December 2013
Equality Impact Assessment: Are We Being Fair?
Compulsory for all proposals
Throughout this document we use the word ‘proposal’ to refer to what
we are assessing. In this context, the term includes the different things
that we do, including strategies, functions, procedures, practices,
policies, initiatives and projects.
Wrexham County Borough Council has developed this template with support
from the Equality and Human Rights Commission template and the Welsh
Local Government Association.
This template covers all equality assessment needs from initial screening to
a full Impact Assessment, by following the 6 steps:
1. Screening the equality needs of the proposal
2. Data collection and evidence
3. Involvement and consultation
4. Assessing impact and strengthening the proposal
5. Procurement and partnerships
6. Monitoring, evaluating and reviewing
The aim of an equality impact assessment (EIA) is to ensure that equality
issues have been consciously considered throughout the decision making
processes of the work we do.
The EIA highlights any areas of risk and maximises the benefits of proposals
in terms of equality. It therefore helps to ensure we have considered
everyone who might be affected by the proposal. It also helps us to meet our
legal responsibilities under the general equality duties (Single Equality Act
2010). There is also a requirement under Human Rights legislation for Local
Authorities to consider Human Rights in developing proposals.
Our approach to EIAs will help us to strengthen our work to promote equality.
It will also help to identify and address any potential discriminatory effects
before introducing something new or changing the way we work and reduce
the risk of potential legal challenges.
When carrying out an EIA you should consider both the positive and negative
consequences of your proposals. If a project is designed for a specific group
e.g. disabled people, you also need to think about what potential effects it
could have on other areas of equality e.g. young people with a disability, BME
people with a disability.
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December 2013
Department
Departmental reference
number for this EIA [Please
contact HoD secretary]
Responsible Officer
Adult Social Care
e-mail address
Sheila.finnigan-jones@wrexham.gov.uk
Full job title
Head of Service Learning Disability
Review individuals placed out of County and resettle
back to Wrexham
Historically a small number of individuals with learning
disabilities and complex needs been placed in Out of
County placements. This has been due to a lack of local
provision to meet their needs. The placements have
traditionally been expensive to fund and have not
always achieved positive outcomes for the individual.
Services have proved difficult to review and it is also
difficult for families to maintain contact with their family
member.
Title of Proposal or Policy
Rationale:
Why is it being considered?
What need is being addressed?
ASC / EIA 017
Sheila Finnigan-Jones
National drivers following an enquiry into the abuse of
residents at Winterbourne View an Independent
Hospital for people with a Learning Disability in England
has led to an action plan being developed across Wales
with the focus being placed on developing quality local
services with a clear plan for individual’s to return to
their local area where appropriate.
Based on individual need more appropriate and
informed commissioning of services will focus on
positive outcomes for the person and their families and
afford the opportunity to make efficiencies in delivery.
Aim:
What is the intended outcome of
the proposal / policy?
A more local reviewing process can be developed to
ensure the delivery of quality services focussed on
progression towards independence and involvement in
local communities. Stronger safeguarding links will be
established.
Local commissioning can include the use of effective
Assistive Technology to enhance independence.
How:
How will it be delivered, by
whom and by when?
A Regional Group across the 6 North Wales Authorities
and including the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health
Board (BCU) has been established so that work can be
undertaken in partnership. Work has already taken
place to identify all individuals known to Health and
Social Care in Out of County Placements.
Individual reviews will be undertaken to establish need
jointly with health practitioners where appropriate.
Accommodation will be accessed/developed to meet
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December 2013
need.
Support will be commissioned via the Authorities
procurement process to meet identified need.
Joint funding and commissioning with BCU will be
undertaken where appropriate.
Who:
Who are the people likely to be
affected by this proposal or
policy?
Individuals 18+ with Learning Disability and Complex
needs who are currently place in Out of County
Placements .
How have you consulted with
the people who are likely to be
affected?
Consultation plan to be developed as part of the project
plan.
Measures:
People we support will have moved back to their local
area into suitable accommodation that meets their
current and future support needs. Have more
appropriate levels of support to meet their needs without
being over-supported.
How will you know you have
achieved your aims?
What are your measures /
indicators of success?
More effective safeguarding framework developed
More effective use of resources.
Identify any other policy or
decision [internal or external]
that may affect your proposal.
Consider this in terms of:
 Statutory requirements; local
policies e.g. WCBC Housing
Policy;
 Regional decisions e.g. those
made by cross county
partnerships for your sector
e.g. North Wales Chief
Officers Board; and / or
 National policies e.g. Welfare
Reforms
The Council’s Reshaping services programme
particularly:
 Transport Review
 Reduction in supporting people funding
National Policies
 Changes to Welfare Benefits
 Changes to CHC/joint funding policies
 Limiting of Special Needs Housing Grant.
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December 2013
Screening Tool
As part of our Annual Equality Return we have to evidence what we have actively done to support people with Protected Characteristics who
receive our services. We also have to evidence what we are doing to reduce any negative impact.
Note: Poverty and Welsh language and culture are not protected characteristics but we have included them because they are important
considerations.
Please place a ‘+’ or ‘-‘symbol in every box to indicate whether your proposal will have a positive or negative affect note: people may have one
or more of the protected characteristics. If there is no impact at all place ‘n/a’. If there is a positive and negative effect indicate both i.e.. ‘+/-‘:
Q1
Would this
proposal
significantly
affect how
functions are
delivered to any
of these
groups?
Q2
Would this
discriminate
against any of
these groups?
Q3
Would this
proposal
advance the
equality of
opportunity for
these groups?
Q4
Would this
promote good
relations
between these
groups and the
wider
community?
Carers
Age
CYP
Age
Adults
18+
Disability
Gender /
Sex
Race/
Ethnicity
Religion
or Belief
Sexual
Orientation
Marriage
and Civil
Partnership
Gender Re
assignment
Poverty
Welsh
language /
culture
N/A
N/A
+
+
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
NO
N/A
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
N/A
N/A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
N/A
N/A
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Pregnancy
and Maternity
N/A
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December 2013
Where you have identified a positive impact (+) in the Screening Tool, please outline this briefly using bullet points:
1. Positive Impact of Service Users & Carers


