Action Date of Completion How will success be measured? Responsibility/ Delivery Lead PEO 1: To assess, consult and evaluate the equality impact of our policies and decisions and to change where reasonably possible what we do if it creates inequality 1.1 Equality Working Group to act as a critical friend in reviewing Equality Impact Assessments as appropriate. April 2018 Review at least one EIA per quarter as part of a monitoring framework. Equality Working Group 1.2 Produce & maintain an up-to-date Equality Impact Assessment completion programme. April 2018 Measured via corporate performance management system. Annual EIA Report submitted to Equality Working Group and SMT for monitoring and scrutiny. Corporate Improvement & Policy Officer 1.3 Audit Equality Impact Assessment completion and publication rates against numbers of planned EIAs and take action where necessary to address issues. April 2018 2 reports submitted to the Equalities Working Group with recommendations for appropriate action. Corporate Improvement & Policy Officer 1.4 Raise awareness of the EIA process and guidance, through One Charnwood, intranet etc. January 2017/ January 2018 1 article per year to raise awareness of process. Corporate Improvement & Policy Officer/ Communications Officer 1.5 Highlight the use of resident reference groups when making changes to major policies and encourage services to consider as a consultation method. December 2017 Review at least one EIA per quarter to monitor the use of appropriate resident groups within consultation. Equality Working Group 1.6 Monitor complaints for any discrimination related complaints. An annual report from HR and Corporate Complaints is presented to the group as appropriate. October 2018 Annual report submitted to the Equality Working Group. Human Resources Advisor/ Corporate Service Development Officer
PEO 2: To enhance understanding of and promote equality and diversity at all levels within Charnwood Borough Council. 2.1 Maintain and continue to develop a learning and development programme for equality and diversity, including an induction e-learning module for staff. January 2017 Programme updated to reflect staff learning needs. Induction e-learning developed and 100% new starters undertake module. Corporate Improvement & Policy Officer/ Learning & Development Co-ordinator 2.2 Create regular opportunities to engage with members by providing training, support and briefings. September 2017 Training, support and briefings provided to members. Increased learning and understanding of equalities agenda. Corporate Improvement & Policy Officer/ Democratic Services Manager 2.3 Develop regular slots in One Charnwood regarding religious festivals, local equalities events etc. April 2018 Articles published as appropriate. Staff awareness/ knowledge raised. Corporate Improvement & Policy Officer/ Communications Officer 2.4 Update employee e-booklet on what staff need to know about equality and diversity. To also include information about hate crime and incident reporting. March 2017 E-booklet updated, published and distributed to all staff. Equality Working Group 2.5 Present to both CMT and SMT on equality and diversity to raise awareness of issues and gain buy-in and commitment April 2018 Equalities issues reported at CMT & SMT Meetings. Equalities championed at senior level within the organisation. Corporate Improvement & Policy Officer PEO 3: To ensure that our staff and Councillors engage and communicate with members of the community in an accessible and inclusive way. 3.1 Create a One Charnwood Equality special edition highlighting good practice, case studies, information, links to hate crime etc. January 2017 Special Edition of One Charnwood produced. Staff awareness/ knowledge raised. Corporate Improvement & Policy Officer/ Communications Officer
3.2 Keep the website up to date with information about services and ensure that this information is accessible to a wide range of service users. Ongoing Continuously achieve a Level 3 at quarterly ratings/ feedback given by Soctim. Communications Officer 3.3 Monitor the equality impacts of moving to online/ digital services and look to remove barriers or potential adverse impact where it may arise. October 2017 Feedback from users regarding the accessibility of alternative service delivery. Customer Service Programme Board/ Equality Working Group 3.4 Promote the interpretation and translation service internally through One Charnwood, Intranet etc. April 2018 No. of services and service users utilising the interpretation and translation service. Corporate Improvement & Policy Officer/ Communications Officer 3.5 Engage with service users who have specific communications needs to identify areas where we can improve our communication methods. April 2017 Communication methods improved based on identified need. Feedback/ complaints from service users. Equality Working Group PEO 4: To have a diverse workforce that aims to be representative of the Borough and to ensure that all staff are treated fairly. 4.1 Raise awareness of the ‘self- declaration’ process, through One Charnwood, intranet etc. and include ‘myth busting’ facts to increase rates of self- declaration. May 2017 Significant % increase against each of the protected groups in staff self-declaration. Corporate Improvement & Policy Officer/ Communications Officer 4.2 Produce quarterly monitoring reports of workforce monitoring statistics and report to the Equality Working Group as appropriate so that action can be taken where necessary to address issues. Quarterly Updates Jan/ Apr/Jul/ Oct 2017 Quarterly Monitoring Reports produced. Monitoring of workforce statistics Systems & Information Officer/ Corporate Improvement & Policy Officer 4.3 Report annually on progress towards workforce representation targets to Senior Management Team and where appropriate take action to increase representation of under- represented groups within the workforce. September 2017 Annual progress report produced. Action taken to address issues where appropriate. Corporate Improvement & Policy Officer