Equality Impact Assessments

As part of our legal duties to comply with legislation in relation to equality, we have legal duties to carry out Equality Impact Assessments on policies, procedure, plans and practices of the organisation.  We must ensure that policies do not discriminate on the grounds of race, gender, disability, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender identity or socio-economic status.

What is an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)?

Equality Impact Assessments are a crucial mechanism for ensuring the embedding of equalities and diversity. EIAs have been developed as a tool for ensuring that different equality groups and issues can be considered when drawing up or reviewing polices or procedures which affect the delivery of service, carrying out of functions and employment practices.

It is a really good way to look at current, changed and new policies, procedures, plans and practices in depth to see what impact they may have on different equality groups and whether the differential impact is negative or adverse.  EIAs help to ensure that policies are designed from the start with equality and diversity in mind.

The aim of EIAs is to:

• Determine how polices will impact on different groups and ensure that groups are not disadvantaged or discriminated against;
• Promote equality of opportunity and real practical improvements;
• Have more contact with the diverse groups in the community;
• Have a fuller understanding of possible outcomes and change the way we think about our services and the decisions we make;
• Help us to think more about the needs of various groups so that equality is at the heart of everything we do.

We will carry out equality impact assessments on our policy, procedures, practices and plan which will cover all aspects of equality: race, disability, gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, religion and belief and socio-economic status.

Further Help and Support

For further help and support, please contact Ian Forrest - Director of Personnel on 01757 211012 or e-mail E&Dmatters@selby.ac.uk.