Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS White Paper

01 Dec 2010

The NHS White Paper, Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS, sets out the Government's long-term vision for the future of the NHS. The vision builds on the core values and principles of the NHS - a comprehensive service, available to all, free at the point of use, based on need, not ability to pay.

It sets out how the Department of Health will:
- put patients at the heart of everything the NHS does;
- focus on continuously improving those things that really matter to patients - the outcome of their healthcare; and
- empower and liberate clinicians to innovate, with the freedom to focus on improving healthcare services

Healthy Lives, Healthy People: White Paper

01 Dec 2010

This White Paper sets out the Government's long-term vision for the future of public health in England. The aim is to create a 'wellness' service (Public Health England) and to strengthen both national and local leadership.

User Engagement Report

12 Sep 2010

This User Engagement Report maps the engagement structures in place to gather the views of 4 key groups of disadvantaged people across the East Midlands region.  The groups are:

• offenders
• people with mental health problems
• people with learning disabilities
• care leavers

The report is organised on a sub-regional basis and gives a snap-shot of structures in place in the summer of 2010.

Equality + Efficiency = Excellence

07 Jul 2010

In response to the recession and squeeze on public sector finances, Capital Ambition has been working with London authorities to deepen their understanding of the impact of the recession on London and share information on how councils are responding to the challenge. Earlier this year they produced an innovation and good practice guide called Responding to recession showcasing the actions local authorities in London are taking to help their areas through the recession.

This booklet continues to build on this work showcasing local perspectives on tackling inequality for greater efficiency. It provides innovative and practical examples of how authorities have been promoting equality to deliver efficient and effective everyday services.

The Audit Commission is clear that promoting equality and tackling discrimination is central to their core role of assessing whether public services provide value for money. Councils and their partners will be judged in the Comprehensive Area Assessment upon how well they understand the local impact of the recession and are responding to mitigate the impact on their communities and prepare for the upturn. This booklet is intended to kick start local and Londonwide thinking on how equality and efficiency is reconciled to deliver excellent and effective public services.

East Midland’s Police Forces- Steps to becoming an equality purchaser, Guidance for Contractors and Suppliers

07 Jul 2010

 This Steps to becoming an equality purchaser, Guidance for Contractors and Suppliers is an example of good practice around the equalities and diversity and procurement agenda. This East Midlands Forces are committed to providing an excellent service in all that we do. We desire to have a national reputation that is second to none. We fully acknowledge our influence as a positive force for good within communities and our ability to build community cohesion, provide re-assurance and tackle criminality.

Delivering through people: The Local Government Workforce Strategy

07 Jul 2010

The strategy aims to support councils in achieving the skilled, motivated, flexible and diverse workforces they need to deliver value for money services that make a difference to the communities they serve.

Equality, Diversity and the Procurement Process: A guide for Contractors, Suppliers and Consultants

07 Jul 2010

Leed City Council demonstrates good practice in integrating equality and diversity principles into their procurement practices.

Leeds is a cosmopolitan city. It is a city of many cultures, languages, races, religions and lifestyles. It is a welcoming city to immigrants and there is a mix of very different neighbourhoods. Despite this there is still evidence of unfair discrimination against people because of their race, faith, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation or lifestyle. Equality is about treating people fairly and ensuring that we do not unfairly discriminate against particular individuals, groups or communities. Diversity is about understanding that each individual is unique and will have different experiences, expectations and needs.

Leeds City Council spends millions of pounds every year on contracts with private and voluntary organisations for goods, works and services. All groups in our communities have a right to expect that public money is spent on local services, which suit their needs. And that it is spent in a way which promotes equality of opportunity and delivers high quality goods and services. Promoting equality and diversity through procurement is important and it is considered as an integral part of the contract. Where one or more of the council’s functions is carried out by an external contractor, the council remains responsible for ensuring discrimination does not occur. Contractors themselves must not discriminate, but they do not have the same legal obligation to promote equality of opportunity. So the council builds relevant equality considerations into the procurement process to ensure that contractor meet our requirements.

