Equality Impact Assessment - The Kingston Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Strategy

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Function being assessed:

The Kingston Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Strategy.

Is this a new function or a review of an existing function?

Review of an existing function in line with the OneCouncil Programme (OCP6 ICT)

What are the aims/purpose of the function?

The Strategy defines the strategic vision and direction for ICT within the council. Business and customer focused, the strategy sets out the key drivers for change, the guiding principles and intended outcomes to develop and invest in ICT across the council.

Is the function designed to meet specific needs such as the needs of minority ethnic groups, older people, disabled people etc?

The Strategy meets the needs of the community as a whole including Members of the council, employees of the council and customers of the council.

What information has been gathered on this function? (Indicate the type of information gathered e.g. statistics, consultation, other monitoring information)? Attach a summary or refer to where the evidence can be found

To develop the Kingston ICT Strategy, it was necessary to understand the ideas, risks and issues and the strategic drivers for change that influence the provision of ICT. To this end the ICT community have been fully engaged in developing the Strategy and extensive analysis has been carried out into the current levels of ICT service provision. This has significantly influenced the development and content of the Strategy.

The risks and issues identified have been framed within a set of internal and external drivers for change which include:

destinationKingston 2010 - 2013
OneCouncil Programme
Customer First Strategy
Commissioning and Performance Management Framework
Funding Challenge in the Medium Term Financial Plan
Climate Change Programme
Government ICT Strategy – Cleaner, Greener, Cheaper

These strategies and programmes for change put the customer at the core of service provision and reflect the rapidly changing world within which the Council operates.

The Kingston ICT strategy is framed within the following guiding principles which will help to define the objectives, policies, tasks and new organisation model that will transform ICT across the Council:

Caring for our customers better
Innovative ICT solutions driven by the needs of the customer
Maximising value within available investment
Making the very best use of information to understand customer needs and help shape services
Sharing information across the Council and with our partners to deliver joined up services
Excellent ICT services with high levels of customer satisfaction
Developing staff skills to maximise ICT potential so that customers receive cost effective and efficient services
Providing staff with the right tools to do their job
ICT solutions that enable the Council’s Climate Change Programme to be delivered
Ensuring ICT is aligned with the Council’s Equality and Diversity Policy, ‘Putting People First’ and the Equality Community Cohesion Strategy

In order to understand the current level of ICT service provision across the Council, Agilisys ( the Council’s Business Process Review partner ) undertook project assignments that include:

ICT Baseline
Service and Organisational Model
Organisational Structure and One Council Approach to ICT (including in scope staff information)
Business Value Matrix and Service Model
Data Sharing and Integration

The information gathered helped to influence the content of the Kingston ICT Strategy

The Kingston ICT Strategy was agreed and a period of consultation was undertaken between. This included:

Inviting all members of staff to comment on the Strategy which was published on the intranet with a form and dedicated email to provide responses.
A series of meetings with Directorate Management Teams and ICT Project Boards.
Meetings with directorate DCG’s to receive feedback and comment

A copy of the Kingston ICT Strategy was also provided to the Kingston Strategic Partnership, which includes the Voluntary Sector and Partnership Delivery Board.

The Kingston ICT Strategy was revised and refined in the light of the consultation and activities undertaken.

Does your analysis of the information show different outcomes for different groups (higher or lower uptake/failure to access/receive a poorer or inferior service)? If yes, indicate which groups and which aspects of the policy or function contribute to inequality?

On the current analysis, any issues that need to be taken into account to meet the needs of staff with disability would have been implemented.

The Customer First Strategy will ensure that the needs of our customers are taken into account to ensure equality of access to the council services.

Services will continue to be provided through existing access channels to ensure that the level of service offered to all customers and equality groups are not inferior to the current levels.

Are these differences justified (e.g. are there legislative or other constraints)? If they are, explain in what way.

Any differences will be taken into account and addressed accordingly to meet the needs of the employee and customer.

What action needs to be taken as a result of this Equality Impact Assessment to address any detrimental impacts or meet previously unidentified need? Include here any reasonable adjustments for access by disabled people. Include dates by which action will be taken. Attach an action plan if necessary.

The Implementation Plan will ensure fairness and equity in the process.

Any differences will be taken into account and addressed accordingly to meet the needs of the employee and customer.

When will you evaluate the impact of action taken? Give review dates.

The Implementation Plan will include review dates to assess progress made in developing the new ICT organisation and will be monitored as part of Medium Term Financial Plan 2010 – 2013.

Assessment completed by:

Name: Michael Dixon, Francis Arokiasamy

Service: OCP 6 ICT

Date:7 July 2010

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