Equality Impact Assessments (EQIA)

What is an Equality Impact Assessment?

The purpose of an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) is to improve the work of Ascham Homes by making sure it does not discriminate and that, where possible, it promotes equality.

It is a way to make sure individuals and teams think carefully about the likely impact of their work on Waltham Forest Council tenants and leaseholders and take action to improve strategies, policies and projects, where appropriate. There is a legal requirement to consider the impact of some aspects of Ascham Homes work on race equality.

The EQIA focuses on assessing and recording the likely equalities impact of any Ascham Homes’ strategy, policy or project. There is a focus on assessing the impact on certain groups of people in terms of race, gender, age, disability, sexuality and faith (known as equality target groups). It involves anticipating the consequences of policies and projects on these groups and making sure that, as far as possible, any negative consequences are eliminated or minimised and opportunities for promoting equality are maximised.

The EQIA is carried out by completing a form. The first section of the form is used for a preliminary screening of the strategy, policy or project and the second section is used for a more detailed assessment.

What does Ascham Homes mean by an ‘impact’?

Ascham Homes looks at two possible impacts in its assessments:

A negative or adverse impact – where the impact could disadvantage one equality target group, or some equality target groups. This disadvantage may be differential, where the negative impact on one particular group of individuals or one equality target group is likely to be greater than on another. It should be noted that some negative impacts may be intended. The EQIA provides an opportunity to assess this. Example: An event that was held in a building with no induction loop facilities would have a negative or adverse impact on some attendees with a hearing impairment.

A positive impact - an impact that will have a positive impact on an equality target group, or some equality target groups, or improve equal opportunities and /or relationships between groups. This positive impact may be differential, where the positive impact on one particular group of individuals or one equality target group is likely to be greater than on another. Example: A targeted training programme for black and minority ethnic women would have a positive differential impact on black and minority ethnic women because they are currently under represented, compared with its impact on white women and all men are represented. It would not, however, necessarily have an adverse impact on white women or men.

Completed EQIA

Summaries of completed impact assessments from services within Ascham Homes are available on this page, and as new assessments are completed they will also be made available here.

If you would like more information on a particular Equality Impact Assessment, please contact the manager/ team who carried out the assessment.

To request free translation of these documents in community languages or large print or Braille, please contact:

Diversity Coordinator,

1 Wood Street,

Walthamstow,

London E17 3NU.

Telephone: 020 8496 4960;

e-mail: diversity@aschamhomes.org.uk

Minicom (for people with hearing difficulty): 020 8527 1750