EQUALITY COMMISSION FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
Public Authority 2013 – 2014 Annual Progress Report on:
 Section 75 of the NI Act 1998 and
 Section 49A of the Disability Discrimination Order (DDO)
2006
Name of public authority
Department for Social Development
Equality Officer
Imelda McConnell
Equality Unit
1st Floor, Lighthouse Building
Gasworks Business Park
Belfast BT7 2JB
Tel: 02890 829569
Fax: 02890 829560
Email: equality.unit@dsdni.gov.uk
DDO (if different from above):
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Contents
Page 4 - Executive Summary
Page 10 - Main Initiatives Planned For the Coming Year
Page 11 - Strategic Implementation of the Section 75 Outcomes/Impacts
Page 13 – Examples of Section 75 Outcomes / Impacts
Page 20 - Outcomes or Impacts on Individuals as Part of the Section 75
Action Plan
Page 21- Outcomes or Impacts on Individuals as result of any other
Section 75 processes
Page 23 - Screening – New/Proposed/Revised Policies screened during
the year
Page 30 - Equality Impact Assessment. EQIA time table April 2013 – March
2014
Page 31 - Ongoing EQIA Monitoring Activities: April 2013 – March 2014
Page 32 - 2014 – 2015 time table
Page 33 -Training
Page 34 - Communication
Page 34 - Data Collection & Analysis
Page 42 - Information Provision, Access to Information and Services
Page 44 - Complaints
Page 44 - Consultation and Engagement
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Page 47 - Good Relations Duty
Page 50 - Additional Comments
Page 51 - Disability Duties’ Annual Report April 2013 – March 2014
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Part A: Section 75 Annual Progress Report 2013-2014
Executive Summary
The Department for Social Development has several corporate policies to
promote equality of opportunity and good relations. It also has a number of
Directorate and Branch initiatives which further enhance the commitment to
the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations.
The existence of Section 75, and the duty upon public authorities to deliver
it, has ensured mainstreaming of equality into the Department’s policy
making processes.
The Department’s Corporate Plan includes a section on strategic objectives
and themes for the period 2011 – 2014. These themes are designed to
help section 75 groups who are amongst the most vulnerable in society.
These themes are:
 Provide access to decent, affordable, sustainable homes and housing
support services
 Meet the needs of the most vulnerable by tackling disadvantage
through a transformed social welfare system, the provision of
focused support to the most disadvantaged areas and encouraging
social responsibility
 Bring divided communities together by creating urban centres which
are sustainable, welcoming and accessible to live, work and relax in
peace.
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Some of the key achievements for the year are as follows:
The Department is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and to
creating and sustaining an environment where everyone is treated with
dignity and respect. To this end the NICS has a Dignity at Work (DAW)
Policy to ensure that staff do not face unwanted, unreasonable or offensive
conduct within the workplace. Where this may happen, staff can avail of the
DAW Policy to address their concerns. Information relating to Equal
Opportunities guidance is circulated to all staff on a 6 monthly basis and
this includes a reminder of their responsibilities under the DAW Policy. This
approach ensures equal opportunities are visible and well promoted within
the Department to ensure compliance.
The uptake of benefits by vulnerable people is to the fore in the
Department’s policies aimed at tackling poverty and disadvantage. The
2013/2014 Make the Call Benefit Uptake Programme focused on a number
of different customer groups including older people (older people on low
incomes, older people living with care needs and/or disability and older
people as carers themselves) and carers. The programme included a
number of strands:
 Direct Targeting – Offered 25,157 older people a benefit entitlement
check.
 Make the Call advertising – 7,615 calls answered as a result of the
advertising campaign from October 2013 to March 2014 to further
increase benefit awareness amongst mostly older people on low
incomes and those with a disability and care needs.
 Community Outreach Service – Delivered benefit uptake activity as
an integral part of its service to the Social Security Agency’s business
branches. This included home visits to vulnerable claimants to assist
with Agency business by delivering entitlement checks, assisting with
claims making, form filling and delivering community promotional
events and clinics, redundancy support to businesses and individuals
and taking referrals from a wide range of partners. This had the
potential of impacting all nine Section 75 categories.
A full evaluation of outcomes will be completed in October 2014.
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In 2013/14, the Department also finalised the outcome of the 2012/2013
Benefit Uptake Programme. This generated £16.9 million in additional
income for 4,909 people. Over £12 million of this went directly to older
people. People who benefited were better off by an average of £65.00 per
week.
The Housing Strategy Action Plan and a summary of consultation
responses were published on the 2 July 2013. The consultation document
for the Housing Strategy contained a specific question on Equality “Do you
have any evidence of any equality impacts of any of the measure contained
in the strategy, particularly in relation to potential adverse impacts? Please
provide details of any relevant evidence”. Five of those who responded to
the consultation questions answered the equality question. In response to
suggestions from stakeholders the Department decided to add in a fifth role
for government in relation to housing to “promote equality of opportunity in
housing in NI and to promote good relations”. In the Action Plan document
the Department restated its statutory duty to equality screen each individual
policy as it is developed.
Following correspondence from the Social Development Committee and
the Equality Commission in January 2014, the Department undertook an ad
hoc assessment of the equality screenings that had been completed for
each of the Housing Strategy Action Plan 2012-17 commitments. This
exercise confirmed that 8 of the 33 actions had been screened, two years
into the five year plan.
The Department then began preparations to evidence that due regard had
been paid to the Section 75 commitments by screening the Housing
Strategy. A meeting between DSD and ECNI took place on 24 March 2014
at which the difficulty of screening of high-level publications (such as
strategies, rather than more defined policy proposals) was discussed. DSD
officials asked how the current guidance on screening might best be
applied in such circumstances, in particular, how the high-level ideas that
are set out in a strategy can be screened if they are not sufficiently
developed to screen under the normal policy approach. A Commission
representative acknowledged at this meeting that gaps exist in the current
Section 75 guidance for public bodies to enable them to screen high-level,
strategic documents of the nature of the Housing Strategy. DSD officials
contributed a number of ideas at this meeting to support the Commission in
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developing more appropriate advice for public bodies on this issue.
Screening of the Housing Strategy was completed in July 2014.
In May 2014, the Department undertook extensive work to screen the
Housing Strategy Action Plan as well as the 33 Actions falling out of the
Plan. This work included full screenings and condensed screenings where
policy proposals are still at an early stage. Independent advice and
assurance was taken on the process and no adverse impacts were
identified for any Section 75 categories. Work continues to ensure that as
policies develop the Actions are screened, re-screened or subject to EQIA
as necessary, and the Department is confident that it is compliant with its
Equality Scheme. Further detail will be provided in the 2014/15 Annual
Report.
An Action Plan was developed by the Department’s Voluntary and
Community Unit to support and encourage people with disabilities and
other under-represented groups to become involved in volunteering. There
are a number of projects under the Volunteering Innovation Fund which are
being funded to support volunteers with disabilities.
In 2013, the Department prepared an update for the EQIA on Welfare
Reform (details can be found in the Section 75 Annual Report 2012/13).
Since then, regulations falling out of the Welfare Reform Bill have been
screened and are detailed on page 23 et seq of this report. DSD remains
committed to the reform of the Welfare system. Discussions are continuing
with a view to attaining consensus within the Executive as to how we
implement Welfare Reform here in Northern Ireland and work is ongoing
with regard to examining proposals under the reform agenda in line with the
Department’s S.75 responsibilities.
The Department has drawn up Terms of Reference for an Equality Working
Group (EWG) which will be set up in August 2014. The EWG will assist in
the mainstreaming of Equality throughout the Department; the Resources
and Social Policy Group, the Urban Regeneration and Community
Development Group, and Social Security Agency. The EWG members will:
 represent their business area at meetings;
 provide an update on the equality issues with ongoing policies
in their business area;
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 promote within their business area information on new or
revised information in relation to Section 75 issues;
 promote attendance by staff at Section 75 awareness sessions
(briefing yet to be agreed);
 promote the use of Equality best practice across their business
areas;
 coordinate information between their business area and the
Equality Unit;
 ensure that the Equality Scheme, Equality Scheme
commitments, Audit of Inequalities and Action Plan and annual
report to the Equality Commission are cascaded to relevant
staff in each business area;
 ensure that the correct process is followed in relation to Equality
Screenings/Equality Impact Assessments/Consultations and
Equality publications.
Update on initiatives planned for April 2013 – March 2014.
Initiative - The Department will continue to educate and remind staff of
our commitment to the DAW Policy. Our network of HCO’s will also
monitor and educate staff on issues of concern.
Update - The Department has continued to educate and remind staff of its
commitment to the Dignity at Work Policy. Managers have been reminded
of their role and responsibilities in relation to the Policy. Clear guidance and
instructions have been issued.
