Action Measures

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Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
 
Public Authority Statutory Equality and Good Relations Duties 
Annual Progress Report 2019-20

Part B

 

1.  Number of action measures for this reporting period that have been:

              12                2   
       Fully achieved         Partially achieved         Not achieved

 

2.  Please outline below details on all actions that have been fully achieved in the reporting period.

2(a)
Please highlight what public life measures have been achieved to encourage disabled people to participate in public life at National, Regional and Local levels:

Level  Public Life Action Measures  Outputs  Outcomes / Impact 
National  N/A     
Regional  N/A     
Local  Equality Forum in place within Causeway Coast and Glens. Wide range of S75 groups represented on Equality Forum including a range of groups representing those with particular disabilities. The Equality Forum offers the opportunity for representatives to be involved in the on-going formation of public policy by Council.
Representatives from local Disability Groups invited to participate in consultations on major policy initiatives.  Involvement of a wide range of local disability groups in consultation initiatives in relation to the development of:
Council’s Corporate Strategy/Plan
Causeway Coast and Glens Development Plan		 These consultation exercises offered the opportunity for representatives to be involved in the formation of major policies by Council and its statutory partners.

 

2(b)
What training action measures were achieved in this reporting period?

 

  Training Measures  Outputs  Outcomes / Impact 
1 Induction Training Sessions  Quarterly induction training sessions for all new employees of Council.  These sessions include a section on equality, diversity and good relations.  New employees are aware of the legislative requirements relating to equality and good relations and that they have the basic skills and knowledge on which to build their awareness of equality and good relations issues.
2 Training Sessions for staff on: 
  • Dignity & Respect at Work   
  • Confidential Advisors  
  • Deaf Awareness 
 Training for all staff on a range of equality and disability issues.  Employees of Council have greater awareness of equality and disability issues affecting people with specific disabilities.

Promotion of positive attitudes towards people with a disability.  

 

 

 

2(c)
What Positive attitudes action measures in the area of Communications were achieved in this reporting period?

  Communications Action Measures   Outputs Outcome / Impact 
1  Attendance of Disability Champions at training and networking events.  Training and networking events for Disability Champions arranged on a quarterly basis by the Local Government Staff Commission.  Greater awareness and knowledge of issues facing people with disabilities and development of positive attitudes to people with a disability.
2  Improve accessibility for sign language users to access services at all civic buildings  Provision of a technology based solution to the provision of sign language interpretation.
Portable loop system available at each Civic Building.
Staff trained to operate the system and support users. 		 Greater accessibility to Council services and functions by people who use sign language as their first language.
3  Implementation of the “Just a Minute” Initiative within Council and the local areas  Provision of a system that enables Council staff and local business staff to interact more effectively with people who have speech and language difficulties. Greater accessibility to Council services and functions and integration within the community by people who have speech and language difficulties.
4  Improve disability awareness of staff via e-briefings, newsletters, staff meetings, emails, intranet and internet Provision of an awareness programme for staff commenced in January 2020.  Greater awareness of disability and equality issues.


 

 

 

2(d)
What action measures were achieved to ‘encourage others’ to promote the two duties:

  Encourage others Action Measures   Outputs Outcome / Impact 
1  Engage with town centre retailers to become JAM card friendly businesses  In January and February; 4 ‘JAM’ Card Friendly workshops for businesses who want to provide excellent customer service for all by becoming more disability friendly; took place in Ballycastle, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Limavady.   55 participants from 34 businesses and 5 P&P staff took part.  There is now a greater awareness regarding disability and improved understanding of the customer service needs of individuals who have a disability.
       

 

 

 

2 (e)
Please outline any additional action measures that were fully achieved other than those listed in the tables above:

  Action Measures fully implemented (other than Training and specific public life measures) Outputs Outcomes / Impact 
1 Screening of new and revised policies for impact on the Disability Duties.  Screening process included consideration of the Disability Duties.  Improved awareness of the Council’s obligations under the Disability Duties and inclusion in policy development work within Council.
2 Advice provided to disabled Councillors and staff on reasonable adjustments.  Practical actions and advice available on reasonable adjustments. Improved participation in the workplace by Councillors and staff with a disability.
3 Appropriate risk assessments conducted for individual needs.  Conduct risk assessments when necessary for Councillors and staff in relation to disability issues.  Improved work environments and participation in the workplace by Councillors and staff with a disability.
4 Improve accessibility for individuals with a disability to participate in physical activity and improve well-being  Provision of specialist equipment for individuals with a range of disabilities and their families to exercise and enjoy physical activity with others and by themselves.

Improved accessibility for individuals with Autism to swim in a suitable setting.		 Improved socialisation of individuals.  Improved access to appropriate physical activities.


  
 

 

3. Please outline what action measures have been partly achieved as follows:

  Action Measures partly achieved  Milestones/ Outputs  Outcomes/Impacts  Reasons not fully achieved
1  Develop communication policies, practices and procedures to ensure best practice.  Development of an Accessible Information Policy to be included within a wider Customer Services Strategy. 

Better promotion of equality for people with a disability.

Promotion of positive attitudes towards people with a disability. 

 Accessible Information Policy has been drafted and is to be included within Customer Services Strategy when completed.
2  To improve information for people with disabilities  Development of an information section on the website detailing accessible leisure in the 4 centres.
Improved information for individuals with Autism. 		 Improved information regarding facilities and accessible equipment/services available.  Date for completion is in the following reporting period, delays due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

 

 

4. Please outline what action measures have not been achieved and the reasons why.

  Action Measures not met  Reasons
1  N/A  N/A

 

 

 

5. What monitoring tools have been put in place to evaluate the degree to which actions have been effective / develop new opportunities for action?


(a) Qualitative

  • Review of substance of relevant Complaints/Comments
  • Feedback from service users
  • Review of the Disability Action Plan


(b) Quantitative

  • Number of complaints received regarding accessibility and disability related issues.
  • Number of requests for specific services received, eg interpretation services, information in alternative formats, etc
  • Number of training sessions provided and attendance at same
  • Audits undertaken as part of the “Every Customer Counts” initiative and number of actions in Action Plans delivered.

 

 

6. As a result of monitoring progress against actions has your organisation either:

 

  • made any revisions to your plan during the reporting period or 
  • taken any additional steps to meet the disability duties which were not outlined in your original disability action plan / any other changes?

 
No

If yes please outline below:

  Revised/Additional Action Measures  Performance Indicator  Timescale
1       
2       
3       
4       
5      

 

 

 
7. Do you intend to make any further revisions to your plan in light of your organisation’s annual review of the plan?  If so, please outline proposed changes?
The Disability Action Plan was fully reviewed in 2019/20 following the completion of an Audit of Inequalities and the completion of the Every Customer Counts initiative.
The Disability Action Plan was fully reviewed in 2019/20 following the completion of an Audit of Inequalities and the completion of the Every Customer Counts initiative.


 
i)  Outputs – defined as act of producing, amount of something produced over a period, processes undertaken to implement the action measure e.g. Undertook 10 training sessions with 100 people at customer service level. 
ii) Outcome / Impact – what specifically and tangibly has changed in making progress towards the duties? What impact can directly be attributed to taking this action? Indicate the results of undertaking this action e.g.  Evaluation indicating a tangible shift in attitudes before and after training.
iii)  National : Situations where people can influence policy at a high impact level e.g. Public Appointments
iv)  Regional: Situations where people can influence policy decision making at a middle impact level
v)  Local : Situations where people can influence policy decision making at lower impact level e.g. one off consultations, local fora.