1. Workshop Next steps for Equality Outcomes?
Helen Miller, Policy Officer
Equality and Human Rights Commission

2. Todays session Introductions Monitoring and Measuring Up? 2013/14
Improving Equality Outcomes 2014/15
Focus on Equality Outcomes – our findings and observations, your experiences and getting ready to report on progress in 2015

3. The purpose of our monitoring programme
To fulfil our regulatory role to monitor the PSED and take enforcement action if required
To inform Scottish Government about performance and practice ahead of the report of the Scottish Ministers Duty in December.
Identify good practice and work with others to promote it.
The findings of this monitoring work will enable the Commission to fulfil its unique regulatory role to monitor the Public Sector Equality Duty.
It will also enable the Commission to identify and promote good practice and make recommendations to the Scottish Government on actions to meet the Scottish Ministers Duty to “publish proposals for activity to enable a listed authority to better perform its equality duty” in December 2013

4. Measuring Up? May – November 2013
Stage 1
Monitoring publication of equality outcomes, mainstreaming reports, employment information, equal pay statement and a pay gap and publication of a report summarising findings.
Stage 2
Review of public authorities performance of the duty to gather and use employment information
Assessment of public authorities equality outcomes
Meetings and discussions with stakeholders
Stage 3
Produce a final report using evidence and analysis from stage 1 and 2
Make recommendations to the Scottish Government and Scottish Ministers.

5. Equality Outcomes - findings
224 were examined, 27 excluded
On average PA’s published 7 outcomes varying by sector
Age, disability and sex outcomes the most common,
Gender reassignment and pregnancy outcomes the least common
55% detailed use of evidence
56% detailed use of involvement
31% “good”
40% “mixed”
29% “poor”

6. Where did public authorities go wrong with equality outcomes?
Published outputs or activities rather than an outcome
Not specific – did not set out what the problem or issue was
Not strategic or measurable
No discernable link to the general equality duty
Where a protected characteristic was not mentioned there was no explanation offered
Published only 1 outcome – requirement is for a ‘set’.
Not equality outcomes- list of activities and / or outputs (often for the public authority, rather than for individuals)
Outcomes focus is on the organisation, rather than PCs
Not SMART
Outcome not SMART – defined as actions rather than the end point / result.
Outcome does not relate to equality, does not define any inequality
Outcomes do not relate to any specific PC – not specific
Difficult to measure
Outcomes are not measurable.
References to measurement don’t seem pertinent to actual outcomes
Lack of outputs / indicators makes progress hard to measure
General
Outcomes have no link with General Duty
No obvious separate outcomes for EA / LB
Many outcomes relate to accessibility or staff awareness

7. PSED project in 2014/15
Scottish Government Scottish National Equality Improvement Project
We are leading on Equality Outcomes
Working directly with selected public authorities to support them to improve their equality outcomes and republish them
Providing a self assessment tool (tested and refined with the group) published Autumn 2014
Providing a briefing on reporting requirements in 2015.

8. ACTIVITY Outcomes vs outputs
Monitoring outcomes – indicators and measures
Using self assessment questions – test.
Use examples of poor outcomes to demonstrate
Measurements

9. What next for Equality Outcomes?
Regulations specify that you must publish a report on the progress made to achieve your outcomes in an accessible way
Where feasible use an existing means of public performance reporting? What will this be for you? An annual report?
Be balanced - show progress and areas where you need to improve
Use this as a way of showing the impact of your work as well as celebrating your achievements.

10. Any other questions ? My contact details Helen Miller 0141 228 5958