-18 age range, however there is anecdotal
evidence that indicates that most of the Child & Family
Consultations Services client group falls within the 7-13 age
range.
Areas that need improvement
To explore how child care could be provided, for
instance Ofsted registration, or using other
agencies for child care.
An audit of the age ranges of children and young
people who are accessing the service would
offer us some quantitative evidence about which
groups are accessing the service. This will help
the CFCS to decide whether or not there is a
shortfall in the services being offered to a
specific age range of children and whether there
is or is not a need to target that age-range of
children.
It may be the case that the needs of children
under the age of 5 are being met by other tier I
and II CAMHS services, such as SureStart,
Health Visitors and Paediatricians. However, this
may be masking a deficit in the Child & Family
Consultation Sewrvices ability to meet the
mental health needs of children in the 0-5 age
range and an audit of the age ranges of children
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)
There does appear to be less of a take-up for under 5s and there
is a drop-off in the 14-15 service-user age range. However, this
has not been confirmed by an internal audit and such an audit
would be helpful in determining which age ranges of children
and young people benefit form receiving input from the CFCS.
Areas that need improvement
and young people who are accessing the
service would offer us some quantitative
evidence about which groups are accessing and
receiving a service from the CFCS.
There may be a requirement for the CFCS to
find ways of providing services for this age
range i.e. away from the clinic and within other
agency settings, such as SureStart but this
would need to be addressed initially through an
internal file audit and continued exploration of
how the needs of this age group can be better
met.
Currently within the Trust the protocol on
transitional arrangements for 17-18 year olds is
being reviewed and it is anticipated that a
protocol will address any discrepancies in
transitional arrangements for 17-18 year olds.
Further to this a qualitative survey of
practitioner’s experiences of transferring young
people to adult mental health services might
prove useful.
There is anecdotal evidence to indicate that the transitional
arrangements for 17/18 year olds to adult service are not as
robust as they could be.
Clinical practice in this area is evidenced by yearly internal
file audits, case reviews, clinical outcomes for children and
their family’s, as well as through the use of evaluation and
None identified at present.
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
assessment tools, such as the Strengths and Difficulties
Questionnaires (SDQ) and the Children’s Global
Assessment Scale (CGAS)
Workforce
Both teams feel that the age of the workforce is evenly spread
and that there are no age discrimination issues
Gender
Consider
from point of
view of
women and
men
Service Users
Marigold:
More female than male parents attend the service, but evening
parenting group has been well attended by fathers and by
mothers in full-time employment. There is an awareness of the
need for parenting programmes in the home after 5 p.m. for
parents who work full-time. This is evidenced by requests from
parents for services after hours, which currently is only available
on a very limited basis. This prevents parents in full-time
employment, male or female access to services. Lack of male
staff may inhibit some male service users to take up services
because they feel it would be more helpful to talk to male staff.
All agreements with service users contain a specific statement
that service users/staff will not be subject to discriminatory
language/behaviour on the grounds of gender. When booking
rooms at the Centre for the purpose of contact, service users are
invited to make known specific requirements on the grounds of
age/race/disability/gender/beliefs, so that rooms may be
allocated accordingly and services adapted as needed. Ass
parenting assessments and programmes take into account
parents’ and children’s age//race/gender/disability/sexual
orientation and religion/belief
Need to further challenge traditional 9 – 5
service provision culture and explore ways in
which to provide an out of office hours service.
Explore ways to attract more male staff.
A file audit that confirms the gender mix
amongst the CFCS client population would be
helpful, along with further discussion amongst
the team about the possible reasons as to why
there may be a gender imbalance amongst the
client population. Ultimately it the social workers
role within the team to raise the awareness of
gender discrimination issues within this
secondary health setting.
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)
Evidence in this area is obtained at the Marigold F.R.C.
through a recent survey amongst service users; and
through ongoing case reviews and evaluation of services.
CFCS
Practitioners anecdotally have sense of seeing more male than
female children however the balance does appear to be shifting.
Referrals often arise as a direct result of obvious changes in a
child’s mood and behaviour, and there is evidence to suggest
that male children have a tendency to ‘create’ disturbance whilst
female children have a tendency to internalise their feelings. For
example, recent studies have shown that deliberate self-harming
behaviour in teenage girls is extremely under-reported.
