Independent Living Fund Scotland

Equality Duty Action Plan

Contents

1.    CONTENTS.. 1

2.    Introduction. 1

2.1     Background. 2

2.2     The General Equality Duty. 3

2.3     Board Members. 4

2.4     Senior Managers. 4

2.5     Equality and Diversity Staff 4

2.6     Communications Staff 4

2.7     Frontline Staff 4

2.8     Procurement 4

2.9     Line Managers. 4

3.    KEY ILF Scotland Documents. 5

3.1     ILF Scotland Policies. 6

3.2     2020-23 Strategic Corporate Plan. 6

3.3     2020-23 Business Plan. 6

4.    What we do – Customer Facing Actions (CFA) 5

5.    ILF Scotland HR Policies on Equality & Diversity. 11

5.1     Equal Opportunities Policy Statement 11

5.2     Diversity Policy Statement 11

5.3     Resources Available on Diversity & Equality. 11

6.    Forward Planning. 12

6.1     Annex A.. 13

7.    EQUALITY & DIVERSITY PLAN – ACTION PLAN (AP) 15

1.              Introduction

The Independent Living Fund Scotland (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.

ILF Scotland must comply with the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 and the specific duties designed to help Scottish public authorities meet the general duty. Regulation 4 of the specific equality duties requires that we base our Equality Outcomes on evidence, and involvement of equality groups. 

The Public Sector Equality Duty regulates performance against equalities duties. From April 2020, ILF Scotland is required to report on the areas outlined below, every two years, apart from the Statement on Equal Pay, which is every four years. We also have a duty to publish diversity information about our board members. This report meets our general and specific duties under the Equality Act 2010 and outlines:

• Mainstreaming the Equality Duty in ILF Scotland 
• Report on Progress
• Board Diversity Duty
• Employee Information
• Gender Pay Gap Information
• Statement on Equal Pay (covering sex only)

1.1          Background

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.

1.2          The General Equality Duty

Under the Equality Act 2010, public authorities are required to have due regard to the need to:

1. Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other prohibited conduct.
2. Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.
3. Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

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:

• Remove or minimise disadvantage suffered by people with certain protected characteristics, where these are different from the needs of other people.
• Encourage people with certain protected characteristics to participate in public life or in other activities where their participation is disproportionately low.

The Act also sets out that:

• Meeting different needs includes (among other things) taking steps to take account of disabled people’s disabilities.
• Fostering good relations means tackling prejudice and promoting understanding between people from different groups.
• Meeting the general equality duty may involve treating some people more favourably than others.

Who should be aware of the General Duty in ILF Scotland?

1.3          Board Members

Set strategic direction, review performance, and ensure good governance of the organisation. The Depute Director, Scottish Government, Health & Social Care, appraises the Chair of the Board against a Diversity Objective.

1.4          Senior Managers

Oversee the design, delivery, quality, and effectiveness of the organisation’s functions.

1.5          Equality and Diversity Staff

Specific role in raising awareness and building capacity about the general duty. The Equality Lead in ILF Scotland is the Chief Executive Officer.

1.6          Communications Staff

Help ensure relevant equality information is available and accessible.

1.7          Frontline Staff

Need to be aware of how they can help to meet the needs of people with special characteristics.

1.8          Procurement

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 and what we expect of organisations that we contract with.

1.9          Line Managers

  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.

2.              Key ILF Scotland Documents

The primary function of ILF Scotland is to operate a discretionary fund providing financial awards to over 4,000 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. The policy suite is updated on an ongoing basis to support the Scottish Government’s strategic priorities.

The key references are:

• www.ilf.scot
• ILF Scotland Policies
• 2020-23 Strategic Plan
• 2020-23 Business Plan

2.1          ILF Scotland Policies

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 people with protected characteristics.

The policy development lead will carry out a ‘screening exercise’ to help determine if any proposed or amended 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, and as an embedded part of the policy development process, so that the assessment can shape, inform, and influence the policy proposals, and they should continue to revisit this assessment throughout the lifecycle of the policy.

2.2          2022-24 Strategic Corporate Plan

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 can support individuals through its funding role.

2.3          2023-24 Business Plan

ILF Scotland will improve its evidence base by gathering information from recipients, applicants, and staff through the various use of equality monitoring forms, and where applicable, will use surveys, to strengthen its understanding of the needs and requirements 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, its specific duty under the Act, and improve its service delivery.

3.              What we do – Customer Facing Actions (CFA)

WHAT WE DO TO PROMOTE EQUALITY – ACTIONS WITH STAFF (SA)

4.              ILF Scotland HR Policies on Equality & Diversity

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.

4.1          Equal Opportunities Policy Statement

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.

4.2          Diversity Policy Statement

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.

4.3          Resources Available on Diversity & Equality

• Diversity Training.
• Flexi policy and working patterns (flexible working).
• Equality staff networks.
• Inclusive communication.
• How staff can access the Employee Assistance Programme to support wellbeing.

5.              Forward Planning

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.

5.1          Annex A

Protected Characteristics

• Protected Characteristics
  • Age
  • Disability
  • Gender reassignment
  • Marriage and civil partnership
  • Pregnancy and maternity
  • Race
  • Religion and belief
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation

6.              Equality & Diversity Plan - Action Plan (AP)