Improvement Service

First paper from the Improving Local Equality Data project, which aims to improve the development and use of the equality evidence base to identify, measure and evaluate progress towards key local outcomes. This paper discusses the issues, challenges and learning gathered from use of the Equality Measurement Framework as a practical tool at the local level.

Activity from the Equality Measurement Framework (EMF) workshop held on 24 May 2011. The objective of the activity was to, using the EMF and the Logic Model, establish which indicators are needed at the local level to measure progress towards local outcomes and priorities identified in local projects' SOAs.

Activity from the Equality Measurement Framework workshop held on 24 May 2011. This activity set out to establish how equalities currently fits into the outcomes approach within local projects, looking at what is working well and local projects' visions for their areas.

Summary of the Equality Measurement Framework workshop held on 24 May 2011 for participants in the Improving Local Equality Data project.

This quick start guide from the Government Equalities Office is intended to help public sector organisations understand a key measure in the Equality Act 2010 – the public sector Equality Duty, which came into force on 5 April 2011. The Equality Duty ensures that all public bodies play their part in making society fairer by tackling discrimination and providing equality of opportunity for all. The guide focuses on the key areas of: eliminating unlawful discrimination, advancing equality of opportunity, and fostering good relations. It offers pointers on implementing the Equality Duty together with practical examples, and addresses common misunderstandings about the Equality Duty.

This guide from EHRC provides advice to decision-makers and leaders of public authorities responsible for delivering key services on their equality duties when making decisions about changes such as reorganisations, relocations, redundancies and service reductions.

Working in partnership, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (the Commission), Scottish Government, and the Improvement Service (IS), will work with 4 local authorities/ Community Planning Partnerships (where appropriate), to meet the challenge of developing the equalities evidence base / data in order to identify, measure and track progress on key outcomes for their area. The project will specifically support how councils/ CPPs can track and better manage their performance against their equality commitments by mapping existing evidence / data gaps and working with the councils/ CPPs to understand how those gaps can best be closed by both national and local developments.

This Ofsted report identifies successful action taken by providers of childcare, education and learning to promote equality of opportunity. Childminders, nurseries, children's centres, providers of day care, schools and pupil referral units did this by supporting children and young people whose circumstances made them vulnerable to underachievement. Colleges and providers of work-based learning or adult and community learning enhanced the participation of vulnerable adults in learning and improved their achievement. The report presents examples of good practice from all these sectors.

This document from Capital Ambition looks at how some London local authorities are tackling inequalities while achieving greater efficiencies. It contains case studies of how authorities have been promoting equality to deliver efficient and effective everyday services. Examples include benefit outreach services in Barking and Dagenham, the provision of affordable and accessible transport in Bexley, local residents acting as mystery shoppers in Greenwich and allotment gardening in Hillingdon.

This report presents the findings of a review of good practice in community engagement in Scotland from an equality perspective, carried out for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in 2008. It considers the models, mechanisms, methods, benefits of and barriers to community engagement and identifies good practice in planning and preparation, implementation and practice, and monitoring, evaluation and feedback.

The IDeA has published this workbook to give a background understanding of equality issues. It offers an introduction to concepts, exercises and practical guidance to support ward councillors in their role as community leaders and representatives using the Equality Framework for Local Government (this Framework is currently being adapted for use by Scottish local government and will be offered to Scottish local authorities by the Improvement Service). It also links equality to the wider remit of local authorities, with the overall aim of providing better services and supporting local people.

Guidance from the Equal Opportunities Commission for local government on how to implement the Gender Equality Duty. The guidance summarises the legislation, provides information on equality schemes and policies and offers tips and resources on successfully implementing the Duty.

"In November 2006 BEMIS undertook a review of engagement by local authorities, health boards, and police forces with ethnic minority communities in Scotland. Forty-one completed postal questionnaires were received from 33 public sector agencies (25 local authorities, six police forces, and two rural health boards). The findings are in line with a previous review by the CRE in Scotland in December 2003. BEMIS focused on five ‘indicators of engagement’: community profiling; involvement of service users; provision of support; monitoring/evaluation in place; and improvements identified."

Edinburgh Partnership Local Community Planning and Regeneration Output Agreements Audit of Equalities Work - Edinburgh : Draft 3 – June 2006

Measuring and Evaluating Equalities Performance The Evaluation Questionnaire - Summary of the Edinburgh Partnership conference on Monday 13th November 2006