Clinical practice in this area is evidenced in CFCS by yearly
file audits, case reviews, clinical outcomes for children and
their family’s, as well as through the use of evaluation and
assessment tools, such as the Strengths and Difficulties
Questionnaires (SDQ) and the Children’s Global
Assessment Scale (CGAS)
Workforce
No male staff in the Marigold Family Resource Centre and
77%/23% split in favour of female staff in CFCS (though equal
number of male/female social workers within the team. A lack of
male staff does not give a balanced gender message to service
users and may discourage male children and fathers from using
service (related to drop off in use of service by 14 year olds and
Areas that need improvement
Address gender issues in recruitment and
retention strategy and undertake an internal
audit to determine any previously uncovered
discrimination issues around the gender makeup of the team.
Current
Current
Not
policy/
policy/
known
services services
have a
have a
positive negative
impact
impact
Please tick appropriate column
Race
Consider
Asian, Asian
British, Black,
Black British,
Chinese,
Mixed
heritage,
White British,
other white
ethnic
groups, e.g.
eastern
European,
travellers
1. Summarise the evidence to support your view
2. Summarise any barriers to access that may have an
impact (e.g. language, physical access)
fathers identified above?). However many service users express
a preference for a female worker, perhaps anticipating a more
sensitive and nurturing service. However the evidence to support
this is anecdotal at present.
Service users
Marigold
English is first language spoken by staff; very limited ability to
communicate in other languages. Have access to interpreters
register which has been used but aware that there can be
waiting times.
In survey one service user identified that there was an
expectation for her to behave like an English person
When booking rooms at the Centre for the purpose of contact,
service users are invited to state specific requirements on the
basis of age/gender/race/religion/disability so that rooms may
be allocated accordingly and services adapted as needed.
Through the work undertaken with parents there is an
awareness of particular loss and bereavement issues for parents
who have had to leave their country of origin to come and live in
England; and that these issues may impact on parenting.
Recent life story work with a child of mixed heritage living with a
white British foster carer was allocated in consultation with all
parties, to a black female social worker at the Centre, to help
address issues of identify which were stated as a problem for the
child.
Agreements with service users contain specific statement that
service users/staff will not be discriminated against on the
grounds of race. All parenting assessments/programmes take
into account parents’ and children’s age/race/gender/sexual
Areas that need improvement
Need for ongoing awareness raising of staff on
issues of race; including issues of identity and
loss and bereavement.
Need to explore with referring agencies and
peers why it is that we are not meeting the
emotional and mental health needs of these
BEM communities. There is a very real need for
the service to undertake an internal file audit to
determine the racial make-up of the services
client group and identify where the gaps in
provision are.
The Social Workers within the team receive this
training and it might be something that could be
extended to our health colleagues. Ultimately it
the social workers role within the team to raise
the awareness of race discrimination issues
within this secondary health setting.
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
orientation and relgion/belief
Evidence in this area has been obtained through a recent
service user survey and through ongoing case reviews and
evaluation of services.
CFCS
Some groups not fully represented, e.g. Polish, Chinese and
Bangladeshis (this could be because social structure is more
resilient or because 100% white workforce is a barrier). The is an
acknowledgement amongst the team that we have not been
successful in making our services more accessible to minority
groups within the Borough, however to a large extent our ability
to meet the needs of these under-represented groups is
dependent on those agencies who refer children and their
family’s to us.
All staff receive training through the Directorate in Race
Awareness.
Clinical practice in this area is evidenced in CFCS by yearly
file audits, case reviews, clinical outcomes for children and
their family’s, as well as through the use of evaluation and
assessment tools, such as the Strengths and Difficulties
Questionnaires (SDQ) and the Children’s Global
Assessment Scale (CGAS)
Workforce
Marigold: Predominantly white; 2 black female
workers.
C.F.C.S.: All white and mostly British
social
Does the projection of our service give the
message that we would welcome new staff from
the BEM communities? Is the experience of staff
from those communities positive?
