the way forward: using effective diversity and equality practice to meet our challenges
DESCRIPTION
The way forward: using effective diversity and equality practice to meet our challenges. Michael Keating National Advisor Equalities and Cohesion 020 7296 [email protected]. Developing a multi-agency equality action plan in Cornwall 30 th March 2011. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The way forward: using effective diversity and equality practice to meet our challenges
Michael Keating
National Advisor Equalities and Cohesion
020 7296 6731 [email protected]
Developing a multi-agency equality action plan in Cornwall
30th March 2011www.local.gov.uk/improvementanddevelopment
The national picture
• Tackling the deficit v long-term economic success• Big Society and devolution to communities and
citizens– 60% of voluntary and community sector groups concerned
with equality issues
• Demographic changes– Ageing society– More women working– Growing diversity
The challenge to local government
• Big reductions in resources
• Move away from central to self-regulation
• Localism: transparency = rationale for decisions + accountability
• If local people say they want something why aren’t you providing it?
• No red tape!
The public sector Equality Duty
• Covering the ‘protected characteristics’ of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation
• A general duty which requires public bodies to have due regard to the need to:
– Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation– Advance equality of opportunity between different groups– Foster good relations between different groups
• Role as employers, policymakers, service providers, commissioners and procurers
Supported by specific duties
• Publish information to demonstrate compliance– Have “due regard” – Understand the effect of policies and practices– Look at evidence, engage with people, staff, service users
and others and consider the effect on the whole community– Guidance, not regulation
• Prepare and publish one or more objectives– Taking account of the size and role of the public authority
and its current equality performance
Local government’s business case
Strong cohesive places=
Understanding communities +
Tackling inequality
The Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG) is a tool for local government to self-regulate its own performance
Strengths of the model
• Designed to help deliver outcomes
• Peer support and challenge
• Relevant to current policy and service context
• Benchmark across public sector
….but? Knowing your community – equality mapping 48%
Improving representation of under-represented groups
32%
Procurement 29%
Place shaping, leadership, partnership 27%
Community engagement and customer satisfaction
18%
Responsive services and customer care 8%
Workforce issues 10%
A new business case – what we need to do• Capacity and skills of practitioners to negotiate and
influence when there is less central guidance and direction
• More open problem-solving by practitioners, senior officers and councillors
• Building more effective relationships within and between organisations
• Find the right language - reflecting different political views, resonating with local priorities and making sense to all kinds of communities
Further information on the LG Improvement and Development’s equality work is available from:
www.idea.gov.uk/diversity
The Equality Frameworks are available from:
www.local.gov.uk/equalityframeworks
Network and share good practice with local government and partner colleagues on our Equality CoP:
www.communities.idea.gov.uk