The Department’s work in relation to Harassment Officers continues to
assist in the promotion of the Policy and the facilitation on informal
resolution to complaints.
The Department has re-launched the Harassment Contact Officer (HCO)
initiative endorsed by the HR Director. Guidance for HCOs has been
updated and quarterly forums scheduled.
A series of Education and Awareness seminars is in preparation and is
scheduled to be rolled out before year end.
Initiative - An Action Plan is being developed by the Department’s
Voluntary and Community Unit (VCU) to support and encourage
people with disabilities and other under- represented groups to
become involved in volunteering. There are a number of projects
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under the Volunteering Innovation Fund which are being funded to
support volunteers with disabilities.
Update – The volunteering strategy and action plan, Join in, Get involved:
Build a Better Future was published in March 2012. A key objective of the
policy is to ensure that volunteering is open to everyone regardless of age,
disability, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion or where they live.
People with disabilities are not excluded from any DSD funded volunteering
project and each organisation is asked to gather information on disabilities
etc in line with Section 75 to the NI Act 1998. As part of the evaluation of
the Volunteering Strategy and to provide a baseline of Section 75
information, VCU in conjunction with its volunteering infrastructure partners
will complete a survey of all volunteers registered on the volunteering
database. This survey will be repeated again in August 2015 to determine
any increase or decrease.
Initiative – North West Development Office will continue to work with
the community groups through Neighbourhood Partnerships to
deliver the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund to ensure
equality of opportunity and good relations for individuals from
Section 75 Groups.
Update - The North West Development Office (NWDO) has worked with
the Neighborhood Partnerships and community groups in Londonderry to
improve the quality of Neighbourhood Action Plans. This has included a
stronger focus on prioritising activities on the basis of objective evidence of
need in each area, such as the outcome indicator reports compiled by the
Department. NWDO has also reorganised its Neighborhood Renewal
Team to release more staff to work directly with community organisations to
assist them in developing new project proposals.
Initiative - The Department is striving to ensure that Universal Credit
payments can be paid fortnightly instead of monthly as proposed by
Westminster, and for Discretionary Support open up provisions for
financial assistance to individuals on low income including working
customers. It is expected that working customers on low income in
each of the Section 75 groups will potentially benefit. Staff, as part of
day to day business, will provide a range of services to ensure that
people are advised of their potential entitlement to benefits, including
a Community Outreach Service. It is likely that all Section 75
categories will be impacted by this service.
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Update - Universal Credit – The Northern Ireland Payment Flexibilities
(including payment twice-monthly instead of monthly as proposed by
Westminster) has yet to receive NI Executive approval.
Discretionary Support Response – The design of the proposed
Discretionary Support (DS) provision was considered from an equality
perspective in November 2012 resulting in the provision being screened out
on the basis that:
1/ DS will provide a service to the same customer audience as with
the current Social Fund: and
2/The provision will extend accessibility to new customer groups.
The Equality screening formed part of the DS design consultation
exercise which completed on the 23 April 2013.
Work is currently ongoing in relation to the development of the DS
Regulations. The regulations will be subject to Equality screening.
Initiative - The Department’s new Equality Scheme is expected to be
approved by the Equality Commissioners in the summer of 2013.
Whilst not strictly relevant to this reporting period, the Department
has been endeavouring to comply with its’ requirements.
Update – The Department’s new Equality Scheme was approved by the
Equality Commission on the 13 December 2013. Work has commenced on
the implementation of the commitments contained within the Scheme.
Main Initiatives Planned In the Coming Year
The Department will continue to educate and remind staff of our
commitment to the Dignity at Work Policy. The DAW Policy is supported by
a network of Harassment Contact Officers (HCOs). Departmental HR has
developed a HCO Forum which meets on a quarterly basis to cascade key
information, lessons learned, identity training needs to ensure HCOs are
fully supported.
Staff, as part of day to day business, provide a range of services to ensure
that people are advised of their potential entitlement to benefits, including a
Community Outreach Service. It is likely that all nine categories would be
impacted by this service. To complement this, the Department has been
delivering targeted benefit uptake activities since 2005 to encourage those
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likely to not be claiming their full benefit entitlement to do so. In 2014/2015,
the Department will begin Year 2 of Maximising Incomes and Outcomes-3
year Plan for Improving the Uptake of Benefits.
The 2014/15 Make the Call Benefit Uptake Programme is again focusing
on a number of different customer groups including older people (older
people on low incomes, older people living with care needs and /or
disability and older people as carers themselves) and carers. The
programme includes:
Direct Targeting – Offering 25,000 older people a benefit entitlement
check
Make the Call advertising – To further increase benefit awareness
amongst mostly older people on low incomes and those with a disability
and care needs
Community Outreach Service –This includes home visits to vulnerable
claimants to assist with Agency business by delivering entitlement checks,
assisting with claims making, form filling and delivering community
promotional events and clinics, redundancy support to businesses and
individuals and taking referrals from a wide range of partners. This has the
potential of impacting all nine categories.
Section 1: Strategic Implementation of the Section 75 Duties
The Department’s Equality Officer is responsible for monitoring and
reporting progress on the implementation and plays a central role within the
Department providing advice, guidance and support on policy issues and
coordinating Departmental responses. The work of the Equality Officer is
overseen and directed at Director level.
The 2013/14 Benefit Uptake Programme included a number of benefit
uptake initiatives aimed mainly at older people.
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The 2013/14 Make the Call Benefit Uptake Programme focused on a
number of different customer groups including older people (older people
on low incomes, older people living with care needs and /or disability and
older people as carers themselves) and carers. The programme included a
number of strands:
 Direct Targeting – Offered 25,157 older people a benefit entitlement
check.
 Make the Call advertising – 7,615 calls answered as a result of the
advertising campaign from October 2013 to March 2014. To further
increase benefit awareness amongst mostly older people on low
incomes and those with a disability and care needs.
 Community Outreach Service – Delivered benefit uptake activity as
an integral part of its service to the Agency’s business branches.
This included home visits to vulnerable claimants to assist with
Agency business by delivering entitlement checks, assisting with
claims making, form filling and delivering community promotional
events and clinics, redundancy support to businesses and
individuals and taking referrals from a wide range of partners. This
had the potential of impacting all nine categories.
The Volunteering Strategy and Action Plan – Join in, Get Involved: Build a
Better future was published in March 2012. A key objective of the policy is
to ensure that volunteering is open to everyone regardless of age,
disability, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion or where they live.
People with disabilities are not excluded from any DSD funded volunteering
project and each organisation is asked to gather information on disabilities
etc in line with Section 75 to the NI Act 1998. As part of the evaluation of
the Volunteering Strategy and to provide a baseline of Section 75
information, VCU in conjunction with its volunteering infrastructure partners
will complete a survey of all volunteers registered on the volunteering
database. This survey will be repeated again in August 2015 to determine
any increase or decrease.
Examples of projects relating to people and volunteers with a disability
receiving financial assistance from DSD are:
SOLVE Project
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SOLVE (Supported Opportunities and Local Volunteering towards Equality)
is an innovative volunteering project developed in partnership by North
West Volunteer Centre and Liberty Consortium and funded by the
Department for Social Development for 18 months. The project is based on
the vision that “everyone has the opportunity to have a meaningful,
enjoyable volunteering experience”. It provides a person-centered
approach to involving young people with a disability as volunteers.
Special Olympics
Joint sponsorship to promote volunteering over a range of age groups and
also to promote volunteering amongst people with a disability.
Solas
This proposed Sólás project is an innovative project that aims to recruit
volunteers to build a network of Champ Youth Clubs across NI which
specifically cater for young people between the ages of 10 and 16 with
Special Needs/disabilities, providing a social outlet for them.
Section 2: Examples of Section 75 Outcomes / Impacts
The 2012/13 Benefit Uptake Programme generated £16.9 million in
additional income for 4,909 people. Over £12 million of this went directly to
older people. On average, people who benefited were better off by an
average of £65 per week.
A full evaluation of outcomes for 2013/2014 will be completed in October
2014.
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The North West Development Office Neighborhood Renewal Unit have
provided funding for the following projects, “Strabane Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender Inclusion (LGBT), Liberty Playtrail, Strabane
Ethnic Community Association (SECA), Older People North West (OPNW)
and Gingerbread NI-One Plus Centre.
The objective of the Strabane Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
Inclusion (LGBT) is education. It aims to educate the wider community
regarding the needs of the LGBT community, their culture and health
issues. The services provided include educating the citizens of Strabane to
embrace their LGBT neighbours and treat them equally with respect. This
will be achieved through proactive communication with members of other
community groups within Strabane and active participation with these
groups in training, education, outreach and referral services.
