Equality Impact Assessment - Staff welfare and counselling service

Is this service new or existing?

The staff welfare and counselling service is an existing service.

When was it last reviewed?

The service is reviewed annually

Do you have monitoring data available on the number of people who are using or impacted upon by the service?

Yes, monitoring data is available on the use of the staff welfare and counselling service.

What is the main purpose of the service?

The main purpose of the staff welfare and counselling service is to provide a confidential support service to all RBK staff. The service provides individual focussed counselling for staff experiencing personal problems and an advice and information service on welfare matters, including details of local support groups. The service co-ordinates the violence helpline and arranges the training of staff coping with violence. The service provides advice on childcare provision/summer play schemes and arranges corporate benefits for staff.

Who are the main beneficiaries of the service?

All council staff benefit from the service.

Is the service corporate and far-reaching?

Yes, the staff welfare and counselling service is corporate and far-reaching.

In your view, does the service assist residents in meeting their most basic needs, i.e. shelter and income?

It could be argued that the service assists Council employees in meeting their most basic needs as some aspects of the service enable staff to remain in post.

Will the impact of the service potentially be short-lived or lasting?

The staff welfare and counselling service potentially has a lasting impact on those who benefit from it.

Does the service deal with delivering front-line services to residents or employees?

The service is a front line service to Council employees.

Are you expecting to make any changes to the service during the next year?

The service is reviewed annually. See action plan below.

Does this service potentially have a high impact on Kingston residents, generally?

The service has a high impact on Council employees.

How does the service impact on men and women?

The child care/summer playschemes advice service has a disproportionately positive impact on women, enabling them to continue working during the school holidays. Men are over-represented in benefiting from the counselling service.

What type of impact does the service have on black and minority ethnic communities?

The manager of the service was involved in setting up a helpline for staff from BME communities.

What type of impact does the service have on people with disabilities?

At the time of this impact assessment there was no information available on the impact of the service on disabled members of staff.

How does the service impact on people from different faiths and beliefs?

At the time of this impact assessment there was no information available on the impact of the service on staff from different faiths and beliefs.

How does the service impact on lesbians, gay men and bisexuals?

There is confidential anecdotal evidence of positive outcomes and benefits for homosexual members of staff.

What is the relevance of this service to Kingston’s minority groups?

The evidence available indicates that this service is particularly beneficial to some minority groups.

EQIA completed by:

Janet Hanson

June 2006

Action Plan

Issue	Action required	Lead officer	Timescale	Resource implication	Comments
Who is using the service?	Monitoring and evaluation of the service in more detail without compromising confidentiality of the service	Janet Hanson	3 months	Time/adminstration	2009 update: regular monitoring is now undertaken
Providing support to BME staff group on new helpline.	Ongoing training and support	Janet Hanson	Ongoing