Measuring equality at a local level – putting theory into practice

Measuring equality at a local level – putting theory into practice Amanda Tuke Consultant to Department of Children, Young People and Learners London Borough of Croydon

Outline • Context for equality knowledge • Equality knowledge management • Sharing and mainstreaming equality knowledge • Conclusions

Context for equality knowledge How can what we know about equality locally be informed by the bigger picture described by national level data? National level data far from problem-free… ‘ The data available on inequalities are inadequate in many ways, limiting people’s ability to understand problems and their causes, set priorities and track progress. And even where data do exist, they are not consistently used well or published in ways which make sense’ Equalities Review Feb 2007

Finding out about equality data availability and developments The Review of Equality Data (Oct 2007) was a response to the recommendation in the Equalities Review that: ‘a cross-cutting Government review of current data needs is a fundamental and necessary starting point if Government and devolved administrations are to properly analyse, understand and address inequalities…’ www.ons.gov.uk/about-statistics/measuring-equality/index.html Extension of data review to local area information for IDeA with practical suggestions of how to make use of data. http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=8579514

Feedback from local authorities Less than a third agreed that they knew to find national level equality data and used it in performance management discussions… • “We know where to find data but it is almost always inaccurate, out of date or is not relevant to our mainstream work programmes…” • “[It is] not always clear where info is. [Central government] needs a central repository like the observatories, but with online analysis tools.”

Starting to build an ‘indicator equality profile’ with Coventry City Council… National Indicator 117: 16-18 year olds who are not in employment, education or training (NEET)

Percentage of young people 16-18 not in employment, education or training, England. Source: DCSF (Figure for 2007 was 9.4%.)

Gender differences Conflicting evidence depending on source. • ‘Official estimates’ showed 10% of young men, 8.8% of young women NEET in 2007 • Youth Cohort longitudinal study tends to show young women slightly more at risk of being NEET than young men.

DCSF information Statistical First Release ‘Participation in Education, Training and Employment by 16-18 year olds in England’ – annual (gender splits) NEET statistics quarterly brief (no equality disaggregation) DCSF commissioned research: • Diverse activities “caring, parenthood, criminal activity, illness, seeking education and training provision, travelling or being on a gap year.” • Report’s summary of other research…NEETs likely to: • Have achieved no or very low qualifications when leaving school at 16; • Have not enjoyed school, truanted and/or excluded; • Be male, white and from lower socio-economic backgrounds; • Low self-awareness and have parents with low qualifications and aspirations.

Coventry Connexions data • 9% NEET in Coventry in 2006 (8% nationally) • Risk for young men and women similar • 1 in 4 of NEET young women in Coventry pregnant/parents (Coventry overall rate of U18 conceptions is 53 per 1000, national is 42)

Equality knowledge management Before we start a new collection, what do we already know about the aspect of equality we are interested in.

Feedback from local authorities Only one in five agreed that their organisation ‘knows what it knows’ about equality … • ‘We have not collated information. It may be lodged within our admin systems but knowledge is not yet teased out.” • “There are good examples of this in some areas however often the data is collected and unused.”

Starting to build a disability profile with Sheffield City Council, to provide context for a number of local priorities including • NI 152 Working age people on out of work benefits

18% of people reported a “limiting longstanding illness or disability” in UK (Source: Census 2001) and 19% of the working age population reported a “limiting longstanding illness or disability” in UK. Source: Labour Force Survey, 2007 Good agreement with other national sources…

Age standardised rates of limiting long-term illness or disability: by ethnic group and sex. England & Wales. Census 2001

Seven Lower Super Output areas in Sheffield appear in the lowest 10% by Index of Multiple Deprivation and highest 10% prevalence of limiting long-term illness or disability and non-white ethnicity.

Percentages of different underlying medical reasons for claiming Severe Disablement Allowance/Incapacity Benefit. England. Source: Benefit statistics (Department for Work and Pensions)

Percentages of different underlying medical reasons for claiming Severe Disablement Allowance/Incapacity Benefit, May 2007. Source: Neighbourhood Statistics (ONS) from DWP Benefit statistics

Completed assessments for adult social care by type, 2006-7, ICHSC Rates of completed assessments for adult social care by type per 10,000 of population, 2006-7, using ICHSC data and ONS mid-year population estimates

Receiving adult social care services following assessment by type, 2006-7, ICHSC Rates of receiving services for adult social care following assessment by type per 10,000 of population, 2006-7, using ICHSC data and ONS mid-year population estimates

Share and mainstream equality knowledge How good are we at making sure equality knowledge is shared? and How could we embed equality into performance management?

Feedback from local authorities Less than in five agreed that their organisation ‘shares knowledge effectively…’ and less than one in ten agreed that the use of equality information is ‘mainstreamed in their organisation’s performance management processes’ • “We share with partners and stakeholders but not enough with front-line staff – certainly not in a way that is relevant to them.” and • “Equality information is collected but often as a separate activity – not yet seen/done as everyday business”.

A cautionary note… “White boys from sink estates are the new poor in Labour's Britain, an official report said yesterday. It said the teenagers are being left behind while their black counterparts, who were once at the bottom of the educational heap, are forging ahead.” Steve Doughty, Daily Mail, 3 April 2008 in response to ‘Diversity and different experiences in the UK’. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/nojournal/NSA_article.pdf

Building and mainstreaming an equality profile for looked after children with London Borough of Croydon to support improved performance: Croydon Local Area Agreement NI 63: Proportion of looked after children who have been looked after continuously for 2 ½ years, who have lived in the same placement for at least 2 years, or who were placed for adoption.

Croydon’s looked after children. Source: DCSF

Proportions of looked after children who entered care aged 10 and under and are still 10 and under

Proportions of children from Mixed ethnic backgrounds among different groups of Croydon children

Sharing equality knowledge Front-line staff • Working group of social workers discussed findings and proposed how could be used to address performance • Wider circulation of report via intranet supporting a Care and Placement strategy Managers • ‘Think tank’ used historical data to project numbers of LAC in different groups to support more intelligent commissioning Corporate parenting panel • It’s all about improving performance.

Mainstreaming equality knowledge • Organisation structure • Embedded in service department as part of performance improvement team. • Performance management processes • Identified need for disaggregated data from senior managers across social care, youth and inclusion to support performance management • Designed hierarchy of reports which meet this need • Supported service managers in describing differences in performance, in particular identifying successes.

To conclude • Let’s be much more demanding of central government, partners and others for equality knowledge presented in a way which is useful to us… • Collate, collate, collate.. let’s exhaust our existing information sources before we start building new ones. • Let’s share what we know, particularly with those who can effect change • Let’s mainstream equality information in our policy development and performance management.

Measuring equality at a local level – putting theory into practice