Current
Current
Not
policy/
policy/
known
services services
have a
have a
positive negative
impact
impact
Please tick appropriate column
Religion/
Belief
Consider
people of
different faith
groups
including
non-believers
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
As Social Workers working within a multi-disciplinary health
setting we are fully conversant with the issues that are raised for
service-users with religions/beliefs that are different from those
of the white majority of the population. Both staff teams indicate
their determination not to discriminate and every effort is made
to find out the religious beliefs, values or practices of all of the
children and their family at the time of the initial assessment.
Difficulties may, of course, ensue if the young person and/or
their family are not forthcoming with the information.
When booking rooms at the Marigold F.R.C. service users are
invited to make known any specific requirements on the basis of
religion/belief and every effort will be made to allocate rooms
accordingly. The Centre displays a calendar with all religious
festivals. Agreement with service users contain a specific
statement that services users/staff will not be discriminated
against on the grounds of religion/belief.
All parenting
assessments and programmes at the Centre take into account
parents’ and children’s age/race/gender/sexual orientation and
religion/belief All parenting assessments/programmes take into
account parents’ and children’s age/gender/race/sexual
orientation and religion/belief.
Evidence for this service area is obtained at the Marigold F.R.C.
through a recent service user survey and through ongoing case
reviews and evaluation of services.
Clinical practice in this area is evidenced in CFCS by yearly
file audits, case reviews, clinical outcomes for children and
their family’s, as well as through the use of evaluation and
assessment outcome tools, such as the Strengths and
Areas that need improvement
On the surface this seems not to be a problem,
but we should be approaching the faith
communities to ensure we are aware of any
issues from their perspective. However, an
internal file audit of the religious/belief
preferences of the client group might bring to
light some ambiguities in our attitude and
approach to clients who do not share the
majority’s beliefs and/or religious practices.
Ultimately it the social workers role within the
team to raise the awareness of religion/belief
discrimination issues within this secondary
health setting.
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
Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ) and the Children’s Global
Assessment Scale (CGAS)
Disability
Consider
physical and
sensory
impairment,
learning
disabilities,
people with
mental health
issues
Workforce
Both teams express openness about religion/beliefs of workforce
Service users
Both teams work predominantly on meeting the mental health
needs of children and their family’s and as such advocate for
anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice on the grounds
of disability on a daily basis. The teams regularly meet with
children and young people who have special needs, such as
Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder and other behavioural
and emotional problems that need to be addressed within the
safe confines of the CFCS and MFRC. All staff are trained and
have experience in providing developmentally appropriate
programmes that are adapted for their individual emotional and
mental health needs.
Both teams are accessible to wheelchair users, but we don’t
have information on/for specific groups such as those with a
hearing or visual impairment. Consideration of any physical or
sensory impairment, learning disabilities is undertaken during
the process of initial and on-going assessment and intervention
plans are tailored according to the clients needs.
The Marigold F.R.C. has a specific parenting assessment model
which has been developed for parents with a learning disability.
Advocates of parents with a learning disability are routinely
invited to meetings and interviews in accordance with the
parents’ wishes. All documentation at the Centre is adapted
where needed into large print for parents with a visual
There is recognition that there are some clients
groups who do not receive a service form
ourselves because their needs do not meet our
criteria for a service. This is an ongoing issue
and is being addressed through on-going
discussion with our agency partners who provide
tier II mental health services.
Need to consider and address issues from client
users who have physical and sensory
impairment(s).
The
Child
and
Family
Consultation Service recently completed an
audit of its premises to determine whether or not
it meets its commitment to the Disability
Discrimination Act (1995).
Ultimately it the social workers role within the
Child & Family Consultation Team to raise the
awareness of disability discrimination issues
within this secondary health setting.
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)
impairment. Parents who are unable to read/write are offered
the opportunity to have their documentation read to them by a
person of their choice (either a member of staff or a
relative/friend). One member of staff who supervises contact
with a baby who has a visual impairment has done considerable
research on and is implementing ways of stimulating the baby’s
other senses to help her development.
All agreements at the Centre contain a statement that service
users/staff will not be discriminated against on the grounds of
disability. When booking rooms at the Centre service users are
invited to state specific requirements and rooms will be allocated
accordingly.
