The Equalities Bill Shahana Ramsden

Legislation A Framework for a Fairer Future– the Equalities Bill (June 2008) will establish a single Equality Duty on public bodies Will replace existing duties – Race (2000), Disability (2004) & Gender (2006) Introduces new duties – Age, Gender Reassignment, Sexual Orientation, and Religion & Belief Duty requires public bodies to consider how their policies, practices & services impact on the 6 identified groups

Timeline 3 rd Reading in House of Lords Likely to be in force by October 2010 New Public Sector Duty to Promote Equality April 2011

Examples of changes Recruitment Practice of irrelevant questions about health and disability outlawed If a disabled person suffers detriment they can challenge this at employment tribunal Information Rights to accessible information - explicit Acknowledgement that lack of accessible information exacerbates inequalities

New Single Equality Duty Think holistically Remove barriers to independent living Community wide approaches – jobs, transport, health, social care

What is an Impact Assessment? A way of finding out whether a policy affects different people in different ways It helps organisations to identify possible and real inequalities that people may experience It help organisations to think about how to do things differently.

Process 1.Initially screen policies, services or functions 2.Decide if a full impact assessment is needed 3.Collect data/ consult 4.Analyse data/ consultation to assess impact 5.Make decisions about changes, set objectives and targets 6.Publish findings 7.Monitor changed policy, service or function

Is there a potential adverse impact of the policy on the following identified groups? Black & Minority Ethnic people Men, women & transgender people People over 60 and under 25 Lesbians, gay men & bisexuals Religious & faith groups Disabled people (inc MH & LD) Answer either Yes, No or Don’t Know in each case Initial Screening- adverse impact

Is there a potential positive impact of the policy on the following identified groups? Black & Minority Ethnic people Men, women & transgender people People over 60 and under 25 Lesbians, gay men & bisexuals Religious & faith groups Disabled people (inc MH & LD) Answer either Yes, No or Don’t Know in each case Initial Screening – Positive impact

Decide if full impact assessment is needed Question One Could the policy have an adverse impact on equality? YES you need to complete a full Equality Impact Assessment NO then go to question 2 UNCERTAIN, contact EqIA group Question Two Could the policy have a positive impact on equality? YES – you need to publish a full EqIA NO – you need to publish a partial EqIA UNCERTAIN Consult EqIA group

Collect data Quantitative Qualitative Carry out consultations Include results of any previous consultations Analyse Information Collect and analyse data

Identify changes that need to be made Identify knowledge gaps Prioritise Secure senior level commitment to change Action plan for change Set targets for changes

Publish EqIA report widely Who is responsible Plan monitoring process Collect further data Report on progress Review actions Publish findings and monitor change