What is the Equality Standard for Local Government?
The Equality Standard for Local Government sets out a generic framework for local authorities like Northamptonshire County Council to mainstream and effectively audit equality across service areas and through which legal obligations to anti-discrimination laws can be met.
This requirement also contributes towards assisting the authority in developing a quality service to its diverse citizens.
From where did the Equality Standard originate?
The 'Equality Standard' builds on the Commission for Racial Equality's (CRE) Standard for Local Government, more usually referred to as the 'CRE Standard'.
However, the Equality Standard provides a framework which can incorporate a broader anti-discriminatory policy than race. Not only does it accommodate issues like gender and disability, but also other The Equality Standard was developed through the joint co-operation of the Employers' Organisation for Local Government, the Commission for Racial Equality, the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Disability Rights Commission and the Audit Commission.
What does the Equality Standard involve?
Through its five level framework, the Equality Standard for Local Government acts as a guide seeking to encourage a local response to local circumstances while securing continuous improvement. Targets applicable to each level need to be achieved before an authority can move on to the next level.
Level One:
Level One of the Equality Standard entails a commitment by local authorities to a Comprehensive Equality Policy committing the organisation to achieving equality. For more details please click on the link below:
Level Two:
To achieve Level Two of the Equality Standard local authorities must engage in a process of assessment and consultation, the findings of which must be made public. For more details please click on the link below:
Level Three:
To achieve Level Three of the Equality Standard local authorities must set equality objectives and targets for employment and service delivery. For more details please click on the link below:
Level Four:
To achieve Level Four of the Equality Standard local authorities must establish information systems and monitoring against targets. For more details please click on the link below:
Level Five:
To achieve Level Five of the Equality Standard local authorities must make considerable progress in achieving equal employment and service provision with regard to equality. For more details please click on the link below:
The commitments made in each level of the Equality Standard translate into action in four substantive areas:
- Leadership and Corporate commitment
- Consultation and community development and scrutiny
- Service delivery and customer care
- Employment and training
By fulfilling its commitments in these areas, Northamptonshire County Council aims to achieve 'Excellent' council status by 2006.
What is the County Council doing?
Compliance with the statutory duties imposed by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 will help Northamptonshire County Council to develop a more comprehensive system for integrating broader equality issues - like the Equality Standard.
This will entail the work being done in our Race Equality Scheme being incorporated into the broader framework of the Equality Standard. The Race Equality Scheme has provided the County Council with a framework for progressing and implementing the Equality Standard for Local Government.
The County Council has already achieved Level One of the Equality Standard, where it demonstrated its commitment at a corporate level by dedicating resources towards implementing the Equality Standard. For more information about our commitment download the Equality Policy Statement using the link below:
Level Two attained!
We have recently achieved one of our main corporate goals for 2005 by attaining Level Two of the Equality Standard. This has been confirmed by independent consultants.
To attain Level Two we:
- Engaged in impact assessments of all relevant policies, practices and procedures (this involved looking at the impact of our policies on different groups of residents), and completed this in December 2004
- Started consulting with groups who were adversely affected by any of our policies, practices or procedures and, in general, started enhancing our performance on equalities
- Developed our employment and procurement strategies, and started making preparations for an equal pay review
While we will, of course, continue to address the issues in Level Two in our future work, our attention will now turn towards attaining Level Three.
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