1. Workshop – Carrying out disability equality impact assessments Dr Christine Rose

2. What is an impact assessment? A thorough, detailed and systematic analysis of the effects of an existing or proposed policy or practice  The 4’P’s, policies, procedures, plans and practice covers every aspect of a public authorities functions  Builds on DDA audits but is a broader process

3. Why do we need to carry out an impact assessment? Part of the specific duties and therefore a legal requirement  Benefits:  avoids costly mistakes  shows you how you can improve the quality of your service  helps shift the focus from the needs of disabled people to the policies and practice of the organisation, thereby supporting the social model of disability  Important tool for mainstreaming

4. Who should be involved?  Team approach, consider  person / people responsible for a particular policy or practice  staff at a senior level  disabled people

5. How do we carry out an impact assessment?  Step one –map all policies, procedures, plans and practice  Do this at both the organisational and departmental level  Consider dividing mapping exercise into different strands, e.g. curriculum planning, quality, student services, estates, personnel etc

6. Step two - – screen to determine priority  What information do you currently have to inform the prioritisation process?  Does the policy, procedure, plan or practice have a major or minor impact in terms of the scale, significance or impact on disabled people?  Assess priority as high, medium or low. This helps to determine order of what you assess, and amount of time and resources allocated to the process

7. Step three – consider the evidence  Gather information to inform impact assessment process  What do you already know that can inform the impact assessment process? What further information do you need?

8. Step four – assess the likely impact  This stage is at the heart of the process  Involves making judgements against all the information and evidence collected  Consider all six parts of the general duty when making judgements

9. Step five – explore options and make decisions  If adverse impact found, or opportunities to better promote disability equality identified, then you will want to make changes to the policy, procedure, plan or practice.  This may involve exploring options before coming to any decision

10. GROUP ACTIVITY

11. Step six – identify monitoring processes  Assessment will anticipate the likely impact of a policy or function  Will need to monitor it to know what is happening in reality – have you achieved the outcomes that you had hoped?

12. Step seven – publish results  A report should be compiled at the end of the impact assessment process, summarising outcomes  The policy, procedure etc  Who involved and evidence considered  Any changes as a result  Statement of plans for monitoring  This should feed into your overall published report

13. When should an impact assessment take place?  When a new policy or practice is being considered or an existing policy or practice is being reviewed  First scheme, will need a rolling programme to assess backlog of all existing policies and practices  Important to build in process so it becomes an integral part of policy development and decision-making activities

14. Can we carry out an impact assessment for all areas of equality at the same time? Any further questions?

15. Conclusions  Impact assessments provide important mechanism to ensure due regard given in all policy development and decision-making activities  Helps to ensure disability equality is not seen as a ‘bolt on extra’ but becomes a central and integral activity to all services and functions in your organisation.