The Liberty Playtrail project provides a range of ‘inclusive’ programmes that
are offered both to local schools, community groups and the wider
community, these include; Forest School activities, Nature/Environmental
Studies, Horticulture and Play Programmes. It is also a venue for
children’s birthday parties, community festivals, community education and
training. The Playtrail, founded in 2002, is a key project/community facility
in the outer North Neighbourhood Renewal Area. It facilitates inclusive
play, recreation and leisure opportunities and education for able-bodied
children and young people, children and young people with physical
disabilities, sensory impairments and learning difficulties. It is also used to
promote cross-community play and leisure experiences for a wider network
of children within the Outer North area.
The SECA project is a focal point for ethnic migrants and for all ethnic
people who have made their homes in this Neighbourhood Renewal area.
They act as an official representation for ethnic people and to help reduce
the sense of social isolation faced by many of them.
The services and activities delivered by Older People North West include
advocacy, advice, carers’ respite, form filling, health promotion, social day
care, ageing well and therapeutic activities. OPNW is the only single issue
organisation in the area which is exclusively focused on the welfare of
Older People from all sections of the community.
The One Plus Centre for Gingerbread NI, functions as a “community hub”
with open access for lone parents seeking advice, training and childcare
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available under one roof. It provides a safe space for lone parents and
those who work to support them to come together in a non judgmental and
non threatening environment, promoting a partnership approach between
families and support professionals.
Funding of £13,000 given to support the Ballymena “Good Morning” project
provided a daily telephone service to around 50 clients, allowing them to
share any worries or concerns they may have and to connect them with the
wider local community and other services. The service will also alert others,
such as family or friends, if clients do not answer their daily call, it will
promote social inclusion and integration of older and vulnerable people as
well as improving their health and well being including those at risk from
falling into poor mental health.
Funding of £28,000.00 was provided to Sharing the Care in Newtownabbey
which trained volunteers and provided information, advice and support to
carers, thereby reducing the feeling of isolation.
The Voluntary and Community Unit provided funding, approximately
£0.35m annually to Support for Women, a joint programme between the
Department for Social Development and Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development geared to maximise the contribution of women in
disadvantaged/rural areas in contributing to their communities. They also
provided approximately £0.85m to the Women’s Centre’s Childcare Fund
which was utilised to support the delivery of 77,000 two hour childcare
places annually: geared to support parents in the margins of employment in
getting back into employment through participation in training etc.
The Department provided £200,000 funding for the Whistle Project, which
provides programmes and activities including parenting courses, health,
education and ICT services for young people.
A new play park in Ballysally and a multi-use games area in Millburn and
Millburn Community Centre received a total of £390,000 funding. These
much needed recreational facilities will be a major boost to the young
people in the area and assist to improve healthy active lifestyles.
Funding of £75,000 provided to upgrade the SPRING Community
Association premises in Armagh providing a range of services with a focus
on senior citizens, women and young people.
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The “Coole Garden” in Rathcoole has been developed as a result of
funding of £28,141 by the Department. The project which contains visual
and sensory elements, aims to increase the integration of people with
disabilities with the wider community.
Child Maintenance reforms introduced in Spring 2014, encourage
separated parents to work together to support their children. Maintenance
arrangements agreed by both parents often lead to better outcomes for
their children.
More children than ever before are getting the money due to them. Just
over 80% of parents living apart from their children who are due to pay
child maintenance are ensuring their children do not lose out by paying
maintenance, the highest level ever in Northern Ireland. Child maintenance
payments are being made to 21,975 children across Northern Ireland, an
increase of 572 on last year. A total of £24,923,027 was collected in
2012/13, including £2.84 million of arrears that had previously gone unpaid.
The number of non-paying cases reduced substantially over this same
time, falling from 5,498 non-paying cases in 2011/12 to 4,115 in 2012/13.
Funding of £264,000 was provided to an Early Years Programme in
Enniskillen to provide intervention services to young children and their
families.
Funding of £240,000 was awarded to local community based organisation
Farset Youth and Community Development to allow the organisation to
continue with its RESPECT (Re-engaging and Supporting People to Enable
Community Transformation) project, which targets hard to reach young
people in disadvantaged communities and aims to reduce anti-social and
high risk behaviours.
Funding of £196,000 was provided towards the refurbishment of Gardeners
Hall, Dungannon. The senior citizen programme offers older people a
range of activities and the chance to interact with others outside their daily
lives and make new friends.
A £403,000 pitch at St Josephs Boys High School Newry was funded. The
pitch will allow the school to enhance its physical education programme,
enable its team to play competitive matches at home for the first time and
provide an additional local facility for use by the surrounding area.
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Funding of £143,685 for an early years project in Churchlands area of
Coleraine provides part time staff in the Primary Schools in the area, to
take forward initiatives and training aimed at those children for whom the
transition to Year 1 has proved difficult.
The Department launched “Maximising Incomes & Outcomes – a 3 Year
Plan for Improving the Uptake of Benefits” which has set a number of
ambitious targets to help local people receive all the support available to
them. Since 2005 the benefit uptake programme has resulted in £50million
in additional money for 15,000 people, mainly aged 60 and over.
£26,000 funding was provided to equip a Men’s Shed in Ballymena. The
‘Men’s Shed’ concept has gained popularity in the UK in recent years, as a
way to promote social interaction and well-being of men. The Shed is a
space for men aged 50 years and over to come together to work on DIY
projects, learn new skills and socialise will address physical, emotional and
social needs for older people, enabling them to live independently, and with
healthier lifestyles within their own communities.
Funding of £461,000 for Lurgan Town Football Club was provided to allow
the club to expand its services to accommodate growing local demand. The
work will include the construction of a half sized 3G pitch, ideal for running
sessions for local children making exercise an enjoyable pastime and
keeping them active.
Funding of £338,486 provided for the expansion of the Rainbow Child and
Family Centre in Shantallow West, Londonderry. The Centre provides safe
and affordable pre-school and after-school services for children to allow
parents to return to education and/or training to increase their knowledge
and skills base to move into employment. The centre is also used by local
schools and community groups to provide playgroup sessions, a summer
scheme and mother and toddler services for the local community.
£8,000 was awarded to Mercy College to allow the school to participate in
the ‘Business Class NI’ programme, through which the local business
community works with schools to help young people develop the skills,
aspirations and motivation they need to succeed in the world of work.
An £890,000 refurbishment project at St Mary’s Youth Centre, Portadown
was funded jointly by the Department for Social Development and the
Department of Education. The youth centre, established in 1959 is a
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voluntary youth organisation which delivers a youth work programme for
the local community.
Part funding was provided to a new build, supported housing scheme for
adults with learning disabilities at Adelaide Avenue, Coleraine. The new
homes comprise 10 x 1 bedroom self-contained apartments and 2 x 2
bedroom shared apartments, including two ground floor wheelchair
accessible flats.
Funding of £98,500 was provided for the ‘Community Access to Lifelong
Learning’ programme in Ballymena and Ballyclare. Learning/taster
sessions will be provided free of charge, shaped by the needs of the young
people (16+) involved.
The Cathedral Youth Club in the Fountain area of Londonderry was
allocated £5,117 to create a Street Museum at the group’s headquarters
which will exhibit old images related to The Fountain. The Club’s core
project “Investing in Young People, Families and the Community” was also
allocated £6,696, which will be used to update the computer suite with the
latest IT equipment.
Funding of £24000 provided for the 'Street Safe' Project in Omagh Town
Centre. This project will provide a pastoral type service to vulnerable
groups of people, where underage drinking and violent crime leave large
numbers of youth in the town centre of Omagh at weekends susceptible to
harm.
Funding of £17,400 was provided for new accommodation for the Dunluce
Family Centre in Ballymagroarty. The new premises will assist in
addressing the severe lack of facilities and building space in order to
deliver much needed family support services.
Funding of £51,404 was provided to manage the Playtrail, a community
focused outdoor play and educational facility located within the grounds of
two special schools (Belmont House and Foyle View). The Playtrail is an
inclusive play and educational facility for children and young people of all
abilities.
More than £52million in Winter Fuel Payments has been paid to 301,000
people born before 1952.
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A new £160,000 play park at Ballymote, in Downpatrick was opened. It
provides a state of the art play area for the children of the Flying Horse
Estate, The Model and The New Model Estates.
A CLIC Sargent ‘Home from Home’ on the Falls Road, Belfast was
provided with £70,000 of funding towards newly constructed
accommodation. ‘Home from Homes’ are places where families can stay
free of charge so that they can be close to their child during their cancer
treatment.
A new housing development at Ashleywood Mews was part funded. The
facility is managed on a day to day basis by Foyle Women’s Aid. The
housing development provides purpose built accommodation for families
needing emergency shelter.
Two new centres for children and young people in Brownlow and
Craigavon were opened following £142,000 refurbishment works. Bridge
Playgroup and Drumellan Children and Young People’s Centre will provide
much needed nursery and after school care for children in the area.
