A brief introduction to Impact Assessments

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• A brief introductionto Impact Assessments

Kuldip Sohanpal
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Expectations
Today is about understanding the process of
Impact Assessment
Every organisation is different
Every policy is different
One size does not fit all!
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Objectives
To provide a background and context for
Equality Impact Assessment
To develop delegate skills and knowledge of
Equality Impact Assessment
To create an understanding of Equality
Impact Assessment as a positive process
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Social Identity/Equality Strands

• Age
• Race
• Gender
• Religion / faith
• Sexuality / Sexual orientation
• Disability

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What is an Equality Impact Assessment?
It is a process

• ..which assesses relevant policies and
• procedures to determine the potential or
  actual
• impact on all groups

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Why do we need to do impact assessments?
Public Duties embraced by Equality legislation
Pertinent to race, disability, gender, sexual
orientation, religion/ faith and age.
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Eliminating unlawful harassment and
discrimination Promoting good relations
between all people Promoting positive
attitudes towards all people Taking steps
to take account of all peoples requirements
and needs Having a better understanding and
being more responsive
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Why do we want to do Impact Assessment?
The Purpose and Benefits
Emphasises commitment to equality and diversity
Provides transparency so that stakeholders can
see that issues are addressed and how they are
resolved
Raises awareness that helps embed the principles
of Equality and Diversity into everyday activity
Allows an organisation to demonstrate a proactive
and committed approach to combating
institutional discrimination
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What groups should an impact assessment cover

• disabled people
• women and men
• people from black and minority ethnic
  communities,
• including refugees and asylum seekers and
  Gypsies
• and Travellers
• lesbians, gay men and bisexual people
• trans people
• older and younger people
• people of different religions and faiths
• and other groups who might not have equal access
  to
• your service.

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The Impact Assessment Process
Three Key Stages
Screening
Is the policy or proposed policy relevant to
equality?
Partial Assessment
If the impact is adverse then a partial
assessment is required
If relevant then the risks and benefits must be
identified and decision made on the policy.
Full Assessment
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Screening
The initial assessment of a policy or procedure.
Consider what are the policy / procedure
aims relevancy to an equality strand
complaints of discrimination records of unfair
treatment information from surveys or
consultations equality issues employees have
raised
PARTIAL ASSESSMENT
If there is evidence of an adverse impact or
differential impact then you must proceed to the
Partial Assessment stage
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PARTIAL ASSESSMENT
The risks and benefits of the policy/procedure

This takes into account a number of views e.g
Stakeholders (interested parties) Experts
(someone in authority on the subject area)
Policy / Procedure must clearly state
risks in relation to differential impact
benefits that the policy may have
Differential/adverse impact
FULL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Concerns supported by stakeholders experts
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FULL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Building on the information base you already have
of the policy or procedure
This involves
Further investigation into the likely effects
that the policy / procedure may have
on different groups of people Formal
consultation with the people who are most
likely to be affected Arrangements for
monitoring and evaluating Publication of
the Impact Assessment report