Equality Screening Template
The Council has a statutory duty to screen. This includes our strategies, plans, policies, legislative developments; and new ways of working such as the introduction, change or end of an existing service, grant funding arrangement or facility. This screening template is designed to help departments consider the likely equality impacts of their proposed decisions on different groups of customers, service users, staff and visitors.
Before carrying out an equality screening exercise it is important that you have received the necessary training first. To find out about the training needed or any other queries on screening, contact the Equality and Diversity Officer Lorraine Dennis on extension 6027 or Lisa McKee on extension 6310 or by email equality@belfastcity.gov.uk.
The accompanying Screening Guidance note provides straightforward advice on how to carry out equality screening exercises. Detailed information about the Section 75 equality duties and what they mean in practice is available on the Equality Commission’s website.
The screening template has 4 sections to complete. These are:
Section A - provides details about the policy / decision that is being screened
Section C - has 4 key questions in relation to obligations under the Disability Discrimination Order
Section D - is the formal record of the screening decision.
Section A
Details about the policy / decision to be screened
1. Title of policy / decision to be screened:- |
---|
Additional leave provisions for bereavement, miscarriage and fertility treatment |
2. Brief description of policy / decision to be screened:- |
---|
(Explain - Is this a new, revised or existing policy? Are there financial / legislative / procurement implications?) On 19 August 2022, SP&R Committee agreed that the Council consult with the Trades Unions on the proposed enhanced leave arrangements as follows: Parental Bereavement Leave and PayTo award 10 consecutive days bereavement leave, not solely in the case of a child under 18, but for the death of a close relative;To award 10 consecutive days full pay, not statutory pay, as a day one right with no qualifying service required; and To award 1 days paid leave to attend the funeral of an extended family member Paid Leave for MiscarriageTo treat miscarriage as a bereavement and offer 10 days’ bereavement leave on full pay to employees who suffer a miscarriage as a day one right. Fertility Treatment LeaveTo award 10 days full paid leave following any unsuccessful IVF treatment to employees who have undergone IVF treatment, as a day one right, in addition to the paid time off for medical appointments that already exists. Consultations began with the trade unions and on 15 December 2022, the following more favourable provision were agreed at JNCC: Parental Bereavement Leave and PayAward 10 consecutive days’ bereavement leave, not solely in the case of a child under 18, including the case of still birth for the partner, or the death of a close relative(1), or for those who have sole responsibility for the funeral arrangements. Award 10 consecutive days’ full pay, not statutory pay, as a day one right with no qualifying service required. Award 1 days paid leave to attend the funeral of an extended family member (2)
Paid Leave for MiscarriageTreat miscarriage as a bereavement and offer 10 days’ bereavement leave on full pay to employees who suffer a miscarriage as a day one right. Offer 3 days’ bereavement leave to an employee who is the partner/surrogate parents for someone who had a miscarriage. Fertility Treatment Leave:Award 10 days full paid leave following any unsuccessful IVF treatment to employees who have undergone IVF treatment, as a day one right in addition to the paid time off for medical appointments that already exists Offer 3 days’ leave to an employee who is the partner/surrogate parents for someone who had unsuccessful IVF treatment. |
3. Aims and objectives of the policy / decision to be screened |
---|
(What is the policy trying to achieve?) To introduce more favourable leave provisions as outlined above in the case of bereavement, fertility treatment and miscarriage. |
4. On whom will the policy / decision impact? |
|
---|---|
Consider the internal and external impacts (both actual or potential) and explain:- |
|
Staff | YES/ |
Service users | |
Other public sector organizations | |
Voluntary / community groups / trade unions | YES |
Others, please specify |
5. Are there linkages to other Agencies/Departments? |
---|
No |
Section B
Information on the consultation process, supporting evidence gathered and has 4 key questions outlining the likely impacts for equality and good relations
6. Outline consultation process planned or achieved |
---|
Consultations have taken place with the trade unions and agreement has been reached on the additional provisions through JNCC on 15 December 2022. |
7. Available evidence | ||
---|---|---|
What evidence / information (both qualitative and quantitative) have you gathered to inform this policy? Set out all evidence below to help inform your screening assessment. It is important to record information gathered from a variety of sources such as: monitoring information; complaints; research surveys; consultation exercises from other public authorities. |
||
Section 75 category |
Likely impact? |
Level of impact? Minor/Major/None |
Religious belief |
None |
None |
Political opinion |
None |
None |
Racial group |
None |
None |
Age |
None |
None |
Marital status |
None |
None |
Sexual orientation |
None |
None |
Men and women generally |
Introducing such proposals should have a positive equality impact as more favourable terms are being offered to employees in the case of bereavement, miscarriage and IVF. |
Minor |
Disability |
None |
None |
Dependants |
Introducing such proposals should have a positive equality impact as more favourable terms are being offered to employees in the case of bereavement, miscarriage and IVF.