The Clanrua Family Learning and Multi-Agency Intervention Suite in
Portadown was been extensively refurbished to create a large family and
community learning facility with a state of the art IT suite. Funding of
£285000 will improve the life chances of children and ensure they have the
opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Funding of £72,990 was provided to establish a family centred project in
Londonderry. The project will engage and support women and families
affected by domestic abuse and addiction. A vital aftercare service will be
provided for women who have received specialised interventions, to ensure
positive integration back to family life and into the community, promoting
increased cohesion and participation.
Together with the Department for Education, £30m was invested in 20 new
nurture units across 20 primary schools. Nurture Units are a valuable
resource which aims to support the social, emotional and behavioural
development of our young children and provide an opportunity to challenge
some of the barriers that contribute to low educational attainment.
Northern Ireland Citizen Service Programme received funding for another
two years allowing 700 young people to participate and to enable them to
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play an ongoing role in strengthening the communities they live in and
allowing them to meet and get to know young people they wouldn’t
normally mix with.
Over £30,000 funding was provided towards a Basketball Programme for
over 600 school children in Ballymena. The programme aims to establish
greater levels of interaction, dialogue and education between young people
from different backgrounds in the Ballymena area.
Changes to policies or practices using screening or EQIA, which have
resulted in outcomes or impacts for individuals. If the change was a
result of an EQIA please indicate this and also reference the title of
the relevant EQIA.
There were no changes to policies or practises using screening or EQIA
which have resulted in outcomes or impacts for individuals during this
reporting period.
Outcomes or impacts on individuals as a result of any action
measures undertaken as part of the Section 75 action plan.
The 2012/2013 Benefit Uptake Programme generated £16.9 million in
additional income for 4,909 people. Over £12million of this went directly to
older people. On average, people who benefited were better off by an
average of £65 per week.
A full evaluation of outcomes for the 2013 / 2014 Programme will be
completed in October 2014.
Continuation of the Neighborhood Renewal Programme – affected groups
include:
 People with dependants
 Children and Young people
20
 Older people
 Persons with a disability
 Women.
The programme aims to achieve a reduction in the gap between
Neighborhood Renewal Areas (NRAs) and Small Pockets of Deprivation
and Non – NRAs on key deprivation indicators.
Completion of Public Realm works in Banbridge and Carrickfergus
(impacting upon children and young people, elderly people and people with
disabilities) – schemes were designed to improve accessibility and public
safety.
Fuel Poverty
The Affordable Warmth Scheme was developed using the evaluation of the
pilot and was subject to a screening exercise, prior to public consultation.
Anti Social Behaviour Bill
The Department proposed a Bill to create a new form of social tenancy as a
way to tackle anti social behaviour (ASB). The Bill intends to incentivise
and support struggling tenants who might otherwise be evicted. The
proposals were equality screened and it was concluded that an EQIA was
not required. The screening identified that young men as a group were
likely to experience both the impacts and the benefits of the policy. Young
men are most likely to commit ASB but also likely to be the victims of it.
The proposals were also subject to a public consultation which contained
two questions related to Section 75:
1/ Any evidence of adverse equality impacts on Section 75 Groups?
2/ Any evidence that there is scope for promoting good relations
between the equality categories?
In response to a recommendation from the Social Development
Committee, the Department opted to extend the 12 week consultation
period to 16 weeks to ensure consultees had the opportunity to
respond.
Examples of outcomes or impacts on individuals as a result of any
other Section 75 process e.g. consultation or monitoring.
1/ As part of the Year 1 Programme from Maximising Incomes and
Outcomes – A 3 year plan for improving the Uptake of Benefits, Improving
21
Benefit Uptake has been working with a range of partners to review the
effectiveness of written communications, particularly with older people.
Locally produced State Pension Credit letters from the NI Pension Centre
have been reviewed and alternative letters drafted.
Suggested amendments have been forwarded to the NI Pension Centre for
their input and these will be ratified with key customer groups.
As part of the Year 1 Programme from Maximising Incomes and Outcomes
– A 3 year plan for Improving the Uptake of Benefits, Improving Benefit
Uptake initiated a targeted programme of awareness and information
events aimed at young people with specific needs to ensure optimal uptake
of benefits, services and supports.
This was to help access to and uptake of all financial and other supports to
those with special educational needs, their families and educators.
Work is ongoing regarding the development of the Accessible Housing
Guide (AHR) – NIHE completed a “proof of concept” exercise in March
2013 comprising of a 57 property survey. This has informed the
development of a survey form, classifications and database requirements.
Consideration is being given to engaging consultants (to be appointed by
Social Housing Reform Programme) to commence this work as part of the
stock condition survey of 30,000 properties planned to commence late
summer/autumn 2014. NIHE is also to expand their “proof of concept”
findings with information already held to develop an AHR on an incremental
basis.
22
Section 3: Screening
New / proposed / revised policies screened during the year.
Title of policy subject
to screening
What was the
screening
decision? E.g.
screened in,
screened out,
mitigation, EQIA…
Were any
concerns
raised about
screening by
consultees;
including the
Commission?
Is policy being
subject to
EQIA? Yes/No
If yes indicate
timeline for
assessment.
Payment of Maternity
Allowance to the
Participating wife or Civil
Partner of a Self
Employed Earner
Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2014
Screened out
No
No
Improving Energy
Efficiency in Low Income
Private Sector
Households
Screened out
No
No
Removal of access to
Housing Benefit for
Jobseekers who are not
classed as being
habitually resident in the
UK
Screened out
No
No
The Employment and
Support Allowance
(Amendment)
Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2014
Screened out
No
No
The Occupational
Pension Schemes
(Miscellaneous
Screened out
No
No
23
Amendments)
Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2014
The Occupational and
Personal Pension
Schemes (Automatic
Enrolment) (Amendment)
regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2014
Screened out
No
No
Multi Element
Improvements – Stock
Transfer Programme
Screened out
No
No
The Financial Assistance
Scheme (Qualifying
Pension Scheme
Amendments)
Regulations 2014
Screened out
No
No
The Automatic Enrolment Screened out
(Earnings Trigger and
Qualifying Earnings
Band) Order (Northern
Ireland) 2014
No
No
The Social Security
Revaluation of Earnings
Factors Order (Northern
Ireland) 2014
Screened out
No
No
The Guaranteed
Minimum Pensions
Increase Order (Northern
Ireland) 2014
Screened out
No
No
The Social Security
(Claims and Payments)
(Amendment)
Screened out
No
No
24
Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2014
The Social Security
Pensions (Flat Rate
Accrual Amount) Order
(NI) 2014
Screened out
No
No
The Social Security
Pensions (Low Earnings
Threshold Order
Northern Ireland)
Screened out
No
No
The Social Security
(Habitual Residence)
(Amendment)
Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2014
Screened out
No
No
Annual Up-Rating of
pensions and benefits
Screened out
No
No
The Social Security
(Miscellaneous
Amendments)
Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2014
Screened out
No
No
The Social Security
(Crediting and Treatment
of Contributions and
National Insurance
Numbers)(Amendment)
Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2013
Screened out
No
No
Provision of additional
Universal Credit Service
Screened out
No
No
25
Centre Capacity
SSA Customer Contact
Strategy
Screened out
No
No
BT1 Gateway Scheme
Screened out
No
No
Queens Quay, Belfast :
Draft Master plan
Screened out
No
No
SSA Telephony Strategy
Screened out
No
No
Housing (Anti – Social
Behavior) Bill
Screened out
Some
No
voluntary
bodies asked
for the
proposals to
be rescreened
and a full EQIA
to be carried
out.
Draft Equality Screening
for the MOSAIC Project
Screened out
No
No
Draft Equality Screening
for CAT Framework
Screened out
No
No
The introduction of a
Digital option in addition
to telephony and face to
face service for use by
Universal Credit
Customers
Screened out with
mitigation
No
No
Consultation
arrangements for
Housing Associations
May 2014.
