We want to make sure that we consider the impact of our services and policies on our communities and staff. To help us do this, we undertake Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs).
The purpose of an EIA is to ensure our services are effective, efficient and fair. EIAs help us to make sure that, as far as possible, any negative consequences are understood and minimised and opportunities for promoting fairness and respect are maximised.
What if we find adverse impact?
If during our Equality Impact Assessments (EIA) process we find evidence that one of our existing or proposed policies or activities is having an adverse impact on the promotion of fairness and respect we will take one of the following four options:
- Where possible we will change the policy or activity to meet the concerns raised.
- Consider ways to remove or reduce the potential for affecting anyone with a protected characteristic.
- Find alternative methods to achieve the aims of the policy or delivering the service to reduce the impact.
- Occasionally we will decide to continue with the policy or activity. For example, if we need to meet special needs of particular groups and there is no other way of achieving the aims of the policy.
Completed Equality Impact Assessments
Completed Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) are taken to Directorate Equality Groups (DEGs) for quality assurance and are signed off by the Head of Service. Surrey County Council is committed to publishing the results of EIAs and ensuring that they receive internal and external challenge.
The Corporate Equality Group reviews progress of completed EIAs and monitors progress on completing actions. EIAs will be subject to random and periodic quality assurance checks by the Corporate Equality Group and our External Equality Advisory Group.
You can find EIAs by searching alphabetically for the service or title.