|
Minor |
8. What is the likely impact (indicate if the policy impact is positive or negative) on equality of opportunity for those affected by this policy, for each of the Section 75 equality categories? What is the level of impact? | ||
---|---|---|
Section 75 category |
If Yes, provide details |
If No, provide reasons |
Religious belief |
None |
This policy is unlikely to have any impact on any particular religious group.
|
Political opinion |
None
|
This policy is unlikely to have any impact on any group of employees identified as having a particular political opinion.
|
Racial group |
None
|
This policy is unlikely to have any impact on any particular racial group.
|
Age |
None
|
This policy is unlikely to have any impact on any particular age group |
Marital status |
None
|
This policy is unlikely to have any impact on any group of employees identified as having a particular marital status.
|
Sexual orientation |
None
|
This policy is unlikely to have any impact on any group of employees identified as having a particular sexual orientation.
|
Men and women generally |
Minor. Positive. More favourable terms are being offered to employees in the case of bereavement, miscarriage and IVF
|
|
Disability |
None
|
This policy is unlikely to have any impact on any group of employees identified as having a disability.
|
Dependants |
Minor. Positive. More favourable terms are being offered to employees in the case of bereavement, miscarriage and IVF.
|
|
9. Are there opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity for people within the Section 75 equalities categories? |
||
---|---|---|
Section 75 category |
If Yes, provide details |
If No, provide reasons |
Religious belief |
|
No
|
Political opinion |
|
No
|
Racial group |
|
No |
Age |
|
No |
Marital status |
|
No |
Sexual orientation |
|
No |
Men and women generally |
More favourable terms are being offered to employees in the case of bereavement, miscarriage and IVF |
|
Disability |
|
No
|
Dependants |
More favourable terms are being offered to employees in the case of bereavement, miscarriage and IVF. |
|
10.To what extent is the policy likely to impact (positive or negatively) on good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group? What is the level of impact? | ||
---|---|---|
Good relations category |
Likely impact? |
Level of impact? Minor/Major/None |
Religious belief |
None |
None |
Political opinion |
None |
None |
Racial group |
None |
None |
11. Are there opportunities to better promote good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group? |
||
---|---|---|
Good relations category |
If Yes, provide details |
If No, provide reasons |
Religious belief |
None |
None |
Political opinion |
None |
None |
Racial group |
None |
None |
Section C
Belfast City Council also has legislative obligations to meet under the Disability Discrimination Order and Questions 12-13 relate to these two areas.
Consideration of Disability Duties
12. Does this proposed policy / decision provide an opportunity for the Council to better promote positive attitudes towards disabled people? |
---|
No |
13. Does this proposed policy / decision provide an opportunity to actively increase the participation by disabled people in public life? |
---|
No – these procedures are intended as internal documents for the managing of matters which are discreet to council employees. |
14. Multiple Identities. Provide details of data on the impact of the policy with multiple identities |
---|
None
Specify relevant Section 75 categories concerned. |
15. Monitoring Arrangements |
||
---|---|---|
Section 75 places a requirement the Council to have equality monitoring arrangements in place in order to assess the impact of policies and services etc; and to help identify barriers to fair participation and to better promote equality of opportunity. Outline what data you will collect in the future in order to monitor the impact of this policy / decision on equality, good relations and disability duties. |
||
Equality |
Good Relations |
Disability Duties |
Data will be collected and complaints will be monitored |
Data will be collected and complaints will be monitored |
Data will be collected and complaints will be monitored |
Section D
Formal Record of Screening Decision
Title of Proposed Policy / Decision being screened |
---|
Additional leave provisions for bereavement, miscarriage and fertility treatment. |
I can confirm that the proposed policy / decision has been screened for – |
|
---|---|
X |
equality of opportunity and good relations |
X |
disabilities duties |
On the basis of the answers to the screening questions, I recommend that this policy / decision is – (place an X in the appropriate box below) |
|
---|---|
|
*Screened In – Necessary to conduct a full EQIA |
X |
*Screened Out – No EQIA necessary (no impacts) No adverse impacts have been identified by this screening for any of the Section 75 groups and more favourable terms and conditions will be available to all employees |
* Screened Out - Mitigating Actions (minor impacts)
|
Formal Record of Screening Decision (cont)
Screening assessment completed by (Officer level) - |
|
---|---|
Name: Sharon Steele |
Date: 22 December 2022 |
Department : City and Organisational Strategy |
|
Signature: please insert a scanned image of your signature below
|
|
Screening decision approved by - | |
Name: Christine Sheridan | Date: 22 December 22 |
Department: City & Organisational Strategy
Signature: please insert a scanned image of your signature below
|
Please save the final version of the completed screening form and forward to the Equality and Diversity Officer – equality@belfastcity.gov.uk. The screening form will be placed on the BCC website and a link provided to the Council’s Section 75 consultees.
For more information about equality screening contact –
Lorraine Dennis
Equality & Diversity Officer (job-share)
Belfast City Council
City Hall
Belfast
BT1 5GS
Telephone: 028 90270511
equality@belfastcity.gov.uk