Screened out
No
No
26
Building Successful
Communities Pilot May
2014
Ongoing
Ongoing
Ongoing
The Child Support
(Miscellaneous
Amendments)
regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2013
Screened out
No
No
The Child Support and
Payments
(Miscellaneous
Amendments and
Change to the Minimum
Amount of Liability)
Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2013
Screened out
No
No
The Social Fund Winter
Fuel Payment
(Amendment)
Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2013
Screened out
No
No
The Social security
(Croatia) (Amendment)
Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2013
Screened out
No
No
The Pension Protection
Fund and Occupational
and Personal Pension
Schemes (Miscellaneous
Amendments)
Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2013
Screened out
No
No
27
The Occupational and
Personal Pension
Schemes (Automatic
Enrolment) (Amendment)
Regulations
No
No
The Automatic Enrolment Screened out
(Miscellaneous
Amendments)
Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2013
No
No
The Occupational
Pensions (Reevaluation)
Order (Northern Ireland)
2013
Screened out
No
No
The Pension Protection
Fund and Occupational
Pension Schemes (Levy
Ceiling and
Compensation Cap)
Order (Northern Ireland)
2014
Screened out
No
No
The Occupational and
Personal Pension
Schemes (Disclosure of
Information) Regulations
(Northern Ireland) 2014
Screened out
No
No
The Jobseekers
Allowance (Habitual
Residence) Amendment
Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2013
Screened out
No
No
SR 2013 No 209 The
Housing Benefit
(Executive
Screened out
No
No
Screened out
28
Determinations)
(Amendment)
Regulations (NI) 2013
SR 2013 No 282 the
Housing Benefit (Local
Housing Allowance
Determinations)
(Amendment) regulations
(NI) 2013
Screened out
No
No
SR 2013 No 303 The
Screened out
Housing Benefit
(Executive
Determinations and Local
Housing Allowance
(Amendment)
Regulations (NI) 2013
No
No
The Social Security
(Miscellaneous
Amendments No 2)
Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2013
Screened out
No
No
The Social Security (Age
Related Payments)
Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2013
Screened out
No
No
The Statutory Sick Pay
(Maintenance of
Records) (Revocation)
Regulations (Northern
Ireland) 2014
Screened out
No
No
29
Section 4: Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)
Please provide an update of policies subject to EQIA during 2013-14, stage
7 EQIA monitoring activities and an indicative EQIA timetable for 2014-15.
 EQIA Timetable: April 2013 - March 2014
Title of Policy EQIA
EQIA Stage at
end March
2014 (Steps
1-6)
Building Successful
Communities 2014
Still under
review
Pensions Bill 2014
Step 6
Outline adjustments to policy
intended to benefit individuals and
the relevant Section 75 categories
due to be affected.
The following mitigating measures are
included as part of the policy.






Pension rights accrued in the
current system will be protected
in the new State Pension.
Women born between 1951 and
1953 who will receive a State
Pension under current rules
rather than a new State Pension
will retain access to legacy
features which will retain access
to legacy features which will
negate any perceived
disadvantages.
Women who made a reduced
rate election will receive
transitional protection to ensure
they receive a State Pension.
The Guarantee Credit element of
pension credit, including
additional amounts for disability
etc, will continue to be available
alongside the new State Pension.
To protect the pension position of
those who cannot work, National
Insurance Credits will continue to
be available for pension
purposes.
The Bereavement Support
Payment will be disregarded from
30
applications to other benefits to
ensure those requiring income
replacement are not
disadvantaged. In addition, those
with dependants will receive a
higher amount.
In considering mitigating measures
or changes to policy the Department
has to be cognizant of Section 87 of
the Northern Ireland Act and in
particular the risks to the funding
arrangements which are explicitly
predicated on the maintenance of
parity with GB. The Department must
ensure that the funding stream which
underpins the social security system
in Northern Ireland is not
jeopardised. Against this backdrop
the Department has been unable to
identify further mitigation.
Where the EQIA timetable for 2013.-14 (as detailed in the previous annual
S75 progress report to the Commission) has not been met, please provide
details of the factors responsible for delay and details of the timetable for
re-scheduling the EQIA/s in question.
All EQIAs completed to time.
Ongoing EQIA Monitoring Activities: April 2013- March 2014
No Stage 7 Monitoring Activities carried out 2013 -201
Proposals, arising from the authority’s monitoring for adverse
impacts, for revision of policy to achieve better outcomes the relevant
equality groups.
No adverse impacts identified.
2014-15 EQIA Timetable
31
Title of EQIAs
due to be commenced during
April 2014 – March 2015
Revised or
New policy?
Please indicate expected
timescale of Decision
Making stage i.e. Stage 6
Disability Living Allowance Reform
– Personal Independence Payment
(EQIA on Regulations)
New
Timescale dependant on the
progress of the Welfare
Reform Bill through the
Assembly.
Screening and possible EQIA of
Strategy for Generalist Advice
Provision
Revised
Summer / Autumn 2014 –
timing is dependent on the
development of the strategy
32
Section 5: Training
The table below outlines the generic training courses that Departmental
staff completed during the year.
Number of
staff trained
1/4/13 to
Course Name
31/3/14
An Introduction to Developing Policy
16
An Introduction to Section 75
13
Autism and Employment Awareness Seminar
3
Disability Awareness for Frontline Staff
2
Diversity Now
104
DSD Corporate Induction (Face to Face)
372
DSD Online Induction
80
DSD Policy Seminar – Equality Impact Assessment –
Welfare Reform Bill
55
DSD Policy Seminar – GIS for Civil Servants
54
DSD Policy Seminar – Innovation and Public Policy
37
DSD Policy Seminar – Master class on Policy
Evaluation
24
DSD Policy Seminar – NI Peace Monitoring Report
2013
64
Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) Workshop
12
Equality Seminar
2
Evaluating Policy
5
Harassment Contact Officer
1
Introduction to Human Rights
13
Mental Health Awareness
19
Public Consultation and Engagement
6
Recruitment and Selection - Interview Standards and
Legislation
76
Recruitment and Selection - Legislation.
9
 As well as the 967 staff who trained in the above courses, all new staff
to the Department attend a Departmental Human Resources’ Corporate
induction day. One of the topics covered at the event is Equal
Opportunities.
33
Section 6: Communication
The approval of the Department’s Equality Scheme on the 13 December
2013 was highlighted in the Permanent Secretary’s Start the Week article
highlighting the importance of fulfilling our statutory duties.
The Equality Section on the Department’s internet site has been
restructured to include screening reports, a link to the scheme, details of
the complaints procedure, Section 75 consultees and also details of forth
coming consultations.
A briefing to staff on the Equality Scheme and our commitments contained
within was emailed to all senior managers for delivery to all staff.
The procedures for communication of Equal Opportunities policies are
shared with all staff every six months. These provide guidance and
instructions on how managers and staff should carry out their role and
outlines their responsibilities in relation to the NICS Dignity at Work Policy.
Section 7: Data Collection & Analysis
The monitoring and evaluation of the Improving Benefit Uptake Programme
captures data on benefit generated to older people (those aged 60 or over)
and those of working age. Work is underway to get a gender breakdown on
benefit generated.
A breakdown of people contacted or participated in yearly Programmes is
available for male/female split.
The Department continues to develop a wide range of data gathering and
research activities to inform our work; this includes the Family Resources
Survey, the further development of use of the Policy Simulation Model, our
Benefits and Tax Credit Survey; our work on understanding the customer
journey for Employment Support Allowance and use of the Omnibus
Survey to test out attitudes to Welfare Reform. Across all Departmental
business areas we are mindful to collect data to assess the impact of
welfare policies on our most disadvantaged groups and communities. With
this in mind both the Urban Regeneration and Community Development
Group and Child Maintenance Services are taking forward relevant
research.
34
With regard to changes to disability benefits we are particularly keen to
develop a full research programme to gauge the impacts of the potential
changes under Welfare Reform. We are working together with DHSSPS to
develop a detailed research programme that will be rolled out over the next
period.
We are also focusing on improving the Department’s policy evaluation
programme which will provide us with much useful information for
considering both the efficacy of current policies and inform changes for the
future for policies to address necessary changes. Our Analytical Services
Unit has also instigated discussions with other departments to coordinate
research work across departments, to enable us to better address cross
cutting issues that affect more than one department.
Social Security Benefit, Child Benefit and Housing Data include information
on the age, gender, and number of dependants. We also have access to a
similar range of data from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Unfortunately, from an equality perspective, only data relating to age and
gender is routinely collated within these systems. Limited information in
respect of the number of dependents that a claimant has and their marital
status is gathered for a small number of benefits but this data is not
regarded to be statistically robust. Information relating to the other equality
groups is not required for the assessment of a claim and is therefore not
currently collected.
The main way in which these information gaps could be addressed would
be by asking benefit claimants to provide a response to each of the equality
groups for which data is missing. The provision of this information could
not however be legally mandated and would be provided on a voluntary
basis. The data could be collected at key customer contact points (e.g.
when the customer makes a fresh claim, reports a change of
circumstances, attends a medical assessment etc).
The collection of new data pertaining to the equality status of each
individual would require a change to the main data collection systems
(including the IT infrastructure). At present, the Department for Work and
Pensions (DWP) has responsibility for the development and maintenance
of the IT systems used to support both the GB and NI social security
systems. Any change to the information collection methods needs to be
35
costed and agreed with them. DSD is currently in discussions with DWP to
establish the financial and logistical feasibility of gathering the required
information.
The Department is developing a Household Income Administrative
Database. This links individual benefit scans and tax credit data with
HMRC earnings and savings data to provide a complete record of
household income. The structure of the database should facilitate the
estimation of income at both an individual and household level across NI.