Evidence in this area has been obtained through a recent
service user survey and through ongoing case reviews and
evaluation of services..
Clinical practice in this area is evidenced in CFCS by yearly
file audits, case reviews, clinical outcomes for children and
their family’s, as well as through the use of evaluation and
assessment outcome tools, such as the Strengths and
Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ) and the Children’s Global
Assessment Scale (CGAS)
Workforce
One member of staff at Marigold has a physical disability and
reasonable adjustments have been made. The vacant post of
domestic assistant at the Centre has recently been offered to a
candidate with a learning disability. Probably the workforce is
Areas that need improvement
Recruitment and retention practice to take
account of the under-representation. These
teams could probably lead in the Council on
ensuring that there is awareness that emotional
and mental health impairment is as serious and
should be managed as supportively as physical,
sensory and learning impairment.
Current
Current
Not
policy/
policy/
known
services services
have a
have a
positive negative
impact
impact
Please tick appropriate column
Sexual
orientation
Consider
lesbian, gay
men,
bisexual and
transgender
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)
underrepresented in relation to the Borough’s demographics of
the % of the population with a physical, sensory or learning
disability.
Service users
Marigold
Leaflets available and visible on premises giving service users
information on services for lesbian and gay people in the local
area. Services are provided to people who are gay and lesbian.
However, agreements with service users do not mention that
they will not be discriminated against on the grounds of sexual
orientation. This will be rectified immediately.
There are no visual representations of gay/lesbian/ parents or
anything to indicate non discrimination to bisexual or
transgender service users
Parenting assessments and
programmes take into account service users’ sexual orientation.
Areas that need improvement
Need to review literature/posters to ensure
positive images of gay/lesbian relationships and
non discrimination in relation to people with
transgender or bisexual orientations. Ultimately
it the social workers role within the team to raise
the awareness of sexual orientation issues
within this secondary health setting.
Evidence in this area is obtained through a recent service user
survey; and through ongoing case reviews and evaluation of
services.
CFCS
Services are provided for young people and/or family members
who are gay and lesbian
Clinical practice in this area is evidenced in CFCS by yearly
file audits, case reviews, clinical outcomes for children and
their family’s, as well as through the use of evaluation and
assessment outcome tools, such as the Strengths and
Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ) and the Children’s Global
Assessment Scale (CGAS)
As a team we need to find a supportive and
acceptable way of checking with the workforce
that there is no sexual orientation discrimination.
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
Workforce
Both 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.
Note: An adverse impact does not necessarily require action to be taken. Actions must remain in proportion with the benefits that could be achieved and resources
available to complete them. If adverse impacts are identified and actions for improvement are not proportionate, the reasons for not taking action should be detailed
and open to challenge.
B. What do stakeholders/peers think of the preliminary view?
We are not sure what our stakeholders/peers think about our preliminary view but we are going to find out. Having tentatively discussed this with our health colleagues
there is an acknowledgement that we do not discriminate on the grounds of age, race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, or religion/faith/belief.
In developing your views on the service you should ask a number of stakeholders or people who might offer a challenge to the views you have developed.
Who might do this?
 Representatives from local communities
 Representatives from local or national interest groups from the voluntary sector
 Black/disabled/women’s staff groups
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?
Our Initial conclusions suggest that the Child & Family Consultation Service and the Marigold Family Resource Centre make every effort to ensure that they do not
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?
discriminate against any sections of the community. In circumstances where evidence indicates that certain minority groups are not accessing our services and
perhaps are being unfairly discriminated against, we make every effort to discuss this with those agencies that are making referrals to our services. Where we do
provide services to those groups of people who are known to be disadvantaged and discriminated against within the wider society we make every effort to ensure that
they do not experience secondary discrimination by our services. There is recognition that further effort could be made to reduce inequality amongst our client
population, however as a secondary health and social care resource there is recognition that we are very much dependent on those agencies that refer to ourselves
being able to detect and respond to levels of inequality within their criteria for service provision. The Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) at its preliminary stage has
raised our awareness of the issues surrounding discriminatory and oppressive practice and to consider exactly how our services do or do not actively promote the
rights, as well as meet the emotional and mental health needs, of its client population generally and BEM groups specifically. We recognise that there may be an
argument for promoting the needs of those disadvantaged groups within society by working much more closely with our partner agencies in identifying how best to
reach out to these groups of people.
