CIEP Achieving Equality Delivery PlanV0.4
NWIEP SUB REGIONAL PROGRAMMES DELIVERY PLAN TEMPLATE AND GUIDANCE
1. Partnership DetailsSub Regional Partnership: / CIEP
Programme Manager: / Annie Gallagher,
Accountable Body: / Cumbria County Council, The Courts, Carlisle, CA3 8NA, Lucy Black,
2. Description/Overview & Strategic Focus
Description/Overview
Outcome
The project will enable and trial an inter-organisational approach to ensuring fair and accessible access to services for all in Cumbria by embedding the Equality Framework for Local Government.
The project will also work with the regional Equality Gateway project to build on good practice, create efficiencies in approach and disseminate best practice.
Deliverable
Districts are assessed as Achieving and actions from assessment are addressed.
Build on the success of Year 1 to ensure the development of legacy actions for managing through potentially reduced resources
Develop the management and delivery framework collaboratively and individually towards external assessment as ‘Excellent’ under the EFLG
The emphasis in this project is less on the political and leadership challenges and more upon the implementation and embedding at service level, where the greatest capacity challenges exist in moving to become Achieving authorities.
Strategic Focus:
Emphasise improvement, emphasises efficiency: Support to empower and increase staff confidence in the delivery of equal outcomes for customers and employees.
Shared approaches to Single Equality Schemes, Equality Impact assessments, Training and development reduces duplication and enables councils to focus on delivering outcomes rather than documentation
Joint Service level Agreements with Equality groups (AWAZ, Cumbria Disability Network and Cumbria Outreach) maintains the third sector links and increases quality of information about customers.
Cumbria CC have negotiated with IDeA to carry out a joint assessment of all 6 Districts on the Equality Framework (a first nationally). Not only is this efficient, and ground breaking and it also making a saving per district of £800 each.
Think place-based, think sector-led: Commissioning and using Equality mapping will reinforce the equality elements of Total Place for the delivery of frontline services across the authorities
Learn to share, share to learn: External assessment against the EFLG is rooted in peer challenge and shared working. Events within the region through the Equality Gateway will further support this approach. Professional expertise shared and kept up to date.
Cultivate community accountability: focused work is all about tailoring services to the individual wants and needs of the customer. The Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG) drives accountability and customer service as a core principle
Cumbria’s Equality Framework for Local Government Baselines as of 28th September 2009
Local Authority / Current position
Cumbria County Council / Achieving (Externally assessed at Level 3 of the ESLG)
Plans in place for Excellent by 2012
Allerdale / Developing (Self assessment at level 2 of the ESLG)
Developing plans for reaching Achieving
Barrow / Developing (Self assessment at level 1 of the ESLG)
No clear plans for reaching Achieving
Carlisle / Developing (Self assessment at level 2 of the ESLG)
Ambition to self assess as Achieving 2010
Copeland / Developing (Self assessment at level 2 of the ESLG)
Developing plans for reaching Achieving
Eden / Developing (Self assessment at level 2 of the ESLG)
Developing plans for reaching Achieving
South Lakeland / Developing (Self assessment at level 2 of the ESLG)
Ambition to self assess as Achieving 2010
3. Description of Governance Arrangements
Equality For All Working Group chaired by County Council Equality & Cohesion Manager – Officer group, meets monthly.
Member Steering Groupmade up of members from each District Council and the County Council, meets monthly
Cllr Elizabeth Mallinson: CumbriaCounty Council Portfolio Holder Equality (Organisational development)
Cllr Ollie Flitcroft: Barrow Borough Council Member Champion Equality
Cllr Olwyn Luckley: CarlisleCity Council Portfolio Holder Equality
Cllr Chris Gerrard: Allerdale District Council Portfolio Holder Equality
Cllr Hilary Stephenson: South Lakeland District Council Portfolio Holder Equality
Cllr Albert Richardson: Eden District Council Portfolio Holder Equality
Cllr Norman Williams: Copeland Borough Council Portfolio Holder Equality
CIEP - Programme Board made up of CEOs & Directors of partner organisations, meets six weekly and a RAG report is sent to this updating the board on progress.
