1. The Equalities Bill Shahana Ramsden

2. 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

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

4. 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

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

6. 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.

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

8. Initial Screening- adverse impact
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

9. Initial Screening – Positive 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

10. 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

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

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

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