Consider the following:
 What should be the scope of Stage 2 of the assessment?
 Is any additional data needed?
 How does this service link to other services areas and other Impact Assessments?
Stage 2: Information gathering and evaluation
A Policies and Plans
Key policies and plans for your area
Southend CAMHS strategy – the
strategy addresses the need to meet the
needs of hard-to reach groups such as
looked after children/children with
disabilities
Southend
Children’s
Partnership
Integrated
Children’s
Workforce
Strategy and Action Plan – addresses
the need to provide opportunities for all
staff in an anti-discriminatory way
Southend Local Area Agreement – in
particular the children and young people
block which outlines the Authority’s duty
to to demonstrate a positive contribution
by young people in decision making
Integrated Working in Southend – The
next Steps – this programme in
particular emphasises the need to have
a good on-the-ground knowledge of the
need in neighbourhoods – this approach
should lead to less hidden need.
Southend on Sea Children and Learning
Childhood and Extended Services
Strategy. This strategy addresses the
Extent to
which the
aims and
practices are
consistent
with the
Council’s
Equality
Policy
Grade 1-5 (1
low, 5 high)
4
5
4
5
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?
There has been a lack of consultation with young people. A consultation exercise is planned for
2007/08 and services will be analysed to ensure that the needs of all groups are met
Key policies and plans for your area
Extent to
which the
aims and
practices are
consistent
with the
Council’s
Equality
Policy
Grade 1-5 (1
low, 5 high)
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?
need for all children to have access to
opportunities
Children and Young People’s Plan – this
plan takes as its foundation the
principles of aspiration, achievement,
participation, inclusion and excellence.
The “Every Child Matters” agenda is
addressed in the plan and access and
participation are at the heart of this
agenda
Performance
Management
and
development Scheme – This scheme
ensures that all staff have a
performance development plan and that
any corrective action which is required
avoids discrimination
Core Competencies Framework – This
provides a framework for all staff and
ensures that judgements are made on
objective criteria rather than individual
prejudice/opinion
Specialist Services Plan – addresses
the need to ensure that marginalised
groups
such
as
looked
after
children/children with a child protection
plan/children in need/children with a
disability have their needs met
5
5
5
4
Further work needs to be done on ascertaining the views of children and parents
Key policies and plans for your area
Extent to
which the
aims and
practices are
consistent
with the
Council’s
Equality
Policy
Grade 1-5 (1
low, 5 high)
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?
Policies & Procedures Manual Volume
1:
Children in Need
The procedures in this manual ensure
that the needs of this vulnerable group
are met
5
Legally the needs of the child are paramount in relation to statutory social care involvement and this
may on occasion override a genuine need of a parent
Policies & Procedures Manual Volume
2:
Looked After Children
As above
Southend, Essex & Thurrock Child
Protection Procedures
As above
5
Legally the needs of the child are paramount in relation to statutory social care involvement and this
may on occasion override a genuine need of a parent
5
Legally the needs of the child are paramount in relation to statutory social care involvement and this
may on occasion override a genuine need of a parent
Fostering Procedures
As above
5
Legally the needs of the child are paramount in relation to statutory social care involvement and this
may on occasion override a genuine need of a parent
Adoption Procedures
as above
5
Legally the needs of the child are paramount in relation to statutory social care involvement and this
may on occasion override a genuine need of a parent
Key policies and plans for your area
Looked After Children
Associated Review papers
As above
Pack
&
First Contact procedures inc Teenage
Pregnancy process
As above
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
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
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.
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)
At this stage of the process we have little hard evidence to base service developments on. Marigold undertook a survey of users during the month of this exercise
and CFCS accessed user information from the Health Service. The social worker staff within the Child & Family Consultation Service presently constitute a small part
of the multi-disciplinary team and as such there are limitations to what can and cannot be implemented in respect of the Equality Impact Assessment (EIA). However
the social workers within the team are extremely well versed in anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice and are on hand to address these issues with the
wider team.
