Equality Impact Assessment - Information and Advice Centre

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• Equality Impact Assessment - Information and Advice Centre

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

It is a new function to support the Independence and Wellbeing and Transforming Social Care agendas.

What are the aims/purpose of the function?

The aim of the project is to help individuals, families and their carers to gain relevant and timely information and advice from a number of sources to enable them to make informed decisions about their care.

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

The service will particularly benefit people with health and wellbeing needs including: people with lower level support needs, who do not meet eligibility criteria for Community Care Services (FACS); self-funders of social care, and; any person being supported by Community Care Services to help themselves.

These people are likely to include: older people, people with physical disabilities including those with sensory impairments, people with mental health problems, carers, people with drug and alcohol problems, people with HIV and people recovering from a stroke. The service should benefit any adult with support needs and this list is therefore not exhaustive. Within these groups it is important to remember that whilst some people will be motivated and able to help themselves, others will be isolated and lacking capacity. People are also rarely confined to one of the groups mentioned above. Their needs are likely to be multiple and will additionally be affected by their personal circumstances. Some people will need ongoing support and others will need different types and levels of support at different times in their lives, for example after someone close has died. It will be important to recognise the needs of people from all backgrounds when developing the service both in terms of the content offered and the access options to the service to take account of people’s age, race, disabilities, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief

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.

A wide range of information has been gathered to assess the likely impact of the Information and Advice Service on different equality groups.

• Consideration of relevant, recent research (literature review)

     Accessing the Internet at Home – Ofcom/Ipsos Mori, June 2009 (national report)

     Information, advice and advocacy for older people by Andrew Dunning – Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2005

     Take My Advice – A survey on information and advice needs among the 45+ age group – Age Concern/Help the Aged, May 2009

     Five principles for producing better information for disabled people – Office for Disability Issues, February 2007

     Scoping Review on Access to Information about Social Care Services by Kate Baxter, Caroline Glendinning and Sue Clarke – Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, 2006

     IDEA (2009) Transforming Adult Social Care: Access to Information, Advice and Advocacy

     The Business of Caring - King’s Fund Inquiry into care services for older people in London, 2005

• Review of relevant local consultation findings
• A survey of potential service users
• A workshop, to which a wide range of community groups was invited
• Direct consultation with local community groups and other representatives of minority groups by email

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?

The analysis of the available data shows that the provision of an information and advice service has the potential to have different outcomes for different groups of people.

Disabled people
Possibility of access issues – physical, communication, discrimination, isolation.

Age
Possibility of access issues – discrimination, older people less likely to use the internet, older people from ethnic minority backgrounds, phone systems and recorded messages.

Possible gaps in provision – benefits advice for people below pensionable age.

Gender
Men are less likely to seek and receive help and advice than women.

Race
Possibility of access issues – discrimination, language and communication.

Possible gaps in provision – advice for migrant communities from the EU.

Sexual orientation
Possibility of access issues – discrimination.

Possible gaps in provision – information about bereavement support, leisure, recreation and sport.

Religion or belief
Possibility of access issues – discrimination.

Possible gaps in provision – information including cultural preferences e.g. access to female health professionals.

Socio-economic
Possibility of access issues – internet/telephone access for poorer homes.

Possible gaps in provision – advice for self-funders, particularly wealthier older people.

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

The information and advice service should be available to all individuals who need to access the service. Through the consultation and analysis for the equality impact assessment, we should have minimised any differential impact for different groups of people.

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 findings of the Equality Impact Assessment will inform the development of the service. In addition, as the service evolves, monitoring and evaluation will inform future developments.

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

The action plan will be reviewed in 1 year.

Assessment completed by:

NAME: Caroline Little
SERVICE: Community care Services
DATE: 12 February 2010

Please send your completed assessment to your service head. A copy should then be sent to the Equality Adviser.