This guidance document explains the different ways that the council addresses equality and diversity issues in the procurement process. If you need further guidance in any of these areas please do not hesitate to contact the Procurement Unit

Equality Impact Assessment Form

07 Jul 2010

Leicestershire Constabulary demonstrate good practice in a simple Equality Impact Assessment Form.

Public Procurement: A valuable tool for equality

07 Jul 2010

Public Procurement: A Valuable Tool for Equality has been published by the Equality and Diveristy Forum.

Very useful guide describing how equalities fits into procurement, laws regulatiing public procurement, the power of public procurement and value for money issuses.

Tackling Violence against Women and Girls: A Guide to Good Practice Communications

07 Jul 2010

This guidance is intended to support communicators in their work to deliver the national strategy and all communications in the area of violence against women. Campaign and other activity must take conscious steps not to contradict the aims and beliefs contained in the strategy.

Equality and diversity communities of practice (CoPs)

07 Jul 2010

Communities of practice support professional networking across local government and the public sector. These communities of practice (CoPs) enable practitioners and staff working with the Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG) and other related equality issues to share experience and good practice.

CLICK HERE to access CoPs

Mainstreaming Equality Impact Assessments (EqIAs)- IDeA Case Study

07 Jul 2010

Norfolk County Council and Central Bedfordshire Council have been looking at ways to address some of the barriers to mainstreaming their approach to EqIAs. The work demonstrates how an evidence-based, systematic approach to EqIAs helps to deliver excellent services for all, assist with preparation for a comprehensive area assessment (CAA) inspection and shift organisational culture to the next level.

CLICK HERE to read more

Nottingham City Council’s Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) of its Local Area Agreement 2008-2011- IDeA Case Study

07 Jul 2010

Nottingham City Council worked with partners to identify a small number of local area agreement (LAA) outcomes which needed greater scrutiny and focused effort to tackle inequalities. The challenge was to get all partners working together to tackle and reduce these inequalities through the equality impact assessment (EqIA) of the LA A. The target was to ensure a clear approach to equality and diversity in Nottingham’s LAA 2008 to 2011. This promotes equality and diversity as well as helping identify and reduce inequalities.

CLICK HERE to read more 

Richmond upon Thames’ peer mentoring approach to Equality Impact Assessments- IDeA Case Study

07 Jul 2010

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames uses a peer mentoring approach to Equality Impact Assessments (EqIAs). This has helped the council to identify needs for service and policy areas. Service managers have gained knowledge and confidence in the understanding of EqIAs. They can now use a more robust approach to equality action planning.

CLICK HERE to read more

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham – identifying data gaps through service planning- IDeA Case Study

07 Jul 2010

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham has been investigating ways to embed equality and diversity in the corporate service planning process. Previously, equality issues had been covered in a separate action plan that often did not reflect strategic objectives. The council has developed a new approach, centred on the One Barking and Dagenham programme 'Understanding and Meeting our Customers’ Needs'. This has enabled the council to make better use of customer information, improve service delivery, and embed equality issues into the broader service planning process.

CLICK HERE to read more

Putting Hampshire on the equality map- IDeA Case Study

07 Jul 2010

Hampshire County Council has worked with third-sector partners over a number of years to develop a Diversity Network Project (DNP). The network supports voluntary sector organisations to meet the needs of individuals and communities experiencing exclusion from and barriers to full participation in their locality. The network aims to provide information and guidance across all equality strands through the promotion of training opportunities and events.

CLICK HERE to read more

The I&DeA Equality Newsletter

10 Jun 2010

Mainstreaming Equality Impact Assessments (EqIAs)

17 Mar 2010

Read how Norfolk County Council and Central Bedfordshire Council have embedded EqIAs into their organisations and service areas. See also how they have linked EqIAs to the comprehensive area assessment (CAA), local area agreement (LAA) and Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG)

Women in Local Government

17 Mar 2010

Find out what leading women in the public sector really think about working in local government – their frustrations, the people they most admire and what they would do to effect change in the workplace. Do their views and experiences chime with your own? Follow the link below to watch a brief film, drive the debate and add your comments using the box at the bottom of the page

Equality Framework Directive for Local Government further information

17 Mar 2010