Created: 26 May 2020
Owner: Executive Team
Last Review Date:
Equality Duty Action Plan: v1.0
Next Review Date: June 2021
ILF Scotland believes that no-one should be denied opportunities because of their race or ethnicity, a disability, their gender or sexual orientation, their marital or civil partnership status, their age or religion, or due to any of the protected characteristics detailed in the Equality Act.
ILF Scotland will treat recipients, applicants and ILF Scotland staff equally and fairly. For staff this commitment also extends to maternity status, working pattern, employment status, caring responsibility and trade union membership.
Under the Equality Act 2010, as a Scottish public authority, ILF Scotland is required to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations. Though listed in Schedule 19 of the Act covering the general equality duties, ILF Scotland is not subject to reporting obligations under the additional ‘specific duties’ regulations.
The public sector equality duty came into force on 05 April 2011. The purpose of the duty is to ensure that public authorities consider how they positively contribute to a more equal society. It requires authorities to consider equality in all their functions, including decision-making, design and delivery of services.
From 01 October 2012, the scope of the Act was extended to ban age discrimination, though this does not presently cover people under the age of 18.
The aim of the Equality Duty Action Plan is to demonstrate ILF Scotland’s commitment to the Scottish Government’s equalities agenda, mitigate the risk that equalities activities are not prioritised and align the activities with budgets and resources to cover short and medium-term objectives.
Under the Equality Act 2010, public authorities are required to have due regard to the need to:
This duty is often referred to as “the three needs”. To comply with the duty, a public authority must have due regard to all three of these needs.
The Act explains that to meet the second need (advancing equality of opportunity), a public authority must consider the need to:
The Act also sets out that:
Who should be aware of the General Duty in ILF Scotland?
Set strategic direction, review performance and ensure good governance of the organisation. The Depute Director, Health & Social Care appraises the Chair of the Board against a Diversity Objective.
Oversee the design, delivery, quality and effectiveness of the organisation’s functions.
Specific role in raising awareness and building capacity about the general duty. The Equality Lead in ILF Scotland is the Chief Executive Officer.
Help ensure relevant equality information is available and accessible.
Need to be aware of how they can help to meet the needs of people from equality groups.
Need to be aware of how to build equality considerations into the organisation’s supply chain. In ILF Scotland, anyone tendering a contract should be aware of the Equalities Obligation.
Need to consider and be aware of how they apply Equality Duty on a day to day basis with reference to organisational employment policy and practice.
The primary function of ILF Scotland is to operate a discretionary fund providing financial awards to over 4000 disabled people in Scotland and Northern Ireland to help them live independently. ILF Scotland adheres to a suite of key Policy documents to support our recipients, applicants and staff. It also its functions and relationships to contribute to the Scottish Government’s aims for a more equal society.
The key references are:
ILF Scotland recognises the need to consider whether and how the outcome and delivery of any proposed new or amended policy might impact on people, specifically, what relevance the policy might have to equality.
The policy development lead will carry out a ‘screening exercise’ to help determine if the proposed policy will directly or indirectly affect people. They should then complete either an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) or the ‘No EQIA required declaration’.
The policy lead must carry out the EQIA early on and as an embedded part of the policy development process so that the assessment can shape, inform and influence the policy proposals.
The Vision set out in the Corporate Plan identifies the integral part played by ILF Scotland in supporting independent living for disabled people across Scotland and Northern Ireland , and how ILF Scotland is able to support individuals.
ILF Scotland will improve its evidence base by gathering information from recipients, applicants and staff through various surveys to strengthen its understanding of the disabled people the organisation supports.
This improved data will be reflected in enhanced information displayed in the Annual Corporate Report and online. Stronger management information will enable ILF Scotland to consider how it can better meet the general equality duty.
Created: 26 May 2020
Owner: Executive Team
Last Review Date:
Equality Duty Action Plan: v1.0
Next Review Date: June 2021
Ref | Action | General Equality Duty | Owner | Review |
CFA01 | Engage opportunities to encourage diversity of Board and create dialogue with under- represented groups (specifically disabled people). | - Advance Equality of Opportunity | CEO | |
CFA02 | Follow Code of Conduct – SSSC for all staff, Communicated to all staff and included in Induction Pack. | - Eliminate Discrimination - Advance Equality of Opportunity - Foster Good Relations | Director of Self Directed Support | |
CFA03 | Continue to amend website to create clear visual communication, use of audio/video and social media platforms, to increase accessibility and reduce barriers to young people and people with disabilities. Best practice guidance on design also utilised for other publications, with the provision of alternative formats on request. | - Eliminate Discrimination - Foster Good Relations | Director of Policy | Increased use of social media platforms. |
CFA04 | EQIA to be carried out and published for all new and revised external policies. To comply with Equality Legislation and good practice. Director of Policy. Completed and ongoing. | - Eliminate Discrimination - Foster Good Relations | Director of Policy | Completed and ongoing |
CFA05 | Improvements to application forms and guidance, all designed to be clear and accessible. Including access to Gaelic Language forms | - Advance Equality of Opportunity - Foster Good Relations | Director of Policy | |
CFA06 | All Roadshows and Events undertaken in accessible venues, with as wide a geographic spread as possible, bi-lingual advertising in Gaelic-speaking communities. | - Advance Equality of Opportunity - Foster Good Relations | Director of Policy | |
CFA07 | 'Equality check’ carried out on Board papers and all publications/key documents to ensure written communication is gender neutral | - Eliminate Discrimination | All Heads of Department | |
