Equality Impact Assessments (EIA)
An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool that helps us to place equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything we do and make sure our strategies, policies, services and functions do what they are intended to do and are for everybody.
The EIA is designed to ensure that we consider the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) in everything we do, so that we do not discriminate against people with protected characteristics. All decisions, activities and projects in Barnardo’s require an EIA and an EIA action plan. As well as being a legal requirement, the way in which we do EIAs at Barnardo’s is to support our thinking on the impact of equality for our colleagues and the children and young people that we work with.
What are Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs)?
An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool that enables us to think about how different people may be affected by the decisions and changes we make. It helps us marble Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) through everything we do.
Carrying out an EIA involves assessing the likely (or actual) effects of policies on people in respect of 9 protected equality characteristics including:
- age
- gender reassignment
- being married or in a civil partnership
- being pregnant or on maternity leave
- disability
- race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
- religion or belief
- sex
- sexual orientation
This includes looking for opportunities to promote equality that may have previously been missed or could be better used, as well as negative or adverse impacts that can be removed or mitigated where possible. If any negative or adverse impacts amount to unlawful discrimination, they must be removed.
Templates and resources
You can read Why do we do EIAs? to help you decide whether or not an EIA is required for your piece of work.
Full guidance for completing an EIA will be available soon and the EDI team can be contacted at EIA@barnardos.org.uk if you require extra support.
Further resources and support materials
- EIA Assessment and Action Plan General Template (v.3) - DOWNLOAD BEFORE EDITING.xlsx
- MOC Example Template amended version - DOWNLOAD BEFORE EDITING.docx
- Service Closure and MOC Example Template (Less than 20 employees) - DOWNLOAD BEFORE EDITING.docx
- MOC EIA Action Plan Template - PLEASE DOWNLOAD BEFORE EDITING.xlsx
- People and Culture Strategy
Training
As well as the guidance and support materials, join one of lunch and learn sessions.
Lunch and Learns
- Monday 25 March: 12 – 2pm (register here)
- Tuesday 26 March: 12 – 2pm (register here)
- Wednesday 27 March: 12 – 2pm (register here)
- Monday 8 April: 1pm – 2.30pm (register here)
- Monday 22 April: 12 – 1.30pm (register here)
- Wednesday 24 April: 12 – 1.30pm (register here)
- Monday 29 April: 10 – 11.30am (register here)
- Tuesday 7 May: 12 – 1.30pm (register here)
Contacts
Deputy Head of EDI: Louise Ashworth (louise.ashworth@barnardos.org.uk)
EDI Programme Manager - Compliance and Impact: Tariro Matibiri (tariro.matibiri@barnardos.org.uk)
The team can also be contacted on EIA@barnardos.org.uk.
Data Protection and Information Security
Consider and minimise data protection and information security risks before the start of projects and as they progress. Ensure you liaise with the Compliance Manager in the Corporate Audit and Inspection Unit and the Data Protection Officer before completing your information security and data protection assessments if applicable.
Key contact: Martine King