This should in turn allow the take-up of means tested benefits to be
assessed. It will also allow measurement of projected levels of benefit take
up as the result of the introduction of Universal Credit. The equality
groupings available for analysis will match those already available on the
current benefit and HMRC data scans.
Equality Impact Assessment tables for Universal Credit were also produced
using the Policy Simulation Model and appear on the DSD Internet as part
of the update to Welfare Reform Bill Equality Impact Assessment.
SOCIAL WELFARE RESEARCH COMMISSIONED BY THE
DEPARTMENT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
DSD has also undertaken an extensive research programme to assess the
impact of the policies that it has responsibility for and to understand the
attitudes, behaviours and experiences of both benefit claimants and the
wider population. For each research project, the Department gives due
consideration to the collation of data on all 9 section 75 categories, where
the methodology will allow. Some of the most significant pieces of
research are summarised below:
Family Resources Survey: The Family Resources Survey (FRS) collects
detailed information on the incomes and circumstances of private
households from April to March each year. The survey is completed by
approximately 2,000 households in NI each year. The survey has been
carried out in Great Britain since 1992, but 2002/03 saw the introduction of
Northern Ireland for the first time. This survey is a ‘National Statistic’ and
the Department for Social Development is accountable for its delivery in
Northern Ireland.
36
The FRS collected data in relation to 7 of the 9 Equality Groups. Additional
questions were added to the FRS 2011/12 survey year to cover the
Equality Groups of Political Opinion and Sexual Orientation. Section 75
analysis on certain sub groups or geographies (particularly small area
geographies) can however be limited by the sample size. The production of
analysis on such groups is considered on a case by case basis in terms of
whether there is an adequate sample size for analysis.
Using the FRS, the Department, in partnership with the Department for
Work and Pensions (DWP) has developed a model known as the Policy
Simulation Model (PSM). The PSM is a micro-simulation model used for
poverty and scenario analysis and produces outputs including the financial
impacts on different demographic groups from policy changes to the tax
and benefits system. It is based on the Family Resources Survey and
therefore has coverage of the same Section 75 groupings as the main
survey. The most current version of the model is based on data taken from
the 2011-12 Family Resources Survey.
NI Omnibus Survey – The Northern Ireland Omnibus Survey is carried out
on a regular basis and is designed to provide a snapshot of the lifestyle and
views of the people of Northern Ireland. The Social Security Agency (SSA)
included approximately 20 questions on six omnibus surveys from
September 2012. The results of this analysis can be accessed using the
following web-link - http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/stats_and_research/asuother-research.htm
Approximately 20 questions will also be included within the next four
Omnibus surveys (April 14, May 14, September 14 and January 15).
These questions will primarily aim to examine attitudes to Welfare Reform.
Data is currently collected on eight Section 75 categories (until recently it
was collected for all nine – political opinion is the category that was
dropped by Central Survey Unit due to response rate concerns).
DSDNI Benefits and Tax Credits Survey
A large scale survey was carried out between 25 January and 23 March
2012 by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Department. In total 1,225
respondents, comprising 1,004 main claimants and 221 partners took part
in the survey. The respondents to the survey were in receipt of a benefit or
tax credit that will be replaced by Universal Credit. The main objective of
the research was to gather information to gain a better understanding of
37
respondents who are likely to be eligible for Universal Credit (particularly in
terms of their ability to engage with the labour market). Data on all of the 9
Equality groups was collected.
ESA Customer Journey Research
This research project was completed in April 2013. This research
examined the customer journey/experience of the ESA process, what
happened to those customers that were found fit for work and also those
customers who did not complete their medical assessment. Analysis was
broken down between Age and Gender.
Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance and Work
Quantitative and qualitative research was undertaken in 2013 on claimants
in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance
(AA). This work assessed the impact of these benefits on the lives of those
who receive them. An investigation of various aspects of DLA and AA
customer’s experiences, and an exploration of issues around DLA and
work was undertaken. The research also assessed employment rates
amongst DLA recipients in Northern Ireland. General satisfaction levels
amongst DLA/AA customers with the Social Security Agency were also
measured. Data were collected on all S75 groups with the exception of
Political Opinion and Sexual Orientation.
The following web-link provides the reports relevant to the last 3 research
projects http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/stats_and_research/asu-otherresearch.htm
SSA - Customer Satisfaction Survey
A claimant satisfaction telephone survey was undertaken from September
2013 to November 2013 to develop baseline satisfaction levels for claimant
groups that would be impacted by planned Welfare Reform changes. The
key aims of the research were to evaluate levels of claimant satisfaction
with SSA service delivery and to improve the SSA’s understanding of key
issues when claimants interact with the SSA through different
communication channels. Questions pertaining to each of the 9 equality
groups were included within the survey. Results from the survey are due to
be published in summer 2014.
38
WIDER DEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH
Urban Regeneration and Community Development Group (URCDG).
Many of the projects and programmes that are supported by URCDG target
the most vulnerable within society. Many of these individuals will be in
receipt of social security benefits. The aforementioned social security data
held within the Department can be analysed at a small area level to
establish the impact of URCDG policies on the Equality groups for which
data is available.
Voluntary Community Unit (VCU) is potentially looking at collecting
information on the experience of advice services in 2014/15 (e.g. in relation
to the types of service/ support being provided by these centres to
customers). The collation of equality data is being explored.
Volunteering strategy – questions were asked in the Omnibus survey in
2012 and 2013, to establish the level of volunteering. The outputs were
analysed by the available 9 equality groups.
Housing. A number of Housing research projects are either underway or
are planned for the near future, through DSD and also within the NI
Housing Executive. These are as follows:
●
Development of a housing affordability (economic) model for
Northern Ireland. The NI Housing Executive Research Unit and academics
intend to produce a housing affordability (economic) model for Northern
Ireland similar to that in place for Scotland and England. The University of
Glasgow has been appointed as lead researcher.
●
House Conditions Survey. The survey provides a
comprehensive picture of the dwelling stock and its condition at NI and
District Councils level. It also gathers data used to provide a reliable
assessment of the energy efficiency of the stock and the level of Fuel
Poverty in Northern Ireland on a comparable basis with the rest of the UK.
The survey collects data in relation to 7 of the 9 Equality Groups (data on
political opinion and sexual orientation is not gathered).
CMS Customer Satisfaction Survey
The Child Maintenance Service Customer Satisfaction Survey is due to
commence in early summer 2014 and will collect information from both
39
parents with care (PWC’s) and Non Resident Parents (NRP’s) with a
statutory maintenance interest. Both legacy scheme customers and CMS
2012 scheme customers will be surveyed to gauge their respective
satisfaction levels aligned to their schemes. Data on all of the 9 Equality
groups will be collected. The results of this research are due to be
published in late Autumn 2014.
CMS Survey of the Child Maintenance Population
The Child Maintenance Service’s (CMS) Survey of the Child Maintenance
Population is due to commence in Autumn 2014 and will collect information
from parents with care (PWCs) living in Northern Ireland, who have a child
maintenance interest. Data on all of the 9 Equality groups will be collected.
The results of this research are due to be published by the end of March
2015.
AD HOC PROJECTS
A Disability Research Group has recently been established to ensure that
there is a collaborative approach between DSD and DHSSPS to progress
the development of disability research of mutual interest (potential
disability research questions are listed in Annex 1). It is hoped that this
forum will also allow DSD to access other government data (e.g. health and
education data) to allow us to build a more complete profile of customers
and add to the equality data that we already hold.
Northern Ireland Cohort Longitudinal Study of Ageing (NICOLA).
NICOLA will be the most detailed study on ageing ever undertaken in NI
and is designed to be as comprehensive a study as the English
Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA) and the Irish Longitudinal Study of
Ageing (TILDA). The study commenced in 2013 and data on health,
lifestyle and socioeconomic interactions of 8,500 over 50’s is being
collected. The study will follow participants over a 10 year period and will
aim to inform future government policy across a number of different
Departments
NICOLA has been set up by a group of researchers in the Centre for Public
Health; Queen’s University Belfast and has attracted financial investment
from Atlantic Philanthropies, OFMDFM, the HSC Research and
Development office and QUB.
40
DSD has agreed to become a member of the NICOLA Stakeholder Board.
The NICOLA team is keen to explore whether DSD administrative data
could be linked with data gathered through the NICOLA study. This may
allow a great deal of qualitative and quantitative information to be gathered
on a number of equality groups, especially the elderly.
Strabane Jobs and Benefits Survey – This survey is the baseline survey
of Customer and Staff Satisfaction in Strabane Social Security Office prior
to the rollout of Jobs and Benefits process in the office and the re-location
to a new build, The survey will be complete in Spring 2014 and questions
pertaining to each of the 9 equality groups are included within the survey.
