Part A, Section 2 Annual Progress Report 2022-23

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Section 2: Progress on Equality Scheme commitments and action plans/measures

Arrangements for assessing compliance (Model Equality Scheme Chapter 2)

Were the Section 75 statutory duties integrated within job descriptions during the 2022-23 reporting period? (tick one box only)

Yes, organisation wide

Please provide any details and examples:

All Council job descriptions contain a clear obligation placed on staff to comply with and actively promote the Council’s policies and procedures relating to equality and diversity.

Were the Section 75 statutory duties integrated within performance plans during the 2022-23 reporting period? (tick one box only)

No, this is not an Equality Scheme commitment

In the 2022-23 reporting period were objectives/ targets/ performance measures relating to the Section 75 statutory duties integrated into corporate plans, strategic planning and/or operational business plans? (tick all that apply)

Yes, through organisation wide annual business planning

Yes, in some departments/jobs

Please provide any details and examples:

Action Plans from the Every Customer Counts assessment were incorporated into annual business improvement planning. Equality measures were included in Business Plans, departmental objectives and corporate plan.

Equality action plans/measures

Within the 2022-23 reporting period, please indicate the number of:

Actions completed: 8

Actions ongoing: 10

Actions to commence: 4

Please provide any details and examples (in addition to question 2):

Examples of actions which are on-going include:

Digital transformation.
Continuously communicate with and train staff on equality and diversity.
Continue to progress Every Customer Counts Initiative.
Continue to equality screen all new policies.
Improve monitoring data.
Engage with staff from S75 groups regarding equality initiatives and best practice.
Review and report on issues regarding progress.
Continuously incorporate equality and diversity into all aspects of the council’s business processes.

Please give details of changes or amendments made to the equality action plan/measures during the 2022-23 reporting period (points not identified in an appended plan):

None.

In reviewing progress on the equality action plan/action measures during the 2022-23 reporting period, the following have been identified: (tick all that apply)

Continuing action(s), to progress the next stage addressing the known inequality

Action(s) to address newly identified inequalities/recently prioritised inequalities

Arrangements for consulting (Model Equality Scheme Chapter 3)

Following the initial notification of consultations, a targeted approach was taken – and consultation with those for whom the issue was of particular relevance: (tick one box only)

Sometimes

Please provide any details and examples of good practice in consultation during the 2022-23 reporting period, on matters relevant (e.g. the development of a policy that has been screened in) to the need to promote equality of opportunity and/or the desirability of promoting good relations:

Production of increased Easy Read versions of documents, peer reviewed in conjunction with the Cedar Foundation and Mencap.
The Equality Forum continues to work as a consultation medium. Consultation methods included face-to-face meetings or focus groups.
Many programmes and services reverted to a face-to-face format as a proactive measure to support individuals and groups in our community. This was done in consultation and partnership with community groups, local businesses and representative groups for various Section 75 areas.
The Mayor and Diversity Champion raised the profile of various equality actions and campaigns and encouraged consultation involvement through video messages.

In the 2022-23 reporting period, given the consultation methods offered, which consultation methods were most frequently used by consultees: (tick all that apply)

Face to face meetings
Focus groups
Written documents with the opportunity to comment in writing
Questionnaires
Information/notification by email with an opportunity to opt in/out of the consultation
Internet discussions
Telephone consultations
Other (please specify): Animations to educate and support learning and feedback.

Please provide any details or examples of the uptake of these methods of consultation in relation to the consultees’ membership of particular Section 75 categories:
The consultations undertaken were open to all S75 categories. No monitoring information was gathered in relation to method uptake by particular S75 categories.

Were any awareness-raising activities for consultees undertaken, on the commitments in the Equality Scheme, during the 2022-23 reporting period? (tick one box only)

Yes

Please provide any details and examples:

Emails, tweets and Facebook messages were sent to equality consultees and community groups within the Council area and flyers/postcards handed out at Council workshops and events to encourage participation in equality either as a consultee or as part of the Councils equality forum.

Was the consultation list reviewed during the 2022-23 reporting period? (tick one box only)

Yes

Arrangements for assessing and consulting on the likely impact of policies (Model Equality Scheme Chapter 4)

Equality, Diversity and the Disability Duties - Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council

Please provide the number of policies screened during the year (as recorded in screening reports): 16

Please provide the number of assessments that were consulted upon during 2021-22:

15 Policy consultations conducted with screening assessment presented.

1 Policy consultations conducted with an equality impact assessment (EQIA) presented.

Please provide details of the main consultations conducted on an assessment (as described above) or other matters relevant to the Section 75 duties:

EQIA and Consultation on NI100 Commemoration. Stained Glass Window project
Engagement with the elected members, staff, Council’s Equality Scheme consultees, members of the public, equality forum and youth voice.
Direct consultation with members of the public, Elected Members and staff through a paper survey, on-line survey and written submissions.
Consultation on Councils Litter Strategy
Engagement with the elected members, staff, members of the public, equality forum and youth voice.
Direct consultation with members of the public, schools and staff through focus groups.
Consultation NI International Airshow
Engagement with equality forum, disability groups and individuals with a disability with regards to accessible service provision.
Consultation on the Redeployment Policy
Engagement with staff and trade unions.
Consultation on Covid Recovery Small Settlements Regeneration Programme
Engagement with the elected members, residents and the equality forum.
Direct consultation with residents and local businesses.

