The Scottish Government’s Equality Impact Assessment Tool

1. The Scottish Government’s Equality Impact Assessment Tool EQIA

2. EQIA • Purpose of today’s presentation is: • To explain why EQIA is an important part of the ‘mainstreaming equality’ process; • To set out the benefits of equality impact assessment; • To introduce you to the Scottish Government’s equality impact assessment tool.

3. EQIA • Why should you think about EQIA? • It will lead to improved policy and practice • It will help public authorities to achieve ‘Best Value’ • Although not required for those public authorities not covered by specific duties … it is good practice & will help you to meet the general duty

4. EQIA • Race, Disability and Gender duties require listed public authorities to impact assess. • Number of tools available + guidance from the Equality & Human Rights Commission. • The Scottish Government has developed a tool to help officials. • Taken an inclusive approach across 6 “strands”.

5. The Scottish Government’s 10 Step EQIA Tool • Our approach: • To begin with the question: • “does your policy affect people?” • At the end of most policies – there are people. • If the work that we do impacts on “people”, then the approach of the Government is that the policy, strategy, service, etc, will need to be equality impact assessed.

6. EQIA • We want Scottish Government officials to think carefully about - who the people are who are the targets of your work? • Not homogenous – different needs – different experiences • Six equality “strand” approach: • Race, Disability, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Age, Religion or Belief

7. EQIA • What do we mean by ‘policy’? • Policy is the ‘catch-all’ for everything we do: • Primary and secondary legislation • Strategies • Services • Functions

8. Step One • Define the aims of your policy: • Identify what the policy is designed to achieve • The people who will benefit from your policy are not homogenous • In order to make a policy as effective as it can be, for as many people as possible, you need to know who will be affected and how

9. Step Two • What do you already know about the diverse needs and/or experiences of your target audience? • You will need to gather evidence • In the Scottish Government, we have a number of specialist Analytical Services Divisions (ASDs) made up of Social Researchers, Statisticians and Economists • Involve and consult as widely as possible

10. Step Three • What else do you need to know to help you understand the diverse needs and/or experiences of your target audience? • In Step Two you identified what you already know • In Step Three you will need to think about what you don’t know and how you’re going to fill the gaps in your knowledge.

11. Step Four • What does the information you have tell you about how this policy might impact positively or negatively on the different groups within the target audience? • In Steps Two & Three you considered what you already know and identified areas where you need to know more. • Is it possible for you to get a sense as to how the relevant current policy affects different groups? • Will the proposed changes have a beneficial or adverse affect on particular groups of people?

12. Step Five • Will you be making any changes to your policy? • You have considered the evidence, consulted and involved people in your deliberations … In Step Four you then considered whether there may be an adverse impact on particular groups of people. • Do you think your policy objectives need to change or be amended? • Any amendments need to be proportionate to: • the aims of the policy • the impact outlined • associated costs.

13. Step Five contd. • Identify • What action you will take, • Who will take that action, • When that action will be taken,

14. Step Six • Does your policy provide the opportunity to promote equality of opportunity or to promote good relations? • Although the EQIA primarily focuses on adverse impact – it also offers the opportunity to better promote equality of opportunity and good relations. • Overarching general duty from public sector duties

15. Step Seven • Based on the work you have done – rate the level of relevance of your policy: • HIGH? • MEDIUM? • LOW? • UNKNOWN?

16. Step Eight • Do you need to carry out a further impact assessment? • If you can’t assess the level of impact that your policy may have on equality groups, you may need to carry out a more detailed impact assessment to fill the gaps in knowledge and understanding

17. Step Nine • Please explain how you will monitor and evaluate this policy to measure progress • Monitoring & Evaluation processes should periodically assess for adverse impact or unintentional discrimination • Liaise with your analysts

18. Step Ten • Sign off and publish impact assessment • The impact assessment should be completed by the official responsible for the assessment • The form should be authorised at directorate level • The impact assessment should be published on the Scottish Government Website

19. EQIA Equality Unit Scottish Government http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Equality/18507/EQIAtool