Equality Impact Assessment

Initial Screening Form

1. Name of policy/function being assessed: / Compulsory Redundancy Programme – February 2011.
2. Is this a new or existing
policy/function? / New.
3.What is the function of the policy or procedure? / The need to save £1.3mfrom headcount costs – the initiative follows a VR exercise resulting in 11 voluntary redundancies being accepted.
The Compulsory programme is being run in specific departments identified as needing to make cost efficiencies.
4. What is the policy trying to achieve and why? / To reduce the University’s headcount, which will contribute to the reduction of a £3million deficit.
5. Who is intended to benefit and how? / Students, employees and partners as the cost savings realised will ensure the funding for continued operations in response to the CSR.
All employees will be compensated in line with the University’s Redundancy Policy
6.Is responsibility for the proposed policy shared with another department or organisation? If so who and how are responsibilities split or shared? You should make every effort to involve partners. / Responsibility is ultimately with the University Council, which is informed by SMT.
SMT have held briefings with managers and have met with the recognised Trade Unions and Employee Council. The University Council and the Student Union bodies are kept informed.
SMT, through the Human Resources Directorate will manage the programme in the at risk areas.
7. Are there any consequences for people according to difference in terms of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, sexuality or age? / No - as the criteria for identifying areas at risk have been selected on a range of issues affected by sustainability of operations as follows:
Academic Areas
  1. Alignment with Strategy and SMT overview of priorities
  2. Contractual and regulatory compliance
  3. Subject area sustainability
  4. Student Staff Ratio
  5. Total cost of provision including technical and facilities support
  6. Links to other income streams (research and enterprise)
  7. Links of research and enterprise activity to core academic delivery
PSE Areas
  1. Alignment with Strategy and SMT overview of priorities
  2. Contractual and regulatory compliance
  3. Reflect impact of changes in academic provision
  4. Department activities viewed from business criticality
  5. Department costs compared to demand for /complexity of activity
  6. Review of fixed term contracts

8. Is there the possibility of discriminating unlawfully, directly or indirectly, against people from any equalities groups? / No. Each affected group will be assessed against objective skills criteriapulled from the skills requirements in jds/role profiles as follows:
  • Clarity on role
  • Work rate
  • Planning and prioritising
  • Subject knowledge
  • Adaptability to change
  • Personal accountability
  • Initiative for outward facing activity
  • Working relationships
  • Team working
  • Disciplinary record
  • Complaints from students

9.Could there be an effect on relations between certain groups? / No- as above.
10. Does the policy explicitly involve, or focus on a particular equalities group, i.e. because they have particular needs? / No
If the answers are‘no’ to questions7-10then there is no need to proceed to a full impact assessment and this form should then be signed off as appropriate.
If ‘yes’ then a full impact assessment must be completed.
Signed(prime author of policy under review)
Job title People Engagement Director
Date 8th February 2011
Countersigned by SMT member on behalf of Vice Chancellor
Job title Deputy Vice Chancellor
Date 9th February 2011

Any queries concerning the completion of this form should be addressed to the Equality and Diversity Service.

When completed a copy of this form should be emailed to the Equality and Diversity Service .

EIA Initial Screening Form - CR Prog Feb 2011 - without signatures for webCR Programme Feb 2011