Annex 1 Northern Ireland Assembly Audit of Inequalities Action Plan 2012-2016 (ongoing actions) Action taken to better promote equality of opportunity/good relations Outcome Area(s) S75 Category Intended outcome/impact and how this will be measured In the current service Business Plan (Yes/No) Lead Timescale Improve accessibility to the Chamber and Official’s Boxes within the Chamber Access to Parliament Buildings Persons with a disability and persons without Improved accessibility to Chamber for all Members. Increased capacity for Official’s with mobility issues. No. Further improvements will require extensive re-modelling of the chamber. If required (and approved), such works will be included in future Business Plans. Head of Building Services To be agreed. Implementation of access audits completed by RNIB, Disability Action and Action on Hearing Loss regarding a programme of Access to Parliament Buildings Access to Services Persons with a disability and persons without Improved accessibility to Parliament Buildings for persons with a disability. All projects are designed and constructed in accordance with Building Regulations and other relevant legislation. No. All work items within our remit relating to the audits have been completed. Other wider ‘estate’ issues have been passed to DFP. Further agreed improvements will be included in relevant Business Plan. Head of Building Services To be agreed.
Provision of translation from Irish and Ulster Scots to English to the Speaker and Clerks at the table Good Relations Persons of different religious belief Persons of different political opinion Persons of different racial group That the Speaker/Clerks at Table receive and understand what is being said. Without such a service there could potentially be a breach of Assembly Standing Orders. Measured by exception i.e. Speaker/Clerks at Table advise that no such service is provided and by recording translation audio channel on SLIQ system. Yes Editor of Debates Ongoing Ensure Parliament Buildings is welcoming to all sections of society and cultures by reviewing art, artefacts and exhibitions Good Relations Persons of different religious belief Persons of different political opinion Persons of different racial group Exhibitions policy reviewed to consider how exhibitions can be better used in Great Hall to enhance the visitor experience. Yes but expected to change. Advisor to the Speaker October 2015 Language Policy Good Relations Persons of different religious belief The Education Service now provides a Yes Education Manager/ Equality Manager Ongoing
Persons of different political opinion Persons of different racial programme in Irish, and is also currently working on translating the primary section of the website and some video resources into Irish. EQIA on the Flying of the Union Flag at Parliament Buildings Good Relations Persons of different religious belief Persons of different political opinion Persons of different racial group The completion of an EQIA on the policy review will assist the Commission in making a decision on the policy. Yes Equality Manager May 2015 (further report and monitoring to be timetabled). Develop revised Engagement Strategy Participation All groups Inform the public of how NIA engages with stakeholders and how it will seek to improve this. Yes Outreach Manager May 2015 Support for Members and staff with child care responsibilities Participation Equality Issues for Existing Staff Men and women generally Persons with dependents and persons without The Assembly Commission will continue to provide support to staff with childcare responsibilities. Provision of support to Members is now a matter for The way in which support is provided is currently under review by the Commission. Head of HR Review completed and changes to arrangements, if any, to be implemented by 31 March 2016.