There is an opportunity for service users to progress to more independence.
There is an opportunity for service users to have more choice, control and flexibility based in local service delivery.
o There is an opportunity for service users to experience local community inclusion and community presence
Stronger safeguarding links will be established.
2. Positive Impact on Communities
 It is recognised that a range of support will be required and we aim to make greater use of partnerships,
community facilities and activities and aim to meet the needs of those whom are traditionally hard to reach groups
/ seldom heard communities and / or socially disenfranchised.
Where you have identified no impact (n/a) in the Screening Tool, please outline this briefly using bullet points:

The project is specifically relates to Day Services for Adults 18+ and therefore it is not envisaged that there will be any
impact to for Children & Young People.
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December 2013
If you have indicated a possible negative effect on any Protected Characteristic within the screening tool, please complete the
relevant sections of the Matrix below that correspond to that possible negative effect. You will need to consider:

What is the likely scale of the impact and how this can be reduced?

Who are the people that are likely to be affected by this proposal, could they experience multiple disadvantage e.g.
if they are young and have a disability.

Whilst there is the potential for improved services through the resettlement process, some people may feel that they want
their services to remain unchanged in the same place. This will be managed via consultation with service users and their
families/advocates/ representatives. Individual transition plans will be devised with the full involvement of the individual;
and/or their family/advocate/representative.

Individuals may have concerns about moving away from established networks/friendships. This will be managed via
consultation with service users and their families/advocates/ representatives. Individual transition plans will be devised
with the full involvement of the individual; and/or their family/advocate/representative.
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December 2013
EIA: Are we being fair?
Please complete the
relevant sections of
the Matrix below
that correspond to
any ‘-‘ symbols you
have recorded in
the screening tool
List what
information you
have used to
identify these
issues e.g.
consultation,
stakeholder
involvement,
reports, data …
Based on the information
you have gathered give a
summary of key issues that
have been identified.
How will you
mitigate these
issues to improve
the service?
Who is officer
responsible for
delivering the
mitigation?
Which other
departments will
you work with to
achieve this?
By
when
Service Plan
Reference
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Carers
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Age Adult
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Pregnancy and
Maternity
Age CYP
Disability
N/A.
N/A
N/A
N/A
Gender / Sex
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Race/ Ethnicity
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Marriage and Civil
Partnership
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Gender
Reassignment
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Welsh Language
and Culture
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Religion or Belief
Sexual Orientation
Poverty
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December 2013
Please respond to the following questions within 12 months of implementation of the proposal:
a) Was any mitigation applied or was the proposal delivered as originally planned prior to the Equality Impact Assessment?
b) Were the intended outcomes of the proposal achieved or were there other results?
c) Were the impacts confined to the people you initially thought would be effected, or were other people affected? How?
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