Equality Impact Assessments Open Course
Learn how to complete effective Equality Impact Assessments. Assess equality impact, use evidence, identify risks and develop practical actions.
Learn how to complete effective Equality Impact Assessments. Assess equality impact, use evidence, identify risks and develop practical actions.
Equality Impact Assessments provide a structured way to consider how policies, decisions, services and organisational changes may affect different people. This practical open course takes delegates through the EIA process step by step, helping them identify potential impacts, use evidence effectively and develop meaningful actions.
Open courses are public Equality and Diversity UK training dates that anyone can book onto, ideal when you only need training for one or two people.
In‑house courses are private sessions delivered exclusively for a group of people from your organisation, on a date that suits you, with the option to tailor the content to your staff and setting.
Equality Impact Assessments, sometimes referred to as Equality Analysis, help organisations examine the potential equality implications of policies, practices, services and decisions.
Rather than considering equality after a decision has already been made, an effective EIA encourages organisations to think about who may be affected, what evidence is available, whether different groups could experience different outcomes and what action may be needed.
This open course provides a clear and practical introduction to the process. It assumes little or no previous experience of completing Equality Impact Assessments and takes delegates through each stage in a structured and accessible way.
Using examples, discussion and practical activities, delegates develop the confidence to apply Equality Impact Assessment principles within their own organisations.
The course is suitable for anyone involved in developing, reviewing, approving or implementing policies, services, projects or organisational decisions.
It is particularly useful for:
No previous experience of completing an Equality Impact Assessment is required. The course is designed to demystify the process and give delegates a practical framework they can take back to their organisation.
Policies and decisions that appear neutral can sometimes affect groups of people differently. Those effects may not always be obvious when a policy, service or organisational change is first being developed.
Equality Impact Assessments provide a structured opportunity to identify potential effects, examine the available evidence and consider whether changes or additional actions may be needed.
Consider who may be affected and identify where a policy, service, decision or organisational change could create different outcomes.
Use data, research, consultation and other evidence to understand potential impacts rather than relying on assumptions.
Develop practical actions to address potential disadvantage and strengthen positive equality outcomes.
The course takes delegates through a structured seven-stage process, helping them understand the thinking and evidence required at each stage of an assessment.
Clarify what is being proposed, why it is being introduced and whether a fuller equality assessment is required.
Identify the purpose of the assessment, who may be affected and the equality issues that need to be explored.
Identify relevant quantitative and qualitative evidence, consider what it tells you and recognise where important gaps remain.
Consider whose experiences and perspectives should inform the assessment and how meaningful engagement can strengthen the evidence.
Consider potential positive, negative and neutral impacts and whether particular groups may experience disadvantage.
Identify proportionate actions to address concerns, reduce negative impacts and strengthen positive equality outcomes.
Record decisions, monitor agreed actions, review the assessment and communicate or publish the outcome as appropriate.
A good EIA should make the decision-making process clear: what was considered, what evidence was used, whose experiences were taken into account, what potential impacts were identified and what action followed.
The course places Equality Impact Assessment within the wider context of equality legislation and organisational responsibilities.
Delegates explore relevant principles of the Equality Act 2010, including protected characteristics and discrimination, together with the Public Sector Equality Duty where this is relevant to their organisation or work.
Consider how policies and decisions may affect people across the protected characteristics and where different experiences or outcomes may arise.
Explore how apparently neutral policies or practices can sometimes create disadvantage and why potential equality impacts need careful consideration.
Understand how structured equality analysis can support thoughtful, transparent and evidence-informed decision-making.
A meaningful Equality Impact Assessment should be informed by evidence rather than assumptions about how people may be affected.
Delegates explore different sources of information and how evidence can be used to build a clearer picture of potential impact.
A lack of information does not necessarily mean there is no equality impact. Delegates explore how to recognise evidence gaps, avoid unsupported assumptions and identify what further information or engagement may be required.
Data alone may not explain how a policy or decision will be experienced in practice. Consultation can provide valuable insight into barriers, unintended consequences and issues that may otherwise be overlooked.
Identify the employees, service users, communities, representative groups or other stakeholders whose experiences may be relevant.
Engage early enough for people's experiences and evidence to genuinely influence the proposal or decision.
Use accessible and proportionate approaches that enable relevant stakeholders to contribute meaningfully.
One of the most important stages of an EIA is moving from gathering information to analysing what that information means.
Delegates explore how to distinguish between positive, negative and neutral impacts and how to consider whether particular groups may experience a policy or decision differently.
Where could the proposal improve access, participation, opportunity or outcomes for particular groups?
Could the proposal create or increase disadvantage, barriers or unequal outcomes for particular people or groups?
Is there evidence that the proposal is unlikely to create a significant differential equality impact?
An Equality Impact Assessment should inform decision-making. Where potential disadvantage is identified, delegates explore how to consider alternatives, adjustments and proportionate actions.
Where positive impacts are identified, the process can also help organisations consider how those benefits might be maintained or strengthened.
The value of an Equality Impact Assessment comes from the thinking, evidence, engagement and action behind it. Completing a template without meaningful analysis is not the same as carrying out an effective EIA.
The course is designed to be practical and interactive. Delegates work through examples and activities that help turn the EIA process into something they can apply within their own roles.
The supportive open-course environment also gives participants an opportunity to discuss common challenges, ask questions and learn from the experiences and approaches of delegates from other organisations.
By the end of the course, delegates should be better able to:
The course is delivered as a one-day interactive workshop using a mixture of trainer input, discussion, practical activities and examples.
Open Courses are delivered live online via Zoom.
The course runs from 10.00 am to 3.30 pm.
We charge £395 per delegate.
Our in-house EIA course can be tailored around your organisation's own policies, services, EIA documentation and decision-making processes. Delegates can work with examples that are directly relevant to their roles.
View In-House EIA TrainingOver 25 years' experience delivering equality, diversity and inclusion training, consultancy and professional development.
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