Independent Financial Review Panel (IFRP) and not the Commission. Engaging with women, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities under-represented in public life through Assembly Community Connect Participation Men and generally Persons with a disability and persons without Persons of different racial group Increased engagement with women, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities; inform groups how to utilise resources available through Assembly Community Connect & partner organisations Yes Outreach Manager Ongoing Engagement with young people through Education Service school visits programme Participation Persons of different age Education Programme and resources provided for young people from Key Stage 1 (age 8) to Key Stage 5 (Post 16) Yes Education Manager Ongoing Engagement with young people through a youth panel Participation Persons of different age To involve 30 young people aged 16-18 in a year long, youth driven project to develop proposals for a youth assembly – No Education Manager Substantial engagement completed by end December 2012. then, occasional correspondence to update on
March 2010 -March 2011. Assembly’s Youth Assembly project. Development of Secretariat Gender Action Plan Recruitment and Selection Equality issues for existing staff Men and women generally The removal of any actual or perceived barriers to gender equality within the secretariat through the production and implementation of a gender action plan. Yes Equality Manager January 2016 Revised/additional actions recorded within the monitoring period Action Directorate Outcome Date Updated position as at 2015 The Assembly focuses on engagement with young people, including disenfranchised groups Information and Outreach ‘Structured Dialogue’ Project – a report will be produced by 36 young people about an issue concerning young people. The inquiry process will involve participants consulting young people, MLAs and other stakeholders and reporting their findings to an assembly committee. The opportunity to get involved will be advertised widely. The project, called ‘Connections’ is being funded by Erasmus+. Participants will be recruited in April 2015 and training will take place in May and June 2015, with inquiry activities planned from August onwards. The report will be presented to an Assembly Committee by end January 2016. The aim is that half of the young people involved will be from backgrounds which may traditionally have made their participation difficult e.g. Due to socio-economic background or disability. Northern Ireland Assembly Equality Action Plan
Completed Actions (2012-2014) Function One: The acquisition and maintenance of premises and equipment to provide suitable accommodation, facilities and support services in which a fully functioning Assembly can operate. Inequality Identified Section 75 Categories Performance Indicators Action Measures Lead Responsibility Timescale Access to Parliament Buildings (Theme 1a of the 2011 Audit of Inequalities) People with disabilities Improved facilities for partially sighted visitors Colour contrast materials in toilet facilities Facilities Manager 2012 Complete People with disabilities Access through the front door for all persons Install an electronic opening device at the door to allow for disabled access Facilities Manager 2012 complete People with disabilities A Changing Places facility to be installed at the ground level A fully equipped Changing Places facility to be installed for people with severe physical disabilities Facilities manager Complete People with disabilities Improved facilities for partially sighted visitors Improved blistered and corduroy paving Facilities Manager 2012 Complete Improved facilities for partially sighted visitors To provide a braille tour of the building for any visitors Facilities manager Complete People with disabilities Improved facilities for people who are hearing impaired To work towards Action on Hearing Loss ‘Louder than Words’ accreditation Facilities manager Complete – accreditation has been received and is renewed each year People with disabilities Improved facilities for people who are hearing impaired To provide a signed tour of Parliament Buildings in British and Sign language. Facilities manager Complete – tour can be accessed via the external website prior to visiting or visitors to the
building can use a tablet provided by Events. Access to Services (Theme 1b of the 2011 Audit of Inequalities) People with disabilities Improved environment for those with autism or on the autistic spectrum Mystery shop and feedback session with representative groups and their users to be held Facilities Manager 2012 Complete Access to Services (Theme 1b of the 2011 Audit of Inequalities) People with disabilities Improved environment for those with autism or on the autistic spectrum Creation of a quiet room, signage and review internal policies. All front line staff to be trained and Autism Champions to be identified. Facilities Manager Complete. Autism accreditation award received in 2012 and reassessed every year thereafter. People with disabilities Improved exhibition space Picture hanging system for ground floor Facilities Manager Complete. In place in Great Hall of Parliament Buildings People with disabilities Improved exhibition access Braille descriptors for Speaker’s gifts Facilities Manager Partially complete. Braille signage erected in Hall for toilets. Access to Services (Theme 1b of the 2011 Audit of Inequalities) Young People Increased access to the political process Produce 5 videos to explain (1) the importance of voting (2) Council elections (3) Northern Ireland Assembly elections (4) UK Parliament elections (5) European Parliament elections Education Manager 2014 Complete
Access to Services (Theme 1b of the 2011 Audit of Inequalities) Young People Increased access to the political process Develop NI Assembly educational material for iBook Education Manager 2014 Complete Young People Increased access to the political process ‘Making a Law’ animation with subtitles Education Team Complete Young People Increased access to the political process Develop a bespoke visitor programme for Key Stage 1 users Education Team Complete Inequality Identified Section 75 Categories Performance Indicators Action Measures Lead Responsibility Timescale Good Relations (Theme 1c of the 2011 Audit of Inequalities) Religious belief, Political opinion and/or race Encourage joint participation Invite post Primary schools to take part in panel Q&As and in small group discussions with MLAs. These ‘Let’s Talk’ style events will take place in different constituencies Education Manager West Tyrone/Mid Ulster. Complete November 2014 Belfast Complete November 2014 constituencies ongoing Religious belief, Political opinion and/or race Religious belief, Political opinion and/or race EQIA on the Review of the Policy of the Union Flag flying on Parliament Buildings. Completed EQIA report delivered on Procurement exercise undertaken for 2-5 of the EQIA process Risk registry and risk group established Equality Manager Equality Manager Complete. Contract commenced on 16 July 2014.
