Equality Impact and Needs Assessments
At North Devon District Council we need to understand whether our services are meeting everyone’s needs and that people who need our services have access to them. To help us to do this we will carry out an Equality Impact and Needs Assessment.
What are Equality Impact and Needs Assessments?
The purpose of doing an Equality Impact and Needs Assessment (EINA) is to ensure that North Devon District Council’s decisions and activities do not disadvantage different groups in our community.
The process involves assessing the impact the policy or function will have on different groups by answering a series of questions.
The EINA process will help to:
At North Devon District Council we need to understand whether our services are meeting everyone’s needs and that people who need our services have access to them. To help us to do this we will carry out an Equality Impact and Needs Assessment.
What are Equality Impact and Needs Assessments?
The purpose of doing an Equality Impact and Needs Assessment (EINA) is to ensure that North Devon District Council’s decisions and activities do not disadvantage different groups in our community.
The process involves assessing the impact the policy or function will have on different groups by answering a series of questions.
The EINA process will help to:
- Make sure we are thinking carefully about the likely impact of new or existing policies on people from different groups
- Develop policies that focus on promoting equality of opportunity
- Identify what is working well
- Encourage greater openness and public involvement
When is an Equality Impact and Needs Assessments undertaken?
Equality Impact and Needs Assessments will be carried out on all existing and new policies and functions. The equality issues considered will include race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age and religion.
We are currently in the process of training our Councillors, Senior Managers, Heads of Service and other members of staff in doing the assessments.
Due to the large number of existing policies and activities we will be prioritising the need for an Equality Impact and Needs Assessment. For example if the policy or function is likely to have a major impact on people from a particular equality group it will be assessed first.
What will we do with the information?
Equality Impact and Needs Assessments will be carried out on all existing and new policies and functions. The equality issues considered will include race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age and religion.
We are currently in the process of training our Councillors, Senior Managers, Heads of Service and other members of staff in doing the assessments.
Due to the large number of existing policies and activities we will be prioritising the need for an Equality Impact and Needs Assessment. For example if the policy or function is likely to have a major impact on people from a particular equality group it will be assessed first.
What will we do with the information?
Once an Equality Impact and Needs Assessment has been carried out, we will need to consider what changes needs to undertaken within the policy to reflect the findings from the assessment.
A summary of the results will be published and will be reported as part of the Councils annual review on equality and diversity. The results are also available in alternative formats on request.
Equality Impact and Needs Assessment Guidance (word 131kb)
EINA Form (word 98kb)
List of Priority Functions and Policies 2008-2011 (word 92kb)
List of Completed EINAs (word 21.5kb)
A summary of the results will be published and will be reported as part of the Councils annual review on equality and diversity. The results are also available in alternative formats on request.
Equality Impact and Needs Assessment Guidance (word 131kb)
EINA Form (word 98kb)
List of Priority Functions and Policies 2008-2011 (word 92kb)
List of Completed EINAs (word 21.5kb)
