Equality, Good Relations and Human Rights SCREENING TEMPLATE

Transcription

1 Equality, Good Relations and Human Rights SCREENING TEMPLATE ***Completed Screening Templates are public documents and will be posted on the Trust s website*** See Guidance tes for further background information on the relevant legislation and for help in answering the questions on this template (follow the links). Completion of screening should lead to one of the following three outcomes: 1. The policy/proposal has been screened in for equality impact assessment; 2. The policy/proposal has been screened out with mitigation or an alternative policy/proposal proposed to be adopted; 3. The policy/proposal has been screened out without mitigation or an alternative policy/proposal proposed to be adopted. The third outcome above will include some policies which are technical in nature and will have no bearing in terms of their likely impact on equality of opportunity and/or good relations for people within the equality and good relations categories. Screening will help to identify these types of policies at an early stage, thus enabling them to be screened out. Some policies/proposals may be subject to ongoing screening and further scrutiny to determine the impact on those directly affected. They are not being ruled out for a more detailed EQIA but it is not possible at the early stages to determine the full impact of the policies/proposals, but there is a commitment to an ongoing assessment. A full EQIA will be carried if at any stage it is deemed appropriate and necessary to do so. 1. Information about the Policy/Proposal Name of the policy/proposal Belfast Trust Policy & Procedural Arrangements relating to Display Screen Equipment 1

2 Is this a new, existing or revised policy/proposal? Revised Policy What is it trying to achieve (intended aims/outcomes)? This policy & procedural arrangement is designed to identify staff using display screen equipment, as a significant part of their normal work, display screen equipment (DSE) risk facilitators to co-ordinate the completion of display screen equipment workstations self-assessments are appointed and to ensure that workstations comply with the specified requirements. Also that display screen workstations are designed, installed and used in accordance with the requirements of the Display Screen Equipment Regulations, incorporate planned breaks/changes in work activity and to inform staff using DSE as to the provision of eyesight tests. Staff using display screen equipment are provided with information and training on workstation layout/adjustment, posture and breaks, sources of further information, guidance and advice are available and to explain the role of the Ergonomics/Manual Handling Advisor, the Occupational Health Department and others. This will be achieved through the training of designated DSE Risk Facilitators and provision of information and training for the relevant staff. This Policy is based on a legislative requirement. Are there any Section 75 categories which might be expected to benefit from the intended policy/proposal? ALL If so, explain how Who owns and who implements the policy/proposal - where does it originate, for example DHSSPS, HSC Board? Health & Safety Legislative requirement. Policy devised by Belfast Health & Social Care Trust 2

3 Are there any factors that could contribute to/detract from the intended aim/outcome of the policy/proposal/decision? (Financial, legislative or other constraints?) Cost and availability of DSE Eyecare Vouchers Who are the internal and external stakeholders (actual or potential) that the policy/proposal/decision could impact upon? (staff, service users, other public sector organisations, professional bodies, independent sector, voluntary and community groups, trade unions etc) Staff working with Display Screen Equipment (ie. users), agency staff, selfemployed persons working in the Trust in conjunction with the delivery of the Trust s Services. Other policies with a bearing on this policy/proposal (for example regional policies) - what are they and who owns them? The contractual arrangements for the provision of DSE eye care vouchers. 2. Available Evidence Evidence to help inform the screening template can take many forms, for example Trust s own information systems, previous consultations, Audit of Inequalities, statistics, research, surveys, Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs), complaints or service monitoring. Using the evidence/information (both qualitative and quantitative) that you have gathered to inform this screening, please specify details/make up for each of the Section 75 categories and for both service users and staff. Category Gender Details of evidence/information Staff All Users of Display Screen Equipment Service Users 3

4 The proportion of staff employed in the Belfast Trust is Female 78.4% and Male 21.6% This Policy does not identify specific groups of staff thought to be DSE users. Any group of staff can work with Display Screen Equipment. The groupings affected by the Policy would therefore be the groupings of staff within the Belfast Trust under section 75. It is for local managers to identify staff who use DSE for a significant part of the working day in connection with the delivery of the Trust s services. ne Age Religion Political Opinion Marital Status Dependent Status Disability All %, % % % % % All 5.5% t known 45.3% Protestant 49.2% Roman Catholic All All All All 4