Migrants Access to Benefit – This research project is due to commence
in Summer 2014 the aim of which is to establish reasons for migrant groups
coming to the country and claiming benefit and their understanding of
benefit rules that apply. It will involve focus groups and surveys and it is
intended that questions pertaining to each of the 9 equality groups will be
included within the survey.
Financial Support Service – A baseline and follow up survey to evaluate
the success of the Financial Support Services trial amongst customers,
staff and stakeholders from the advice sector. This evaluation will take
place over summer 2014. The Financial Support Service will be offered to
customers who apply for Crisis or hardship loans. The service will signpost
customers to the independent advice sector for additional support and
guidance. It is intended that data relating to the 9 equality groups will be
included within the customer survey.
Administrative Data Research Centre (ADRC) was launched in 2013 by
the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Medical Research
Council (MRC) and Wellcome Trust, and chaired by Sir Alan Langlands.
The ADRC is part of a UK wide Administrative Data research network
comprising 4 centres (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).
The ADRC is responsible for linking data between government
departments and the network will provide a single governance structure
that will allow for consistent and robust decision-making.
In Northern Ireland, NISRA, Queen’s University and the University of Ulster
are in a consortium to run the ADRC-NI. NISRA’s main roles are data
41
acquisition, to encourage and facilitate government departments to supply
data on a project by project basis and to provide a trusted linkage service.
In May 2013 we directed an NIHE research project to look at welfare reform
impacts in terms of social rented sector size criteria rules, which may be
introduced under a NI Welfare Reform Bill. This included consideration of
available data on the nine categories covered by Section 75.
Please outline any use of the Commission’s Section 75 Monitoring
Guide.
The Commissions Section 75 Monitoring Guide was used when developing
monitoring arrangements whilst completing screenings.
Section 8: Information Provision, Access to Information and
Services
As part of the 2013/2014 Benefit Uptake Programme, the Department had
a widespread media campaign advertising the Make the Call Freephone
service. This included TV, outdoor advertising, advertorials and adverts in
local and regional newspapers.
The Department also has a Community Outreach Service which responded
to referrals for home visits to assist vulnerable customers and attended
events to provide information about social security benefits.
The Department’s Communications Office can make documents available
in alternative format upon request. They also follow the RNIB guidelines on
print (“see it right” campaign) and follow web accessibility guidelines.
Information sessions were held across Northern Ireland in April 2013.
People with disabilities, their families, carers and organisations
working with disabled people were invited to come along to find out how
DLA may change in the coming months.
An information session was held in September 2013 by the Youth Council
for Northern Ireland (YCNI) and the Department. The event aimed to
encourage voluntary and community organisations working with young
42
people in the most disadvantaged areas in Northern Ireland to apply for
funding from the EU Youth in Action (YIA) programme.
The following organisations received funding for 2013/2014 from an
Innovation Fund:
 The South Tyrone Empowerment Project (STEP) whose objective is
to target harder to reach groups and to provide benefit entitlement
checks at the point of changing circumstances
 Larne and District Citizens Advice Bureau targeted 4,500 older
people across Mid and East Antrim. Access to customers was
through 170 community based luncheon clubs and other activities
facilitated by Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership (MEAAP)
 Citizens Advice Bureau, Ballymena (Relate) offered Benefit
entitlement checks to customers contacting Relate who are
experiencing major life changes i.e. the breakdown or potential
breakdown of family relationships.
 McMillan Cancer Support Services provided benefit entitlement
checks to 70% of patients passing through the Regional Brain Injury
Unit and Health and Social Care Trust. Checks were also offered to
their carers.
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Section 9: Complaints
Two complaints were made directly to the Equality Commission between
April 2013 and March 2014 against the Department in relation to screening.
These were made by
1/ October 2013 – Committee for the Administration of Justice (CAJ)
who alleged that the Department was in breach of its approved
Equality Scheme by not screening the Housing Strategy.
2/ November 2013 – SDLP, content unknown to the Department.
The Equality Commission has in May 2014 initiated an investigation to
establish if the Department did breach its Equality Scheme in terms of the
Housing Strategy. This investigation is at an early so stage so no additional
information can be provided at this time.
Section 10: Consultation and Engagement
 Please provide details of the measures taken to enhance the level of
engagement with individuals and representative groups during the year.
The Department was involved in numerous consultation and engagement
exercises across its broad spectrum of work.
A consultative workshop was held in September 2013 to develop the
design and delivery of direct and indirect targeting and outreach activity
with key representative organisations to better address identified barriers to
the uptake of benefits.
The targeted exercise phone script and letter was reviewed and
amendments made. Feedback from the design workshop was incorporated
in to the renewed Make the Call advert.
The Department published independent research on social housing
allocations, which led to a wide range of comments from individual and
organisational consultees on equality issues. These will be taken into
consideration as the Department develops and screens its policy. The
research was circulated to all on the Departmental consultation list,
including representative groups for the Section 75 categories. Consultation
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events were held in DDA compliant buildings in the North West, mid Ulster
and Belfast.
A consultation on housing adaptations was led by Disability Action, who
ensured that a variety of locations were covered, all with hearing induction
loops and other facilitators to assist stake holders in responding.
A research report on Housing Adaptations was published in easy read
format by Mencap.
Call for Evidence: Internal market: Movement of persons 11/06/13 –
05/08/13.
Details were published on the DSD website inviting interested parties to
submit comments. This formed part of the review of the Balance of
Competences between the EU and UK, and was jointly issued by the Home
Office and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Because of
Northern Ireland’s unique position within the UK, having a land border with
another Member State, DWP has expressed a particular interest in
evidence of how EU competence on free movement advantages or
disadvantages Northern Ireland and its citizens.
Personal Independence Payment: Moving around activity 24/06/13 –
05/08/13.
The consultation document was issued in Great Britain by the Department
for Work and Pensions to obtain views on the final assessment criteria in
place for the moving around activity, one of two activities used to assess
mobility needs for Personal Independence Payment. Even though the
introduction of Personal Independence Payment in Northern Ireland is still
subject to the agreement of the Assembly, Minister agreed to issue the
consultation to relevant stakeholders here (advice and disability groups,
Northern Ireland MPs/MEPs, the Committee for Social Development and
MLAs) so that they had the opportunity to provide input to the review of this
activity. A total of 52 consultation documents were posted, and
approximately 80 organisations/individuals were emailed the consultation.
Thirteen responses were received which were analysed and shared with
the Department for Work and Pensions to consider alongside the
responses received in Great Britain. The Westminster Government’s
response to the consultation exercise was subsequently published in
October 2013. This was shared with consultees, MLAs, the Committee for
Social Development and other relevant stakeholders.
45
Four consultations were carried out by email between July 2013 and
December 2013, which were limited due to the technical nature of the
proposals.
Triennial Review of Pensions Bodies: Call for evidence
2/7/13-9/8/13
19 consultation documents e-mailed
This call for evidence seeks views about the pensions bodies and asks
specific questions about their individual roles and if there are any gaps or
overlaps in relation to their functions.
Quality standards in workplace defined contribution pension
schemes: Call for evidence
11/7/13-9/9/13
18 consultation documents e-mailed
This call for evidence invites interested parties to contribute evidence to
inform the development of a set of minimum legislative standards. The aim
is to put in place sufficient protections to ensure that defined contribution
schemes are run in a way that is beneficial to members.
Better workplace pensions: a consultation on charging
1/11/13-28/11/13
17 consultation documents e-mailed
This consultation paper sets out a range of measures to address pension
charges in defined contribution pension schemes aimed at protecting
employees from poor pension returns due to pension charges.
Reshaping Workplace Pensions for Future Generations
1/11/13-19/12/13
18 consultation documents e-mailed
This consultation paper is part of the ongoing process of pensions reform
aimed at nurturing a culture of life-long saving for retirement. The aim is to
provide greater certainty for scheme members whilst acknowledging the
challenges faced by employers in providing a quality pension.
46
In its aim to deliver a programme of work to enhance policy making
capacity across the NICS, the Policy Champions Network hosted an event
to launch a set of Stakeholder Engagement Guidelines. Section 75 is
underpinned by those who make and deliver public policies and the
Guidelines, which apply NICS wide, recognise the importance of
stakeholder engagement as a crucial aspect of the policy making process.
Please outline any use of the Commission's guidance on consulting
with and involving children and young people
At Departmental level Representative groups for young people are included
in the Departmental consultation list. Groups targeted include NI Youth
Forum, Children’s Law Centre and include Youth.
Section 11: The Good Relations Duty
On 9 May 2013, the First Minister and deputy First Minister for Northern
Ireland announced Together: Building a United Community (TBUC), a new
strategy to improve community relations and build a united and shared
society. The TBUC Strategy, while managed by the Office of the First
Minister and deputy First Minister (OFMdFM) commits Departments to a
wide range of actions. For the Department for Social Development, these
relate primarily to urban regeneration (the creation of 4 urban villages) and
housing.
