Impact Assessments
What is an Impact Assessment?
An equality impact assessment is a way of systematically and
thoroughly assessing, and consulting on, the effects that a
proposed policy is likely to have on people, depending on
ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability and
religion.
Why conduct an Impact Assessment?
Impact assessments are conducted to ensure that a policy does
not discriminate against any social group or people because of
their ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or
religion.
Although we have a legal duty to conduct impact assessments,
they are an improvement tool that have many benefits. Impact
assessments:
- ensure our policies and services are having the best possible
impact on our communities
- provide us with evidence to show that our policies and services
are not having any adverse impact on our residents and are not
discriminating in any way
- make sure that the services we provide do not overlook or
exclude any groups
- set out ways to collect information to give us feedback on
services and monitor their impact
What does an Assessment focus on?
Impact assesments initialy focused on the effect of policies on
different racial groups. The methodology was developed by the
Commission for Racial
Equality and conducting race equality impact assesments is a
requirment under the Race Relations Ammendment Act.
As part of the Disability Discrimination Act (2005) it is now
also a requirment that assesments look at the potential impact a
policy or service may have on people with disabilities.
In addition to this gender issues also need to be considered
as part of the Gender Equality Duty.
This means that increasingly legislation is requiring us to look
at all aspects of equalities. The
current Equality Bill includes all severn strands of equalities and
introduces a duty to consider socio-ecomonic factors.This
means that diversity issues now include the need for Council's
to consider and reduce inequality produced by low
income. Our impact assessments have been developed with the
aim of considering all the strands of equailties and factors
relevant to people's ability to access services. This
approach is an important part of the Eqaulity
Framework for Local Government. Our program of
assessments is set out in our
corprate impact assessment timetable. To carry out
our assessments we use pro-forma documents (Screening and Full versions) and
accompanying guidance.
Screening diversity Impact Assessments that are
available to view:
Completed diversity Impact Assessments that are
available to view:
Further Information
Diversity Impact Assessment
Guidelines
Penny Asquith
Strategy & Communications Team
Call: 01386 565517 between 9am - 5pm, Tuesday or 01386 565417
Monday to Friday (excluding Tuesday's).
Email: penny.asquith@wychavon.gov.uk