CFA08 | Equality clauses added to all contracts as part of tendering/procurement process and submissions measured against equality criteria. | - Advance Equality of Opportunity - Eliminate Discrimination | Head of Finance | |
CFA09 | Denholm House is an accessible building with an induction loop. ILF Scotland promotes such provision through its service level agreement with SG. | - Foster Good Relations | Chief operating Officer |
SA Ref | Action | General Equality Duty | Owner | Review |
SA01 | Continue engagement with Inclusion Scotland Internship programme, offering employment opportunity places young people with a disability that places them at a significant disadvantage in the job market. | - Advance equality of opportunity | CEO | 1 intern employed in 2020 |
SA02 | Continue induction training for Board Directors and staff on Diversity and Equality. | - Eliminate discrimination | Head of Business Services | DET Training completed for all staff and Board Directors during induction. |
SA03 | Gaelic Language Plan, with responsibility held at Senior Management level, helping to raise awareness and culture of particular relevance to ILF Scotland’s staff and recipients. | - Advance equality of opportunity | Director of Policy | Create Action Plan tend Q3 2020. |
- Foster good relations | Deliver Awareness training across the organisation delivered | |||
SA04 | Information on Equality & Diversity is included in the Staff Handbook and forms part of the Induction for new staff. | - Advance equality of opportunity - Eliminate discrimination - Foster good relations | Head of Business Services | Complete |
SA05 | Specific training sessions have been delivered to cover Autism in the workplace | - Advance equality of opportunity - Foster good relations | Head of Business Services | Diversity Awareness training day for all staff organised in 2019. |
SA06 | Adhere to ILF Scotland HR policies on equality and diversity in the workplace, including work- life balance, development , promotion, work opportunities and recruitment. | - Advance equality of opportunity | Head of Business Services | |
SA07 | Regular Conversations take place between staff and line managers and include specific reference to wellbeing to allow any concerns to be acted on. | - Foster good relations - Eliminate discrimination | Head of Business Services | Availability of Health & Wellbeing – supported by Staff Wellbeing Champion |
SA08 | Continue to increase awareness of mental health issues as Equality issue. | - Advance equality of opportunity - Eliminate discrimination - Foster good relations | Head of Business Services | Mental Health First Aider training to 4 staff completed Spring 2020. Mental Health & Personal Resilience training offered annually. |
SA09 | ILF Scotland adheres to the SG Fairness at Work policy, which covers equality and diversity. | - Foster good relations - Eliminate discrimination | Head of Business Services | Sign off ILF Scotland Fairness at Work Agreement with recognised Union PCS – 2020-21. |
SA10 | ILF Scotland continues to promote best practice in making sure the office space is suitable for people with differing needs, for instance with an induction loop and disabled access to the building. | - Foster good relations - Eliminate discrimination | Head of Business Services | MOTU and Shared Service Agreement with SG |
ILF Scotland has designed its induction procedures to ensure diversity issues are included and staff are aware of a range of advice, guidance and support provided by ILF Scotland HR team.
ILF Scotland will treat all staff equally irrespective of their sex, marital/civil partnership status, maternity status, age, race, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief, working pattern, employment status, gender identity, caring responsibility or trade union membership.
ILF Scotland is committed to increasing the diversity of staff within the organisation. We will develop all our staff, ignoring all irrelevant differences in their management and development. Furthermore, we will positively value the different perspectives and skills of all staff and make full use of these in our work.
Active consideration of equality will help ILF Scotland to identify ways in which to improve evidence gathering and engagement, to help improve the quality of services it provides, making them more responsive to customer and staff needs, leading to better outcomes.
Senior Managers and Board Directors have a vital role to play in giving a clear and consistent message about the importance of promoting equality and diversity. Through visible leadership, the senior management team will ensure that it reflects equality in performance reporting and that staff are clear ILF Scotland adopts a zero-tolerance approach to discriminatory behaviour and builds the capacity of all staff to consider and promote the equality duties.
In 2020-21, the executive team will work with Board Directors to take the organisation to 2021-22 via a series of reviews of activity on equality and diversity. In addition to the work currently undertaken, ILF Scotland will use thefollowing:
AP Ref | Action | General Equality Duty | Owner | Update | Review |
AP01 | Staff satisfaction survey – use to provide data on bullying and harassment, wellbeing and opportunities. Compare data in-year. Consider adding question to survey to seek staff ideas on improving diversity. | - Advance equality of opportunity - Eliminate discrimination - Foster good relations | Head of Business Services | Staff Survey deadline 30th June, next survey scheduled for June 2021. | |
AP02 | The TF online application process reduces access barriers to recipients as they do not need to phone or write to us to access information and do not need to complete a written application form. | - Foster good relations | Director of Policy | ||
AP03 | Equality & Diversity given high profile in induction training for Board Directors. | - Advance equality of opportunity - Eliminate discrimination - Foster good relations | Head of Business Services | ||
AP04 | Increase awareness of cultural importance of Gaelic and promote learning by providing training and BnG presentation to Board. | - Foster good relations | Director of Policy / Head of Business Services | ||
AP05 | Ensure all venues for Roadshows are accessible and bi-lingual advertising in Gaelic-speaking areas. | - Eliminate discrimination | Director of Policy | ||
- Foster good relations | |||||
AP06 | Actions to promote increased awareness of Mental Health in the Workplace | - Advance equality of opportunity | Head of Business Services | Training delivered November 2019. ‘Supporting each other in a crisis’ – delivered April 2020. 4 x mental Health First Aiders trained and in post. | |
- Eliminate discrimination | |||||
- Foster good relations | |||||
AP07 | Continue to consider Equality Duty in all external and internal facing policy changes. Executive Team should continue to consider and approve all changes. | - Advance equality of opportunity - Eliminate discrimination - Foster good relations | Executive Team |