1. Equality Impact Assessing the South Wales Programme
Joanne Davies (ABMU Health Board)
Richard Self (NHS CEHR)
March 2014
Canolfan y GIG ar gyfer Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol - The NHS Centre for Equality and Human Rights

2. Background to the SWP
Collaboration between 5 Health Boards in partnership with Welsh Ambulance Services Trust
First time these organisations worked together as much
Working with 5 different Community Health Councils
Reviewing the way in which some specialist hospital services are provided across South Wales:
Consultant led Maternity care
Care of very sick babies
Inpatient children’s services
Accident & Emergency Services
Canolfan y GIG ar gyfer Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol - The NHS Centre for Equality and Human Rights

3. SWP Engagement Overview
Phase 1 – Engagment:
Starting of working together, but quite ad hoc
Highlighted very different practices & standards of engagement
Different processes in place
Extent of equality focused engagement variable
Different practices on supporting engagement (e.g. expenses, standards of venues used etc)
Phase 2 - Consultation:
Consultation Framework produced & agreed!
Consultation Institute official appraisal / accreditation
Standardised approach to consultation
Various versions of document produced
Full Document, English & Welsh
Summary Document, Bilingual
Braille, English & Welsh
Easy Read
Talking Book, English & Welsh
BSL Video
Canolfan y GIG ar gyfer Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol - The NHS Centre for Equality and Human Rights

4. Challenges for the EIA Large scale complex programme.
Coordination challenge – eg 50 public meetings
Potentially controversial.
Regional rationale, but local responsibility.
Equality as an equal partner?
First collaborative EIA in Welsh NHS.
Timescales.
Data.
Canolfan y GIG ar gyfer Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol - The NHS Centre for Equality and Human Rights

5. SWP – EIA Approach Project management principles.
Planners & Equality Leads learning from each other
3E’s group.
Comprehensive and proactive engagement.
Iterative design.
Crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s.
Canolfan y GIG ar gyfer Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol - The NHS Centre for Equality and Human Rights

6. Lessons Learned What worked well Collaborative approach.
Build in equality from outset.
Timescales – be flexible.
Demonstrate a continuing process.
Engagement – be comprehensive and inclusive.
Communicate.
Keep your key stakeholders on board.
Holistic approach (health impact, human rights).
Scrutiny – prepare the ground.
Canolfan y GIG ar gyfer Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol - The NHS Centre for Equality and Human Rights

7. SWP Responses
Canolfan y GIG ar gyfer Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol - The NHS Centre for Equality and Human Rights 7

8. Lessons Learned What could be improved
A better awareness of what information will be required, and identification of who is responsible for the data.
Equality not prioritised as highly as could have been.
Greater involvement of equality staff from outset.
Early agreement on consultation framework which enables more realistic planning of work
Timescales - make sure they are realistic.
Canolfan y GIG ar gyfer Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol - The NHS Centre for Equality and Human Rights

9. Lessons Learned – Planner Perspective
Takes time to work together effectively across organisations
Need to focus on standardising approaches, detail can vary
Build on strengths of different organisations
Make sure you don’t “level down”
Be aware that you are setting the standard for the future, you may wish to forget this, but the public won’t!
Include equality leads from the start
Do mid-term review so you can change / add to process
Doing engagement / consultation properly takes time & resources
Engagement / consultation requires lots of judgements about the best approach , very helpful to work through options as a group
Particularly ensure sufficient reach to protected characteristic groups
Canolfan y GIG ar gyfer Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol - The NHS Centre for Equality and Human Rights

10. Contact Details Joanne Davies joanne.davies5@wales.nhs.uk Richard Self
Canolfan y GIG ar gyfer Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol - The NHS Centre for Equality and Human Rights