5 Ethnicity Sexual Orientation All Provide details of how you have involved stakeholders, views of colleagues, service users and staff etc when gathering evidence. The Policy has been revised by the Trust s Health & Safety Managers in conjunction with the, Ergonomics Advisors. Directors, Co-Directors, Senior Managers, members of the Joint Health & Safety Committee, The Corporate Finance Group, The Occupational Health Service, Ergonomics Advisors and the Health & Safety Managers were consulted as part of the review of the Belfast Trust Lone Worker Policy. This consultation process was complete on... A record of all comments and agreed amendments has been retained. 3. Needs, Experiences and Priorities Taking into account the information referred to in Table above, what are the different needs, experiences and priorities of each of the following categories, in relation to the particular policy/proposal/decision? Specify details for each of the Section 75 categories and for both service users and staff. 5

6 For example if you are relocating a service you will need to consider accessibility of location, needs of staff with caring responsibilities or reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities. Is the new location perceived to be welcoming to all sections of the community? Think about possible unmet need and health inequalities, for example can people from minority ethnic communities access your service? This should not deter the Trust from taking action to address disadvantage amongst particular sections of society in order to address health and social care inequalities. Category Details of needs, experiences/priorities Gender Age Religion Political Opinion Marital Status Dependent Status Disability Staff Local managers will appoint designated DSE Risk Facilitators to co-ordinate the completion of the selfassessment process by users within their department/facility. They will also be required to monitor and review the implementation of the required control measures and problems arising out of this process. This policy is in line with the Disability discrimination Act 1995 which places a duty on the Trust to make reasonable adjustments when required. Service Users 6

7 Ethnicity Sexual Orientation 4. Screening Questions You now have top assess whether the impact of the policy/proposal is major, minor or none. You will need to make an informed judgement based on the information you have gathered. Here are some guidelines that might be useful. In favour of a major impact a) The policy is significant in terms of its strategic importance; b) Potential equality impacts are unknown, because, for example, there is insufficient data upon which to make an assessment or because they are complex, and it would be appropriate to conduct an equality impact assessment in order to better assess them; c) Potential equality and/or good relations impacts are likely to be adverse or are likely to be experienced disproportionately by groups of people including those who are marginalised or disadvantaged; d) Further assessment offers a valuable way to examine the evidence and develop recommendations in respect of a policy about which there are concerns amongst affected individuals and representative groups, for example in respect of multiple identities; e) The policy is likely to be challenged by way of judicial review; f) The policy is significant in terms of expenditure. In favour of minor impact a) The policy is not unlawfully discriminatory and any residual potential impacts on people are judged to be negligible; b) The policy, or certain proposals within it, are potentially unlawfully discriminatory, but this possibility can readily and easily be eliminated by making appropriate changes to the policy or by adopting appropriate mitigating measures; c) Any asymmetrical equality impacts caused by the policy are intentional because they are specifically designed to promote equality of opportunity for particular groups of disadvantaged people; d) By amending the policy there are better opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity and/or good relations. 7

8 In favour of none a) The policy has no relevance to equality of opportunity or good relations. b) The policy is purely technical in nature and will have no bearing in terms of its likely impact on equality of opportunity or good relations for people within the equality and good relations categories. 4.1 What is the likely impact of equality of opportunity for those affected by this policy/proposal, for each of the Section 75 equality categories? Minor/major/none Section 75 category Gender Details of policy/proposal impact Staff This Policy does not identify specific groups of staff thought to be DSE users. Any group of staff can work with Display Screen Equipment. The groupings affected by the Policy would therefore be the groupings of staff within the Belfast Trust under section 75. It is for local managers to identify staff who use DSE for a significant part of the working day in connection with the delivery of the Trust s services. However there is a significantly higher percentage of female staff to male staff and therefore more females will be affected by this policy. Service Users ne Age ne Religion ne Level of impact? Minor/major/none Yes, minor 8

9 Political ne Opinion Marital Yes. The majority of ne Yes, minor Status staff are married Dependent ne Status Disability ne Ethnicity Sexual Orientation Yes. The majority of staff are white with 3.04% from an ethnic minority background. The sexual orientation of 56.6% of staff is unknown ne ne Yes, minor For example does the policy/proposal or proposal disproportionately impact on men or women? Think about multiple identities, for example women with caring responsibilities, or older people with disabilities. 4.2 Are there opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity for people within Section 75 equality categories? Section 75 If yes, provide details If no, provide reasons category Gender Age Religion Political Opinion Marital Status Dependent Status Disability Ethnicity Sexual Orientation 9