4. Communications Plan
Key Messages / Recipients of Message / Method of Communication / Frequency
Promote the collaborative working on the EFLG element of the project. / Members of the Equality & Diversity Community of Practice on the IDeA website / Publish a report on Cumbria CC website / Once in Q4
Evidence the links between best practice in equality and improvement to services and cost savings / Members of the Equality & Diversity Community of Practice on the IDeA website / Publish a paper on Cumbria CC website / Once in Q4
Project progress/achievements / District and County officers, regional council officers, third sector organisations and customer groups / Dissemination events and regional conference / X 4
Project Progress / CIEP, Steering Group, Member Steering Group and E&D Partnerships. Also cross county working groups and chief executives group. / Updates to boards / Monthly
Project Progress / General public. / Article in the County Council “Equality Matters” publication and on the website / X 2
Benchmarking with other areas / region
5. Outcomes, Actions and Measures
AB / C / D / E / F
Equality for All
Councils to be assessed as ‘achieving’ against the Equality Framework for Local Government
The development of joint legacy actions for working towards ‘Excellent’ of the Equality Framwork for Local Government (EFLG) throughpotentially reduced resources / Actions
Preparation for External assessment of District Councils
Support existing cross council shared working groups to embedded equalities into practice[1]
External Assessment
Complete Shared Equality Impact Assessments (EIA’s)
Councils prepare individual plans towards assessment as ‘Excellent’ councils under EFLG
Councils individual plans form the basis of a joint plan leading to serious consideration of a shared Equality & Diversity service between the county and the districts / Outputs
District Councils develop information on the equality strands in their area[2]
Coaching, mentoring and support for key personnel in each council
Elected members group supported to develop the role of E&D portfolio holder
Submission to I&DEA of self assessment reports
Reports from I&DEA on each councils position with areas for further improvement required
Strategy and plan with four tier structure completed
Action plans from each council
Proposal for shared service delivery for Equality and Diversity to be considered by all councils / Lag indicators
Progress towards ‘Excellent’ in all district councils
Shared service delivery for Equality & Diversity / Lead indicators
Results of the external assessment from I&DEA
All district service plans include equalities
Quick Guide to equality in each district
Self assessment reports completed
Reports available
Completed shared Equality Impact Assessment (EIA’s)
Action plans completed
Proposal produced
Actions and Outputs
A & B / C / D
Project Titles & Outcomes / Actions / Outputs
Output / Quarter
Equality for All
Councils to be assessed as ‘achieving’ against the Equality Framework for Local Government / Preparation for External assessment of District Councils / Support existing cross council shared working groups to embed equalities into practice. / 1,2,3
District Councils develop information on the equality strands in their area / 2
Coaching,mentoring and support for key personnel in each council / 1,2,3
Elected members group supported to develop the role of the E&D Portfolio holder / 1,2
Self assessment reports ready for external assessment / 2/3
External Assessment / Reports from I&DEA on each councils position with areas for further improvement if required / 3
Complete shared Equality Impact Assessments (EIA’s) / Strategy and plan with a 4 tier structure completed / 3
The development of joint legacy actions for working towards ‘Excellent’ of the Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG) through potentially reduced resources / Councils prepare individual plans towards assessment as ‘Excellent’ councils under the EFLG / Action plans from each council / 4
Councils individual plans form the basis for a joint plan leading to serious consideration of a shared Equality & Diversity service between the county and the districts / Proposal for shared service delivery for Equality and Diversity to be considered by all council / 4
Lag Indicators, Baselines & Targets Table
A & B / E
Project Titles & Outcomes / Lag Indicators
Indicator / Baseline / Date / Target / Date
Equalities
The development of joint legacy actions for working towards ‘Excellent’ of the Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG) through existing resources / Progress towards Excellent in all district councils. / Towards Achieving / March 2010 / Towards Excellent / June 2011
Lead Indicators, Baselines & Targets Table
A & B / F
Project Titles & Outcomes / Lead Indicators
Indicator / Baseline / Date / Target / Quarter
Equality for All
Councils to be assessed as ‘achieving’ against the Equality Framework for Local Government / Equality framework / Developing / Sept 2009 / Achieving / 3
6. Finance
Project Costs / Spend Profile
Q1: July-Sept 2010 / Q2: Sept-Dec 2010 / Q3: Jan-March 2011 / Q4: April-June 2011
Project Title / NWIEP Revenue / £105, 600 / £24, 332 / £25, 322 / £31, 322 / £24, 624
NWIEP Capital / £0.00 / £0.00 / £0.00 / £0.00 / £0.00