Are there any other unmet needs/requirements that can be identified that affect specific groups?
Yes, as identified in the scoping exercise. There is an argument to be made for there not being sufficient resources to meet the needs of women who are
disadvantaged as parents because of their gender, age, ability, race or belief, and that if more services were made available to those women, then family breakdown
could be prevented more often.
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)
From the preliminary stage we believe that our team’s services are compliant with statutory duties in the relevant equality legislation.
Stage 3: Action planning – we are not yet at the stage of action planning
What recommendations are made on the basis of the conclusions and comments?
Should we:
 Take any forms of immediate action?
 Develop equality objectives and targets based on conclusions?
 Initiate further research by collecting further data?
Objectives for improvement
Monitoring Arrangements
Are these measurable?
How will these be incorporated into monitoring of
management information
Responsible
By When
What recommendations are made on the basis of the conclusions and comments?
Should we:
 Take any forms of immediate action?
 Develop equality objectives and targets based on conclusions?
 Initiate further research by collecting further data?
Objectives for improvement
Monitoring Arrangements
Are these measurable?
How will these be incorporated into monitoring of
management information
Race:
Responsible
By When
Ongoing discussion amongst Team Practitioners and with
Assistant Director for Child & Adolescent Mental Health
Services within South Essex Partnership Trust, and with
Children and Learning Service Manager.
This will form one aspect of annual appraisal and personal
development plans
There will be evidence of this in team meeting minutes.
D.B/EHF
staff appraisals
throughout the
year
DB
This will also be addressed in the CAMHS transformation
project during 2007/08
MS
throughout the
year
during
the
2007/08 project
Health Information Technology systems to include
data on Race/Religion and Disability.
Ensure this information is used to inform practice – as
evidenced in team meeting minutes
DB
Throughout
2007/08
Ongoing raising of staff issues on race; including
issues of identity, loss and bereavement
Present in training plan for Marigold staff
EHF
Throughout
2007/08
Record racial make up of Marigold service users
Record kept and information used to inform planning
EHF
Throughout
2007/08
Ongoing discussion amongst Team Practitioners and with
Assistant Director for Child & Adolescent Mental Health
Services within South Essex Partnership Trust., and
Service Manager for Specialist Services, Children and
DB
throughout
2007/08
Ensure all practitioners within the Child & Family
Consultation Service and the Marigold F.R.C. are
receiving training that considers equality and diversity
issues as part of their Career and Personal
Development (CPD) training.
Social Workers within the Child & Family Consultation
Service to raise awareness amongst all multidisciplinary team members about the way that
organisations can sometimes unwittingly discriminate
against BEM groups on grounds of Race and to
discuss with our partner agency’s ways of making sure
that the referral pathways to the CFCS are much more
inclusive.
Gender:
Social Workers within the Child & Family Consultation
Service to raise awareness amongst all multidisciplinary team members about how organisations
can unwittingly discriminate against groups on the
What recommendations are made on the basis of the conclusions and comments?
Should we:
 Take any forms of immediate action?
 Develop equality objectives and targets based on conclusions?
 Initiate further research by collecting further data?
Objectives for improvement
Monitoring Arrangements
Are these measurable?
How will these be incorporated into monitoring of
management information
grounds of Gender and to discuss with our partner Learning. Evidence in meeting minutes
agencies ways of making sure that the referral
pathways to the CFCS are much more inclusive
Responsible
By When
MS
Challenge traditional 9 – 5 service provision culture
September 07
Address in CAMHS transformation project
EHF
Record gender mix of Marigold service users
Throughout
2007/08
Record kept and information used to inform service
planning
Disability:
Ongoing training of all Marigold F.R.C. on issues of
disability.
Social Workers within the Child & Family Consultation
Service to raise awareness amongst all multidisciplinary team members about how organisations
can unwittingly discriminate against minority groups on
the basis of Disability and to discuss with our partner
agency’s ways of making sure that the referral
pathways to the CFCS are much more inclusive.
Remind all practitioners about the importance of
asking, recording and assessing issues of disability.
