Equality Scheme for the Eastern Health and Social Services Council

Appendix 1

The consultation process and revision of draft equality scheme

Appendix 2

Appendix 3

Written Responses

Association of Chief Officers of Voluntary Organisations (NI)

• commended efforts
• encouraged to involve members at all stages of process
• offered assistance
• asked to ensure voluntary sector managers are not excluded in recruiting

Age Sector Reference Group

• ensure training includes attitudinal elements of legislation, for example, ageism
• commitment to consult when screening policies not explicit
• queries if paragraph 12 is process or methodology
• timetable for screening procedure
• disparity in funding between four Councils
• consider establishing a focus group with 9 groups for consultation
• allocation of resources not included

British Association of Social Workers

• look forward to annual report and process of screening

British Deaf Association

• stress importance of consultation methods ensure inclusion of deaf people
• consider established user forums when screening policies

Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ)

• scheme does not detail how the Council has decided that the obligations will be met
• no detail on necessary administrative arrangements
• would like to see a commitment to build in the requirements into Council's strategic and operational planning processes
• Council's monitoring role would not be carried out if it abrogates responsibility for policies initiated by another public body
• list of polices does not indicate if others have been omitted
• training not put in the context of a wider training and development programme
• would welcome more detail on specifically how the Council would intend to consult
• need more detailed consideration of how the Council will extend its monitoring arrangements

Community Relations Council

• Copy of "Guidelines for a Community Relations Strategy" sent

Council for the Homeless (NI)

• evidence of active discrimination against homeless people, so spirit of the legislation should extend to homeless people
• equality scheme should be set alongside other relevant legislation and policies

Disability Action

• disabled people may have an interest in other issues
• Minicom number not listed Appendix 3
• commitment of the necessary resources not included
• policies determined by other external organisations should be included in the screening process to ensure not abdicated
• demographics will dictate different priorities, therefore will be necessary to carry out independent impact assessments
• suggest a three year period to assess policies
• include contact person for complaints
• complaints procedure must be accessible and provide necessary support to complainant
• scheme to be available in a range of formats
• remove requirement for written request for results
• more information on training required
• list of available formats for information should include website and be widely disseminated through specialist publications of affected groups
• How will access to information and services be monitored to ensure equality of opportunity?

Downs' Syndrome Association

• inform public of those policies that will not be subject to impact assessment
• equality should be intrinsic part of services, therefore funds should not be diverted
• co-operation in production of schemes commended

EHSSB

• no substantive comment Eddie McGrady MP MLA
• generally comprehensive and well structured
• seeks clarification for innovative technique for advertising

Employers' Forum on Disability

• acknowledgement

Equality Forum NI

• list of issues to consider extracted from the Guidelines

Lesbian Line

• initiate and support awareness campaigns to redress inequality
• consult with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organisations
• consult and listen to groups who work on behalf of these groups
• consider how groups can be resourced to take an active part
• training should include trainers from groups
• carry out research on the obstacles to collecting data on employees or services users
• send copy of final scheme demonstrate inclusion of suggestions or reasons for non inclusion
• publish final scheme in publications aimed specifically at this group

Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO)

• suggest legislation should include people who have a criminal record
• highlights that 75% of children leaving care have no educational qualifications
• poor educational provision for those in custodial units
• over representation of certain categories of children in juvenile justice system

Northern Ireland Pre-School Playgroups Association (NIPPA)

• list of policies for inclusion in the screening process not consulted on

Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust (NIVT)

• crucial to develop baselines and indicators to enable monitoring to be effective
• make more effort to be seen as independent and on the side of the public rather than part of the system
• name change
• Councils should have 'powers' as a watchdog body
• consideration should be given to overcoming cultural and institutional barriers to consultation
• screening should be an open and transparent process
• timetable for the work and training should be included
• clear information on complaints and how they will be dealt with
• 5 year review too long

Multi-Cultural Resource Centre

• regret that additional funding not made available to handle obligations
• service users require training, support and facilitation to make effective contribution
• few accurate statistics and data on minority ethnic service users
• low representation among service providers, policymakers and public appointees
• comments related to HPSS&PS in totality

Rural Community Network (NI)

• 'Rural proofing' vital aspect of scheme
• consultation should be taken to a wide range of venues and times with groups, by means of seminars, focus groups and collective debate/discussion.

Simon Community

• factors enshrined in equality legislation may not be applied to "homeless"
• importance of setting equality scheme alongside other relevant legislation and policies

Transport and General Workers Union

• list of policies very short
• need more details on training
• need commitment to resources
• will training be provided prior to screening and will there be further consultation?
• language demonstrated a lack of commitment

Twins and Multiple Births Association (TAMBA)

• commended commitment to consultation and public participation
• emphasis on communication underpins commitment

UNISON

• expect Council to actively embrace statutory duty - not evident
• willing to work co-operatively with Council to ensure sound processes for consultation
• introductory statement fails to follow required format
• functions should be set out in simple accessible language
• need further detail on functions
• Council is obliged to promote equality of opportunity regardless of where policy originated
• procurement and employment are functions to which du
• must be no rolling "five year" process of screening
• annual review must be circulated widely
• complaints procedure should match best practice
• the fact that Council has not already screened policies is welcomed
• issue of "evidence of higher or lower participation" must be further explained
• must not exclude individuals or groups from stakeholder meetings c
• oncern that draft scheme was not available in other languages, large print or audio tape
• must commit to a consultation process that is "timely, open and inclusive"
• must state that those involved in facilitating consultation must have necessary training and skills
• welcome commitment to 3 months consultation but should be the minimum imaginative ways of facilitating access to information must be developed
• need more detail on training

West Belfast Economic Forum

• foreword puts good community relations on par with equality of opportunity
• needs clear statement of commitment to resource to ensure effective implementation
• suggest representatives from the various categories are consulted in relation to the form of scrutiny committee
• caution use of sexist language such as 'chairman'
• co-ordinated approach between DHSSPS and Councils to statutory duty and policy development needed
• complaints procedure detail unsatisfactory also no detail on proposed sanctions against staff who fail to comply
• not clear if all policies are listed in Appendix 1
• timetable does not specify when consultation will take place, also monitoring not included
• unacceptable that draft scheme not available in other formats
• no commitment to the provision of information in Irish
• should seek wider access to data from other sources
• scheme should state how the Council intends to consult groups on how results of monitoring can be applied to policy development
• Irish is not an ethnic minority language Appendix 3
• list of criteria for monitoring and evaluation procedure
• assessment of monitoring arrangements to be completed in Year 1
• baseline data must be established
• training must involve trainers from the named categories
• training should be evaluated for effectiveness in meeting equality duty outcomes
• impact assessment and monitoring results must be sent to all consultees
• information and services must be made available in Irish
• if responses not included in final scheme, reasons must be given
• responses to complaints should not exceed 10 days
• register of complaints should accompany review
• formal review should be conducted together with consultees

Women's Aid

• Social exclusion experienced by women and children who have experienced violence or abuse in the home must be recognised by public bodies
• issue of domestic violence should be included in all training
• can assist in awareness raising training for staff