TOTAL / £105, 600 / £24, 332 / £25, 322 / £31, 322 / £24, 624
7. Efficiencies
Project / Additional Funding
Additional Funding Source / Type of Additional Funding / Amount
Equality for All / District Councils / For Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) with 3rd sector organisations / £156, 000
In-Year Project Efficiencies / Efficiencies Profile
Q1: July-Sept 2010 / Q2: Sept-Dec 2010 / Q3: Jan-March 2011 / Q4: April-June 2011
Equality for All / Cashable Savings / £156, 000 / £39,000 / £39,000 / £39,000 / £39,000
Non-Cashable Benefits / £219,650 / £53,712.50 / £53,712.50 / £58,512.50 / £53,712.50
Total / £375,650 / £92,712.50 / £92,712.50 / £97,512.50 / £92,712.50
Forecast Project Efficiencies / Efficiencies Profile
Delivered by July 2012 / Delivered by July 2013 / Delivered by July 2014 / Delivered by July 2015
Project Title / Cashable Savings / £624,000 / £156, 000 / £156, 000 / £156, 000 / £156, 000
Non-Cashable Benefits / £972,000 / £243,000 / £243,000 / £243,000 / £243,000
Total / £1,596,000 / £399,000 / £399,000 / £399,000 / £399,000
Non cashable benefits indicative break down for illustrative purposes only (not proposed model post June 2011)
6 x Equality officer (inc of on costs): 30,000x6=180,000
Training 10,000x6 =60,000
Dissemination 5,000x6 =30,000
Translation 10,000x6=60,000
TOTAL £ 333,000
Shared service as per CIEP project delivery model
2 officers (one lead, one support)
1 admin support
TOTAL -£90,000
Non cashable benefit £243,000
Potential Risk / Likelihood of Occurrence(Low, medium, high, very high) / Potential Impact on Project (Low, medium, high, very high) / Action being taken to avoid and/or manage risk / Responsibility for Managing the Risk
Project doesn't deliver / low / Very high / All need to ensure commitment to the program is maintained / Project manager
Legal framework established through the projects not implemented / medium / high / All districts need to ensure that the legal framework is implemented / Project manager
Project doesn't deliver outcome target of "Councils to be assessed as 'Achieving' against the Equality Framework for Local Government / low / Very high / Time frame in place post assessment to ensure that action can be taken to fill in the gaps of what is required to hit achieving / Project manager
Councils do not invest sufficient resource in place to deliver project / low / Very high / Regular briefings for councils. Action to address issues as and when they arise / Project managers & DCs
Councils dependent on project team beyond the end of the project / medium / low / Project team balance workload and support rather than deliver for councils / Project manager
Unexpected loss of key personnel / medium / Very high / All councils have replacement/back up staff
County council has contingency plan in place for loss of project team / Project manager & DCS
9. Return on Investment
Public sector organisations have worked together to gain the ‘Achieving’ status of the Equality Framework for Local Government. No other authority is engaged in this approach at present. The project is considered to be innovative and trail blazing by the I&DEA.
The expertise purchased as a result of this project will be shared and kept up to date through shared funding of a centralised resource.
Councils will work together across all key areas to deliver the improved outcome for customers, partners and employees who are protected by policy and legislation covered by the equalities agenda.
Key service groups will have embedded good equality practice in all service areas and will work jointly and share resources/personnel and information.
All public authorities covered by the project work together to be externally assessed as ‘Excellent’ under the EFLG. No other area has set this challenging target. This will result in far greater improvements for customers covered by the Equality strands and for employees working in councils. Cumbria a place where there truly will be ‘Equality for All.
10. Sustainability
The project is designed with on going sustainability central to success. The second outcome for year two of this project is the creation of a sustainable plan towards ‘Excellent’ under the EFLG and plans for shared working beyond the life of the project.
This should result in ongoing improvements all delivered within existing resources (pre the project funding).This would not have been possible without the pump priming funding from RIEP.
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1
[1]Workwithexistingcrosscountyanddistrictservicemanagers groupstodevelopjoint thematic EqualityImpactAssessmentswhich will be published on all councils websites and used to improve service delivery and ensure councils are compliant with Equalities legislation.
[2]A publication for all employees,councillors to enable them to articulate the Equality story in their area: to understand what their authority is doing to address any issues, to champion equality, to eliminate unlawful discrimination and to understand how they contribute to Equality for All.This publication will also be available for partners and customers.It will communicate progress, explain the equalities work and how councils are working together to ensure Equality for all by being externally assessed as 'Achieving Councils' under the Equality Framework for Local Government.