10 For example, when relocating a service has there been engagement with service users, is there flexibility for staff with caring responsibilities, is there assistance for additional travel? 4.3 To what extent is the policy/proposal likely to impact on good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group? minor/major/none Good relations category Religious belief Details of policy/proposal impact Level of impact Minor/major/none ne Political opinion Racial group ne ne. Details are provided in the policy regarding translation services. For example, is your service/facility welcoming to the whole community? 4.4 Are there opportunities to better promote good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group? Good If yes, provide details If no, provide details relations category Religious belief Political opinion Racial group For example, have staff been trained on good relations (anti racism and anti sectarianism)? 10

11 5. Screening Decision A full equality impact assessment (EQIA) is usually confined to those policies or decisions considered to have major implications for equality of opportunity. How would you categorise the impacts of this decision or policy/proposal? (refer to guidance notes for guidance on impact) Please tick: Major impact Do you consider that this policy/proposal or decision needs to be subjected to a full equality impact assessment? Please tick: Yes Minor impact further impact Do you consider the policy/proposal needs to be subjected to ongoing screening? Please tick: Yes Please give reasons for your decision. This policy is designed to ensure that workstations comply with the specified requirements. Also that display screen workstations are designed, installed and used in accordance with the requirements. There is no evidence to suggest that it would have an adverse impact on any of the Section 75 groups. does not exclude any particular groups. This Policy has been developed in response to the requirements of the Display Screen Equipment Regulations (NI) 1992, as amended. It is in line with Trust s 11

12 General Health and Safety Policy. See question 1.2 and Policy Introduction for further information. If you have identified any impact, what mitigation have you considered to address this?. 6. Consideration of Disability Duties In what ways does the policy/proposal or decision encourage disabled people to participate in public life and what else could you do to do so? For example, have you engaged with disabled people in relation to this policy/proposal/proposal? How does the policy/proposal or decision currently encourage disabled people to participate in public life? The policy states that it can be provided in alternative formats and measures will be taken to assist in communicating this policy when required. What else could you do to encourage disabled people to participate in public life? ne In what ways does the policy/proposal or decision promote positive attitude towards disabled people and what else could you do to do so? 12

13 How does the policy/proposal or decision currently promote positive attitudes towards disabled people? t required. What else could you do to promote positive attitudes towards disabled people? ne For example, have your staff received disability equality training or training on the Trust s Patient and Client Experience Standards? 7. Consideration of Human Rights Does the policy/proposal or decision affect anyone s Human Rights? Complete for each of the articles Article Article 2 Right to life Positive impact Negative impact = human right interfered with or restricted Neutral impact Article 3 Right to freedom from torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment Article 4 Right to freedom from slavery, servitude & forced or compulsory labour Article 5 Right to liberty & security of person Article 6 Right to a fair & public trial within a reasonable time Article 7 Right to freedom from retrospective criminal law & no punishment without law Article 8 Right to respect for private & family life, home and correspondence. 13

14 Article 9 Right to freedom of thought, conscience & religion Article 10 Right to freedom of expression Article 11 Right to freedom of assembly & association Article 12 Right to marry & found a family Article 14 Prohibition of discrimination in the enjoyment of the convention rights 1 st protocol Article 1 Right to a peaceful enjoyment of possessions & protection of property 1 st protocol Article 2 Right of access to education If you have identified potential negative impact in relation to any of the Articles in the table above, speak to your line manager and/or Equality Unit. It may also be necessary to seek legal advice. Please outline any actions you will take to promote or raise awareness of human rights or to ensure compliance with the legislation in relation to the policy/proposal or decision. For example, staff training and evidence that human rights have been taken into consideration in decision making processes. Training is provided on Equal Opportunities to all staff part of Statutory/Mandatory Training Matrix. 8. Monitoring What data will you collect in the future in order to monitor the effect of the policy/proposal or decision on any of the categories (for equality of opportunity and good relations, disability duties and human rights? 14

15 Equality & Good Relations Disability Duties Human Rights See Below See Below See Below The Display Screen Equipment self-assessment requires the identification of Users (including operators and agency staff) - staff who habitually use display screen equipment as a significant part of their normal work for the Trust. Local Managers & DSE Facilitators ill be required to monitor and review the implementation of the required control measures and problems arising out of this process. Each user will be required to complete a self-assessment form and attend training records of such will be retained by the line managers and Ergonomics Advisors. Approved Lead Officer: Position: Karen Cunningham Lead Health & Safety Manager Date: 11 th January 2012 Policy/proposal screened by: Approved Lead Officer: Position: Jan Collins Ergonomics Advisor Date: 11 th January 2012 Policy/proposal screened by: Veronica McEneaney Please forward completed screening template to the Equality Unit 15