time and within budget Project initiated document approved Consultation strategy developed Interim report developed Religious belief, Political opinion and/or race Consultation, to include public engagement, comments returned within agreed deadline Pre-consultation exercise conducted Formal public consultation exercise conducted Equality Manager Complete. ran from 1 October to 14 October 2014 Religious belief, Political opinion and/or race Assembly Commission report on EQIA findings published and decision taken on policy position Agreement by Assembly Commission of findings and consultee report formulated Equality Manager Inequality Identified Section 75 Categories Performance Indicators Action Measures Lead Responsibility Timescale Participation (Theme 1d of the 2011 Audit of Inequalities) Young people To encourage increased participation in politics amongst young people (Involving young people in the work of the Assembly) Specific schools from all sectors to be targeted to take part in the Education Committee Shared and Integrated Education Inquiry Education Manager Sept-Nov 2014. Complete consultation
Access to Services 1d of the 2011 Audit of Inequalities) Young People To encourage increased participation in politics amongst young people (Involving young people in the work of the Assembly) To assist the Environment Committee in seeking views of young people on the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill Education Manager Oct-Nov 2014. Complete Ethnic minority groups (note Assembly Community Connect (ACC) is currently targeting the S75 groups of Women, people with disabilities and minority ethnic groups as per the Audit of Inequalities findings). To encourage increased participation in politics amongst Northern Ireland’s ethnic minority communities BEM Parliament Complete ‘Get Involved’ campaign and participation at Mela Festival Outreach Manager Complete Commonwealth Day at Parliament Buildings Outreach Manager Complete To encourage increased participation in politics amongst women To complete the Cinemagic ‘Reel Politics’ project. Young participants will be tasked with the challenge of creating short original films within five days about the benefits of young women in politics. Outreach Manager Complete.
To encourage increased participation in politics amongst women Assembly Community Connect (ACC) to target women’s groups and provide relevant training Outreach Manager 6 groups received training in 2014. Function Two: The recruitment and ongoing development of suitably qualified and experienced staff to support the Assembly. Inequality Identified Section 75 Categories Performance Indicators Action Measures Lead Responsibility Timescale Recruitment and Selection (Theme 2a of Audit of Inequalities) All Ensuring that all recruitment competitions are fully accessible Apply welcome statements or affirmative action if appropriate in with the Head of HR Ongoing. The procedures for internal and external recruitment have been reviewed to ensure compliance
Equality Commission for NI. with good practice. A guaranteed interview scheme has been implemented for both internal and external recruitment Recruitment and Selection (Theme 2b of Audit of Inequalities) All To work to continue improving workplace relations Compare the results of the 2010 and 2012 staff surveys Head of HR/ Head of Corporate Support Unit Complete. An action plan was established to take forward issues arising from the staff survey, including a targeted initiative to address problematic workplace relations Recruitment and Selection (Theme 2b of Audit of Inequalities) All Use the results of the staff survey 2010 and the Carecall report 2011 to produce and implement an action plan Monitor the progress of the implementation of this action plan Head of HR/ Head of Corporate Support Unit Complete. A further comparison from 2012 with the results from the impending 2014 survey will be made, and required actions identified