Were any screening decisions (or equivalent initial assessments of relevance) reviewed following concerns raised by consultees? (tick one box only)

No concerns were raised

Arrangements for publishing the results of assessments (Model Equality Scheme Chapter 4)

Following decisions on a policy, were the results of any EQIAs published during the 2022-23 reporting period? (tick one box only)

Not applicable

Arrangements for monitoring and publishing the results of monitoring (Model Equality Scheme Chapter 4)

From the Equality Scheme monitoring arrangements, was there an audit of existing information systems during the 2022-23 reporting period? (tick one box only)

Yes

Please provide any details:

Data was updated as Census data was released. The equality toolkit provided signposting to sources of data or information. An audit of information systems in the previous reporting period identified people with certain disabilities may have encountered inclusion barriers due to the usual format for written communication. As a result in alternative methods of communication are provided as best practice.

In analysing monitoring information gathered, was any action taken to change/review any policies? (tick one box only)

Yes

Please provide any details and examples:

As individuals commenced a hybrid work approach (home and office) a supportive programme was developed which included the provision of training on personal resilience, safe place advocate / trusted colleague, returning to the office and managing work related stress. In addition there was training for front line staff in customer services.

Please provide any details or examples of where the monitoring of policies, during the 2022-23 reporting period, has shown changes to differential/adverse impacts previously assessed:

Not applicable.

Please provide any details or examples of monitoring that has contributed to the availability of equality and good relations information/data for service delivery planning or policy development:

Reviewing the results of the NI Census 2021 along with participant feedback from Councils “Quiet Events” has supported the development of Councils first Autism Action plan.
Monitoring of OD/HR data has resulted in the development of a Redeployment policy.
In January 2023 the Good Relations Section appointed consultants to undertake an Audit to determine current provision, identify gaps and needs within the Borough.

Staff Training (Model Equality Scheme Chapter 5)

Please report on the activities from the training plan/programme (section 5.4 of the Model Equality Scheme) undertaken during 2022-23, and the extent to which they met the training objectives in the Equality Scheme.

No of Attendees

Disability Awareness & Inclusion 235

Elected Members Equality Training June 2022 10

Dignity & Respect at Work
(8 sessions between 021122 -30.01.23) 234

Mental Health Awareness 92

Customer Services Charter Training - Phase 2 -
session 1 (5 sessions between 06.04.22 - 12.04.22) 60

ONUS - Domestic Violence Awareness Raising
(3 sessions between 09.11.22- 23.11.22) 32

Best Practice Records and Statement writing 20.05.22 1

Good Record Keeping Practices 05.01.23 & 09.01.23 16

NSPCC - Designated Officer Training
(2 sessions on 08.11.22 - 13.06.22) 2

Awareness raising emails/staff news articles
containing various equality themes, to both staff and
elected members All staff and elected members

Induction training sessions all include a section on the provision of S75, general Equality and Diversity issues and Good Relations. Elected members training was provided by the Equality Commission and covered the importance of Equality Screening and their role as elected members.
These training sessions have met the following training objectives contained in the Council’s Equality Scheme:

Continue to deliver a suite of equality and diversity related training for all staff.
Develop a corporate approach to enhancing the customer experience.
Compliance and improved recording processes.
Review issues identified on an annual basis and develop actions to address them.

Please provide any examples of relevant training shown to have worked well, in that participants have achieved the necessary skills and knowledge to achieve the stated objectives:

Customer service charter training used role play to place individuals in the position of various customers with multiple identities. Staff feedback stated that this empowered them to identify others needs and encouraged them to meet these needs, in addition the fear of doing the wrong thing was eased.
The awareness raising emails and staff news articles have ensured timely staff awareness of current equality issues and available support. Staff commented on the benefits of these articles and how their understanding and acceptance of differences has improved. These aimed at improving skills, understanding and supporting the mainstreaming of equality and good relations information in a relevant and meaningful way.

Public Access to Information and Services (Model Equality Scheme Chapter 6)

Please list any examples of where monitoring during 2022-23, across all functions, has resulted in action and improvement in relation to access to information and services:

Improved communication methods such as increased conversion of documents into Easy Read.
Continued provision of Makaton training and signs to all staff has created a more welcoming environment.
Continued provision of hybrid approaches to meetings and service provision has supported inclusion.
Continued provision of virtual information on both our services and events, introductory videos for our leisure centres have been planned and at least 1, will be co-designed and developed in the next reporting period. These changes supported all 9 equality groupings.

Complaints (Model Equality Scheme Chapter 8)

How many complaints in relation to the Equality Scheme have been received during 2022-23?

Insert number here: 2

Please provide any details of each complaint raised and outcome:

February 2023 - Complaint regarding Trans Discrimination at Coleraine Leisure Centre
A member of the public complained to the Council that they were unable to use the single sex changing facilities. The complaint was investigated by Council's Head of Sport & Wellbeing.
March 2023 - Implementation of a Council policy decision to fly the Union flag from public buildings.
A complaint was received from a member of the public, in relation to a policy adopted by Causeway Coast and Glens on the flying of the Union flag. A response outlining the EQIA process and steps taken by Council was provided to the complainant.