Equality Impact Assessment
Calculating the Equality Risk Score
You will need to calculate a risk score twice:
- On the inherent risk of the proposal itself (without considering any mitigating actions you may identify at the end of the Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) process)
- On the risk that remains (the residual risk) after mitigating actions have been identified.
This is necessary at both points to:
- Firstly, identify whether an EqIA needs to be completed for the proposal and;
- Secondly, to understand what risk would be left if the actions identified to mitigate against any adverse impact are implemented
Stage One - to get the inherent risk rating
- Use the Equalities Risk Criteria Table below and score each criterion on a scale of 1 - 4 for the impact and 1 - 4 on their likelihood of occurrence. Multiply these 2 scores together (Likelihood x Impact) to get a score for that criterion (this will range from 1 - 16).
- Record each of these scores in the table at the beginning of the EqIA template.
- Assess whether you need to carry out an EqIA using the guidance below (stage 2).
Stage Two - calculate whether an EqIA needs to be completed
If your inherent risk score (for any criteria) is:
12 - 16 or Red= High Risk. An EqIA must be completed. Significant risks which have to be actively managed; reduce the likelihood and/or impact through control measures.
6 - 9 or Amber= Medium Risk. An EqIA must be completed. Manageable risks, controls to be put in place; managers should consider the cost of implementing controls against the benefit in the reduction of risk exposure.
3 - 4 or Green= Low Risk. An EqIA must be completed
1 - 2 or Green= Low Risk. An EqIA does not have to be completed
Stage Three - to get the residual risk rating
- Repeat the process above when mitigating actions have been identified and evidenced in the table on page 3 of the EqIA template to calculate the residual risk
- Make a note of the residual risk score in the table on the first page of the EqIA template.
Equality Risk
| Impact | Low 1 | Moderate 2 | Substantial 3 | Critical 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal challenge to the Authority under the Public Sector Equality Duty | Complaint/initial challenge may easily be resolved | Internal investigation following a number of complaints or challenges | Ombudsman complaint following unresolved complaints or challenges | Risk of high level challenge resulting in Judicial Review |
| Financial costs/implications | Little or no additional financial implication as a result of this decision or proposal | Medium level implication with internal legal costs and internal resources | High financial impact - External legal advice and internal resources | Severe financial impact - legal costs and internal resources |
| People impacts | No or Low or level of impact on isolation, quality of life, achievement, access to services. Unlikely to result in harm or injury. Mitigating actions are sufficient | Significant quality of life issues i.e. Achievement, access to services. Minor to significant levels of harm, injury. mistreatment or abuse OR, low level of impact that is possible or likely to occur with over 500 people potentially affected | Serious Quality of Life issues i.e. Where isolation increases or vulnerability is greatly affected as a result. Injury and/or serious mistreatment or abuse of an individual for whom the Council has a responsibility OR, a medium level of impact that is likely to occur with over 500 people potentially affected | Death of an individual for whom the Council has a responsibility or serious mistreatment or abuse resulting in criminal charges OR High level of impact that is likely to occur, with potentially over 500 people potentially affected |
| Impact | Acceptable (1 to 4) | (5 to 8) | Actively managed (9 to 16) | Actively managed (9 to 16) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical (4) | 4 | 8 | 12 Significant risk | 16 Significant risk |
| Substantial (3) | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 Significant risk |
| Moderate (2) | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| Low (1) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Likelihood of occurrence | Very lively (1) | Unlikely (2) | Likely (3) | Very likely (4) |
The Protected Characteristics
Age - Where this is referred to, it refers to a person belonging to a particular age (e.g. 32-year-olds) or range of ages (e.g. 18 - 30-year-olds). This includes all ages, including children and young people and older people.
Disability - A person has a disability if s/he has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on that person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Gender reassignment - The process of transitioning from one gender to another.
Race - Refers to the protected characteristic of Race. It refers to a group of people defined by their race, colour, and nationality (including citizenship) ethnic or national origins.
Religion and belief - Religion has the meaning usually given to it, but belief includes religious and philosophical beliefs including lack of belief (e.g. Atheism). Generally, a belief should affect your life choices or the way you live for it to be included in the definition.
Marriage and civil partnership - Marriage is defined as a 'union between a man and a woman'. Same-sex couples can have their relationships legally recognised as 'civil partnerships' and from 29 March 2014, same-sex couples can also get married at certain religious venues. Civil partners must be treated the same as married couples on a wide range of legal matters.
Pregnancy and maternity - Pregnancy is the condition of being pregnant.
Maternity refers to the period of 26 weeks after the birth, which reflects the period of a woman's ordinary maternity leave entitlement in the employment context.
Sex (this was previously called 'gender') - A man or a woman.
Sexual orientation - Whether a person's sexual attraction is towards their own sex, the opposite sex or to both sexes
You are also protected if you are discriminated against because you are perceivedto have, or are associatedwith someone who has, a protected characteristic. For example, the Equality Act will protect people who are caring for a disabled child or relative. They will be protected by virtue of their association to that person (e.g. if the carer is refused a service because of the person they are caring for, this would amount to discrimination by association and they would be protected under the Equality Act)
Other - Although not explicitly protected by law, there are some other groups of people who may experience discrimination or disadvantage and may be impacted by certain decisions made by the council. These groups can also be considered within an equality impact assessment. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Carers
- Armed Forces (including veterans and families)
- People on low income
- People living in rural areas
Version and date
Version 1.2 August 2019
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