Equality Scheme for the
Eastern Health and Social Services Council
| Policy Reference Number |
Policy Title |
Policy Description |
| EC1 |
Annual Work Programme
|
The Council is required
to draw up an annual work programme. Policy on this
determines who is consulted, how work is prioritised,
joint initiatives, publicity, setting objectives, monitoring
results and resource allocation. |
| EC2 |
Complaints Protocol |
Policy formulated to
provide guidance to staff and ensure consistency and
clarity in terms of help and support given to complainants. |
| EC3 |
Monitoring of Complaints |
The Council monitors
complaints to HPSS organisations. This is not restricted
to complaints brought directly to the Council, but includes
those made directly to Trusts and Boards. The purpose
of this is to identify themes and trends and to ensure
corrective action is taken where necessary. |
| EC4 |
Council Meetings |
This relates to access,
timing and openness of Council meetings. |
| EC5 |
Publications |
This policy relates to
production, timing, quantity, distribution, format,
accessibility and publicity of all Council reports.
|
| EC6 |
Visiting |
The Council undertakes
a programme of visits and determines the purpose, regularity,
types of facilities, personnel who visit, issues examined
and reporting mechanisms. |
| EC7 |
Liaison with Voluntary
and Community sector |
Informal links have been
established with voluntary and community groups to ensure
that the Council is kept informed of relevant issues.
|
| EC8 |
Liaison with other Health
and Social Care organisations |
The Council has a required
formal relationship with the Board and has established
liaison arrangements with other Health and Social Care
organisations. |
| EC9 |
Complaints Procedure |
This policy deals with
the process for making complaints about Council members
and staff. |
| EC10 |
Relationship with the
Media |
Arrangements for giving
access to Council meetings, the circulation of press
releases and co-operation with requests for interviews. |
| EC11 |
Public Participation
|
This policy relates to
arrangements for consultation with individuals and groups
and facilitation of public participation in the work
of the Council. |
| EC12 |
Code of Practice on Openness |
Council must adhere to
the Code of Practice on Openness as determined by the
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
|
| EC13 |
Code of Conduct and Accountability
|
The Council has a responsibility
as a public body to conduct its processes in a way which
makes it openly accountable to Government. This includes
a code of conduct and declaration of members' interests. |
| EC14 |
Standing Orders |
The Council has produced
standing orders which governs how meetings are arranged
and conducted. |
| EC15 |
Research |
This includes a Code of
Conduct for research projects, undertaking internal
and external research including the employment of external
consultants and the payment of research participants.
|
| EC16 |
Accessibility of the
Council Office |
This policy is intended
to make the Council office accessible to the public
and includes compliance with the Disability Discrimination
Act. |
| EC17 |
Accessible Information
|
This policy covers the
provision of information in a variety of formats and
languages to make Council information accessible to
the public. |
| EC18 |
Finance |
This relates to the financial
accountability for funding provided by the Department
of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. |
| EC19 |
Representation on Committees
|
Policy on appointments
and role of staff and Council members on external committees. |
| EC20 |
Data Protection |
Compliance with the Data
Protection Act requirements. |
| EC21 |
Attendance at Board Meetings
|
The appointment and role
of members and staff attending HPSS Board meetings.
|
| EC22 |
Responding to Consultation
Documents |
The procedure to follow
in responding to consultation documents. |
| EC23 |
Monitoring the Quality
of Services |
Each year the Council
identifies specific services to monitor and the method
by which this will be done. This includes identifying
unmet need. |
| EC24 |
Disability Discrimination |
This relates to compliance
with disability discrimination legislation. |
| EC25 |
Confidentiality |
This covers the rights
of access to personal data held by the Council. |
| EC26 |
Remit and Constitution
of the Council |
This relates to compliance
with the legislative guidelines on Health and Social
Services Councils. |
| EC27 |
Council Membership |
Undertaken by Department
of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in accordance
with nationally agreed criteria on the selection and
appointment to public bodies. |
| EC28 |
Procurement of Goods and
Services |
This is conducted on
Council's behalf by the Central Services Agency and
is governed by the Code of Practice set out by the Department
of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. |
| EC29 |
Recruitment and Human
Resources Management |
The Council adheres to
and is governed by Eastern Health and Social Services
Board policies in relation to Human Resources. The Council
will participate in the future scrutiny of these policies.
|