The Department and its Minister are represented on the Ministerial Panel
and the Good Relations Programme Board which oversee delivery of a
range of actions and commitments within the Together: Building a United
Community Strategy.
The Department takes a strategic overview of its duty in respect of Good
Relations through a Good Relations Steering Group, led at Under
Secretary level. This Group provides oversight of progress against the
Department’s headline actions within the Together: Building a United
Community Strategy as well as ensuring that all policy development is
taken forward with due regard to Good Relations.
47
URCDG Policy Framework
In July 2013 URCDG published an Urban Regeneration and Community
Development Policy Framework. This provides a clear strategic direction
and informs both the Department and its partners in central and local
government, and also in the voluntary and community sector. The Policy
Framework has at its core the ‘Department for Social Development’s
Corporate Plan 2011-2015’ and reflects the strategic priorities therein. The
policy objectives and supporting action in the Policy Framework reflect the
Department’s priority “To bring divided communities together by creating
urban centres which are sustainable, welcoming and accessible to live,
work and relax in peace”.
Within the Framework, there is capacity in its 4 policy objectives and
supporting actions to contribute towards the promotion of Good Relations,
for example:
•
Policy objective 2 – To strengthen the competitiveness of our towns
and cities - has as one of its suggested actions – “supporting the
development of shared and safely accessible commercial centres and
development sites”.
•
Policy objective 3 – To improve linkages between areas of need and
areas of opportunity- has as one of its suggested actions “Physical
regeneration of interface areas, including environmental
improvement, remodelling, securing the release of development sites
and the agreed removal of interface barriers where this is safe,
practicable and desirable”.
•
Policy objective 4 – To develop more cohesive and engaged
communities has as one of its suggested actions – “Strengthening
networks and cross-interface schemes to develop positive community
responses to social, economic and environmental problems”.
Looking forward, to a post April 2015 context, much of the work of the
Department currently carried out in relation to regeneration and community
development will be taken forward by the new councils as part of the
Reform of Local Government. Councils will be given a statutory duty to
have regard for guidance issued by the Department, including the Policy
Framework. This together with Councils’ obligations under Section 75 and
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the Community Planning duties will help ensure that good relations
considerations become an integral part of their work in Urban Regeneration
and Community.
Department’s Community Faiths’ Forum
The Department’s Community Faiths’ Forum met on four occasions during
2013/14 to discuss the role of faith-based organisations, from Christian and
non Christian backgrounds, in supporting community development and
community cohesion. The Forum also organised two separate policy
seminars focused on ‘Faith in Action’ and on promoting the ‘Social
Economy Enterprise model.’
Fundamental review of allocations policy may assist in identifying barriers
to good relations in housing and remove them to encourage shared
housing.
The Department’s North West Developments Neighbourhood Renewal Unit
works closely with the Neighbourhood Partnerships to tackle deprivation
and poverty across the whole of the Neighbourhood Areas in the North
West. In addition to those named above a further example of project
NWDO supports which promotes good relations for Section 75 groups
includes:
Youth Project Worker Posts
These workers deliver cross community and youth diversionary
programmes intended to reduce interface tension and violence and thus
contributing to the Department’s Neighbourhood Renewal and Shared
Future priorities.
Facing the Future: A Housing Strategy for Northern Ireland
In 2012, the Minister for Social Development launched ‘Facing the Future:
A Housing Strategy for Northern Ireland’ and an associated Action Plan.
The Strategy outlines five key themes and under Theme 4 (Driving
regeneration and sustaining communities through housing) the Department
has committed to “Further develop proposals to support shared housing”.
In taking forward action in this area the Department will build on the work
undertaken over the last number of years to meet the aspirations of many
49
communities to support a transition to a more shared ethos, include more
shared housing. Proposals include building on the success of the pilot
Shared Neighbourhood Programme by developing a Shared Community
Programme to encourage more shared neighbourhoods across Northern
Ireland and working with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) to
pilot a Belfast City Centre waiting list (which aims to support and protect the
city centre as a shared space).
The TBUC Strategy referred to above contains the following targets for
Housing:
 Create 10 new shared neighbourhood developments; and
 Conduct an overarching review of housing to bring forward
recommendations on how to enhance shared neighbourhoods.
The Department is currently making progress towards achieving these
targets, along with pilot schemes to develop mixed tenure, mixed use
shared neighbourhoods. The aim of these actions is to create additional
shared neighbourhoods that increase the choices available to those who
wish to live in a mixed neighbourhood. Should the aim be achieved, there
will be a greater level of mixing between people of different religious belief,
political opinion or racial group, creating communities of ‘good
neighbourhoods’ which are welcoming to everyone regardless of race,
colour, religious or political opinion, age, gender, disability or sexual
orientation.
Please outline any use of the Commission’s Good Relations Guide
The Good Relations Guide was used in the screening process throughout
the year.
Section 12: Additional Comments
No additional comments.
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Part B: Disability Duties
Annual Report 1 April 2013 / 31 March 2014
NOTE: Actions during the reporting period were those achieved against the previous Disability Action
Plan. A new Disability Action Plan is being drawn up for the period 2014 – 2017, which is expected to be
finalised by November 2014 following consultation.
1. How many action measures for this reporting period have been achieved?
2
Fully
Achieved?
Partially
Achieved?
Not
Achieved?
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2. Please outline the following detail on all actions that have been fully achieved in the reporting
period.
2 (a) Please highlight what public life measures have been achieved to encourage disabled people to
participate in public life at National, Regional and Local levels:
Level
Public Life Action Measures
Outputs1
Outcomes / Impact2
National3
Regional4
Local5
Outputs – defined as act of producing, amount of something produced over a period, processes undertaken to
implement the action measure e.g. Undertook 10 training sessions with 100 people at customer service level.
2 Outcome / Impact – what specifically and tangibly has changed in making progress towards the duties? What impact
can directly be attributed to taking this action? Indicate the results of undertaking this action e.g. Evaluation indicating a
tangible shift in attitudes before and after training.
3 National : Situations where people can influence policy at a high impact level e.g. Public Appointments
4 Regional: Situations where people can influence policy decision making at a middle impact level
5 Local: Situations where people can influence policy decision making at lower impact level e.g. one off consultations,
local fora.
1
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2(b) What training action measures were achieved in this reporting period?
1
Training Action Measures Outputs
The Department
New staff trained.
contributes financially to
the provision of the
Diversity Now training
which is provided by the
Centre of Applied
Learning. This equality
and diversity foundation
is mandatory for all new
Departmental staff and
includes a section on the
2 disability duties.
Outcome / Impact
Increased staff awareness and
understanding of diversity matters in
the workplace.
2
3
4
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2(c) What Positive attitudes action measures in the area of Communications were achieved in this
reporting period?
1
Communications Action
Measures
Promote positive
attitudes towards people
with disabilities
throughout Departmental
staff by providing
information on the
intranet regarding the
Disability Liaison Officer
(DLO).
Outputs
Outcome / Impact
During the year we continued
to provide information about
disability related duties.
Promotion of positive attitudes
attained through Health and Safety
Road Shows, presentations and
awareness sessions delivered to staff.
An information leaflet was also
produced for distribution at these
events.
2
3
4
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2 (d) What action measures were achieved to ‘encourage others’ to promote the two duties:
Encourage others Action
Measures
Outputs
Outcome / Impact
1
2
3
4
2 (e) Please outline any additional action measures that were fully achieved other than those listed in
the tables above:
Action Measures fully
implemented (other than Training
and specific public life measures)
Outputs
Outcomes / Impact
1
2
3
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3. Please outline what action measures have been partly achieved as follows:
Action Measures partly
achieved
Milestones6 /
Outputs
Outcomes/Impacts
Reasons not fully
achieved
1
2
3
4
4. Please outline what action measures have not been achieved and the reasons why?
Action Measures not met
Reasons
1
2
3
Milestones – Please outline what part progress has been made towards the particular measures; even if full output or
outcomes/ impact have not been achieved.
6
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5. What monitoring tools have been put in place to evaluate the degree to which actions have been
effective / develop new opportunities for action?
(a) Qualitative
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) Quantitative
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
6. As a result of monitoring progress against actions has your organisation either:
 made any revisions to your plan during the reporting period or
 taken any additional steps to meet the disability duties which were not outlined in your original
disability action plan / any other changes?
Please delete: Yes / No
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If yes please outline below:
Revised/Additional Action Measures
Performance Indicator
Timescale
1
2
3
4
5
7. Do you intend to make any further revisions to your plan in light of your organisation’s annual review
of the plan? If so, please outline proposed changes?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
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