Training has taken place
Ongoing discussion amongst Team Practitioners and with
Assistant Director for Child & Adolescent Mental Health
Services within South Essex Partnership Trust and with
Service Manager for Specialist Services Children and
Learning. Evidence in meeting minutes
EHF
September 2007
DB
Throughout
2007
Record kept and information used to inform planning
EHF
Throughout
2007/08
Ongoing training of staff at Marigold.
Evidence of training having taken place
EHF
April 2008
Social Workers within the Child & Family Consultation
Ongoing discussion amongst Team Practitioners and with
Sexual Orientation:
What recommendations are made on the basis of the conclusions and comments?
Should we:
 Take any forms of immediate action?
 Develop equality objectives and targets based on conclusions?
 Initiate further research by collecting further data?
Objectives for improvement
Monitoring Arrangements
Are these measurable?
How will these be incorporated into monitoring of
management information
Service to raise awareness amongst all multi- Assistant Director for Child & Adolescent Mental Health
disciplinary team members about how organisations Services within South Essex Partnership Trust and service
can unwittingly discriminate against minority groups on manager specialist services for Children and Learning.
the basis of Sexual orientation and to discuss with our Evidence in minutes
partner agency’s ways of making sure that the referral
pathways to the CFCS are much more inclusive.
Review literature/posters to show positive images of
gay/lesbian carers/parents
Responsible
By When
DB
Throughout
2007/08
Evidence of literature and posters in unit
EHF
Sept 2007
Training having taken place
EHF
Sept 2007
DB
Throughout
2007/08
EHF
Throughout
2007/08
Religion/Belief:
Ongoing training and awareness raising at Marigold
F.R.C.
Social Workers within the Child & Family Consultation
Service to raise awareness amongst all multidisciplinary team members about how organisations
can unwittingly discriminate against minority groups on
the basis of Religion/Belief and to discuss with our
partner agency’s ways of making sure that the referral
pathways to the CFCS are much more inclusive.
Ongoing discussion amongst Team Practitioners and with
Assistant Director for Child & Adolescent Mental Health
Services within South Essex Partnership Trust and service
manager for Children and Learning. Evidence in meeting
minutes
Remind all practitioners about the importance of
asking, recording and assessing issues of
Religion/Belief.
Record kept and information used to inform planning
Age:
What recommendations are made on the basis of the conclusions and comments?
Should we:
 Take any forms of immediate action?
 Develop equality objectives and targets based on conclusions?
 Initiate further research by collecting further data?
Objectives for improvement
Monitoring Arrangements
Are these measurable?
How will these be incorporated into monitoring of
management information
Ongoing training and awareness-raising at Marigold
F.R.C.
Training haven taken place
Explore how childcare could be provided at Marigold
or use of other agencies for childcare
Social Workers within the Child & Family Consultation
Service to raise awareness amongst all multidisciplinary team members about how organisations
can unwittingly discriminate against minority groups on
the grounds of Age and to discuss with our partner
agency’s ways of making sure that the referral
pathways to the CFCS are much more inclusive.
Remind practitioners of the importance of asking,
recording and assessing issues of age
Responsible
By When
EHF
Sept 2007
Exploration taken place and report produced
EHF
Sept 2007
Ongoing discussion amongst Team Practitioners and with
Assistant Director for Child & Adolescent Mental Health
Services within South Essex Partnership Trust. Evidence in
meeting minutes
DB
Age range of children using Marigold to be recorded and
information used in service planning
EHF
Throughout
2007/08
Throughout
2007/08
Other general service delivery:
There is recognition amongst both teams that adults
who have literacy difficulties may encounter problems
accessing the services.
By considering more creative ways of communicating with
prospective service-users prior to them visiting the clinic for
assessment.
EHF/DB
September
2007-03-14
Parents with small children may encounter problems
with accessing the service during normal working
hours because of difficulties around Child Care.
By considering the possibility of providing crèche facilities
within both the Child & Family Consultation Service and the
Marigold Family Resource Centre.
EHF/DB
September 2007
Impact Assessment Team Leader:
Signature:
Name:
Date:3.11.06
Quality assured by Assistant Director/Head of Service as an accurate and appropriate impact assessment and action plan:
Signature:
Name:
Date: