Equality Impact Assessment of the Oral Health Strategy (PDF 120 KB)

The Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 requires the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to provide or secure the provision of health services in Northern Ireland designed to promote the physical and mental health of the community through the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness. This includes the provision of oral health care. åÊ åÊ

Annual Report to the Equality Commission 01-02 (PDF 103 KB)

The Department and its associated bodies are committed to jointly taking forward the Statutory equality obligations placed on them by Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. This has involved collaboration in drafting and submitting their Equality Schemes and then in jointly conducting a 2-stage consultation exercise on the equality implications of our policies. Stage 1 papers were issued in November/December 2000 seeking views, amongst other things, on the equality implications of our policies, and a composite Stage 2 paper in April 2001setting out the conclusions reached on the screening of policies and proposals for an Equality Impact Assessment programme. åÊ

Annual Report to the Equality Commission 02-03 (PDF 259 KB)

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is committed to report annually on progress towards implementing its statutory equality duties and related commitments set out in the Departments Equality Scheme. This Annual Report has been produced to meet the standards set out by the Equality Commission, and will assist the Commission in compiling its own annual report, as required by sub paragraph 5(1) (b) of schedule 8 to the Act. åÊ

Annual Report to the Equality Commission 03-04 (PDF 212 KB)

The Department’s Equality Scheme makes explicit the Minister’s and top management’s commitment to fulfil the Department’s statutory equality duties. This commitment is integrated into the Department’s work and clearly seen in its planning processes. Objectives and targets relating to Section 75 obligations feature in the Department’s strategic and operational plans, and the annual business plans of Directorates and Branches. Officials, where appropriate, include specific equality related targets or actions in their personal objectives which are subject to appraisal in the annual performance review. åÊ

Annual Report to the Equality Commission 04-05 (PDF 187 KB)

The Department’s Evaluation and Equality Unit provides advice and guidance to colleagues throughout the Department who are planning and undertaking reviews and evaluations of programmes, services and policies, and provides guidance and information to support the policy-making processes. In carrying out this function the Unit has continued to help colleagues to mainstream equality considerations into decision-making, reviews and evaluations from the earliest stages of these processes. åÊ

Equality Information Steering Group (PDF 10 KB)

Terms of Reference

DHSSPS & HPSS Statutory Equality Obligations (PDF 57 KB)

In the Department of Health, Social Services and Public safety (DHSSPS) Information and Statistics, and Research, are viewed as policies in their own right rather than support functions to other policies. This paper presents - in synoptic form - an overview of the information availability, quality and deficits required for DHSSPS and the HPSS to meet its statutory requirements, as known by Information and Analysis Unit (IAU) in the Department. åÊ

View of Clinical Genetic Services in Northern Ireland - Equality Impact Assessment (PDF 306 KB)

Public Consultation on the Future Development of Clinical Genetic Services - Part II (Equality Impact Assessment)

DHSSPS Statutory Equality Duties 2003 - 2004 (PDF 212 KB)

The Department’s Equality Scheme makes explicit the Minister’s and top management’s commitment to fulfil the Department’s statutory equality duties. This commitment is integrated into the Department’s work and clearly seen in its planning processes. Objectives and targets relating to Section 75 obligations feature in the Department’s strategic and operational plans, and the annual business plans of Directorates and Branches. Officials, where appropriate, include specific equality related targets or actions in their personal objectives which are subject to appraisal in the annual performance review. åÊ

Tackling Equality and Targeting Social Need - Improving the Infrastucture (PDF 101 KB)

This paper considers two recent initiatives in Northern Ireland relating to targeting social need and inequalities. While the paper deals with each separately they should be seen as complementary. Therefore, many of the points made in relation to one are also pertinent to the other. åÊ

Equality Project Brief (PDF 54 KB)

Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires each public authority, in carrying out its functions, to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity, and also to the desirability of promoting good relations. While the Department, and its associated bodies (includes Health and Social Services Boards, Trusts and Agencies) have made good progress in meeting the statutory obligations set out under Section 75, the work to date has mainly focused on processes, awareness raising, learning new ways to consult, and carrying out Equality Impact Assessments. åÊ

Review of Key Issues in Relation to Equality in the HPSS (PDF 296 KB)

The aim of this paper is to highlight the key issues as expressed by representative groups in research material and consultation responses received by the Department. Initially the majority of the issues identified have been gleaned from documentation such as press releases, research reports and a literature review commissioned by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. åÊ

Statutory Equality Obligations - DHSSPS Annual Progress Report (PDF 260KB)

The Department and its family of organisations made explicit their commitment to undertake on an annual basis a joint consult on the Region-Wide Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) programme, to take account of changing priorities and circumstances and to roll it forward one year. To inform this process, the Department developed a set of Key Factors and Guiding Principles based on those set down by the Equality Commission.

Equality Impact Assessment Guidance Framework (PDF 177 KB)

This document sets out a guidance framework for undertaking an EQIA, and has been approved by the Equality Steering Group and the Regional Equality Liaison Panel. The framework is designed to assist practitioners or managers having to undertake an EQIA for the first time. The framework will: - Introduce policy makers to an effective EQIA approach, setting out a recognised need for specific requirements and guidance on how to fulfil equality requirements; - Steer policy makers to where to seek help, including key documents and additional information sources. åÊ