Equality Impact AssessmentsChris York (Policy and Projects Officer)

EIAs align with our aims and values

E & D Policy

MHA – until recently virtually no experience in EIAs

Undertook a large-scale screening exercise (ASB)

Then another one (tenancy management)

Wrote a lean EIA guidance

Designed to be a manual for staff

Explains the reason for an EIA

When they should be completed

Who should complete

How to complete

The three stages:

Screening

Action Plan

Assessing the Impact

Desk top exercise

Data – internal and external sources

Use data that is easily accessible

Be mindful of low samples

Any service user data is key information

Utilise Tai Pawb for advice/support

Can co-opt internal support too

Decide if a full impact assessment is necessary

Create a project plan to work out how the

assessment will be organised, resourced and

carried out

Identify and fill gaps in evidence to offer a fuller

review of the impact of the policy/procedure/ service

on protected characteristics

Engage with individuals likely affected by the

change (consider incentivising)

Decide what to engage on, based on the data.

Engagement could involve:

Meetings Focus groups Written consultation Phone calls Surveys Engagement with representative groups

(such as local disability groups)

Storyboard

Compile feedback from the engagement exercises and add to the screening template

Use Tai Pawb screening template

Project Group makes the final

decisions about changes to be made.

Monitoring – EIA itself can act as a

mechanism to do this.

Publicise changes

ASB Easy Read guide

Increase font on the back of leaflets

Redevelop our pre-tenancy risk assessment

Provide details on tenancy before sign-up at

welcome stage and offer stage

Put a list of all the tenancy related support

we offer on a prominent place on out website

Changed ASB policy to include looking and

staring as a form of possible harassment

/intimidation

Crib sheet – differences of main religions

Publicise use of portable hearing loops

Highlight incident logs can be in preferred

language

Sentence offering different languages on

leaflets translated

It was daunting to start

It took time to build knowledge

Difficult to get buy-in

Like most things, planning is the key

Began by writing a project plan

Have a strategy from the start

EIAs are a good way to engage with service users you

might not normally be involved with

EIAs have to be meaningful and outcome focused

Consultation with service users is key

Go back to those involved at the end