Part B, Annual Progress Report 2021-22
PART B - Section 49A of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended) and Disability Action Plans
1. Number of action measures for this reporting period that have been:
19 Fully achieved
6 Partially achieved
3 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: National[iii]
Public Life Action Measures: N/A
Outputs --
Outcomes / Impact[ii] --
Level: Regional[iv]
Public Life Action Measures: N/A
Outputs --
Outcomes / Impact[ii] --
Level: Local[v]
Public Life Action Measures:
Equality Forum continued to be used as a consultative and representative forum within Causeway Coast and Glens.
Representatives from local Disability Groups invited to participate in consultations on major policy initiatives.
People with a disability were supported to attend and fully engage in Council events and programmes
Inclusive programmes were facilitated for individuals with a disability
Outputs:
Wide range of S75 groups represented on Equality Forum including a range of groups representing those with particular disabilities.
Involvement of a wide range of local disability groups in consultation initiatives.
Events supported inclusion at both virtual and in person events and programmes
Inclusive participation in sport programmes were run
Outcomes / Impact[ii]:
The Equality Forum offers the opportunity for representatives to be involved in the on-going formation of public policy by Council.
These consultation exercises offered the opportunity representatives to be involved in the formation of major policies by Council and its statutory partners.
People with a disability were able to participate and socialise
People with a disability or health condition were able to enjoy and participate in physical activity initiatives to improve wellbeing
2(b)
What training action measures were achieved in this reporting period?
1
Training Action Measures: Induction Training Sessions
Outputs: Quarterly induction training sessions for all new employees of Council. These sessions include a section on equality, diversity and good relations.
Outcome / Impact: 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 Action Measures: Training Sessions for staff on: Equality Screening Rural Needs Assessment Policy Development Equality & Diversity Training Health & Wellbeing for Staff
Outputs: Training for relevant staff on a range of equality and disability issues.
Outcome / Impact: 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.
3
Training Action Measures: Awareness raising training for staff and elected members
Outputs: Monthly awareness emails to all staff and elected members
Outcome / Impact: Promotion of positive attitudes towards disabled people through acknowledging the contribution of people with a disability.
4
Training Action Measures: Members training programme
Outputs: Members training programme developed
Outcome / Impact: Training has been scheduled for the next reporting period. This will develop the capacity of members to ensure awareness of legal obligations in relation to employment and service delivery.
2(c)
What Positive attitudes action measures in the area of Communications were achieved in this reporting period?
1
Communications Action Measures: Improve accessibility for individuals with a disability to access information about all Council Services
Outputs: Easy Read was identified as important to support individuals to take part in consultations and understand communications
Outcome / Impact: 2 consultation processes incorporated Easy Read documents
2
Communications Action Measures: Attendance of Diversity Champion at training and networking events.
Outputs: Training and networking events for Disability Champions arranged by the Local Government Staff Commission
Outcome / Impact: Greater awareness and knowledge of issues facing people with disabilities and development of positive attitudes to people with a disability. Sharing of equality and diversity information between elected representatives and Councils.
3
Communications Action Measures: Improve disability awareness of staff via e-briefings, newsletters, staff meetings, emails, intranet and internet
Outputs: Provision of an awareness programme for staff continued in 2021 - 2022. Disability related topics were highlighted to staff.
Outcome / Impact: Greater awareness of disability and equality issues. Increased understanding and acceptance of staff regarding individuals within the S75 groupings.
4
Communications Action Measures: Training was provided to staff and elected members on Makaton. (Funded and implemented by Policing and Community Safety Partnership). Accessible communication section was extended in the Equality and Diversity toolkit.
Outputs: Individuals trained are now able to communicate using this language. Information resource provided by email to all staff and added to the staff portal. Easy Read package has been purchased to extend accessible communication provision.
Outcome / Impact: Improved accessible communication used by staff and elected representatives.
2 (d)
What action measures were achieved to ‘encourage others’ to promote the two duties:
1
Encourage others Action Measures: Improve disability awareness via information and links on the Council website
Outputs: Articles by the Diversity Champion provided via social media. Specific information provided on the website.
Outcome / Impact: Information provided to Citizens via the website and social media will raise awareness and acceptance.
2
Encourage others Action Measures: Encouraging consultation and asking people to feed into Councils decision making process
Outputs: Advertisement in local papers and via social media to encourage others to take part in our consultation exercises.
Outcome / Impact: New individuals joined the consultation list. New individuals/representatives joined the equality forum.
2 (e)
Please outline any additional action measures that were fully achieved other than those listed in the tables above:
1
Action Measures fully implemented (other than Training and specific public life measures): Screening of new and revised policies for impact on the Disability Duties.
Outputs: Screening process included consideration of the Disability Duties.
Outcomes / Impact: Improved awareness of the Council’s obligations under the Disability Duties and inclusion in policy development work within Council.
2
Action Measures fully implemented (other than Training and specific public life measures): Advice provided to disabled Councillors and staff on reasonable adjustments.
Outputs: Practical actions and advice available on reasonable adjustments.
Outcomes / Impact: Improved participation in the workplace by Councillors and staff with a disability.
3
Action Measures fully implemented (other than Training and specific public life measures): Appropriate risk assessments conducted for individual needs.
Outputs: Conduct risk assessments when necessary for Councillors and staff in relation to disability issues.
Outcomes / Impact: Improved work environments and participation in the workplace by Councillors and staff with a disability.
4
Action Measures fully implemented (other than Training and specific public life measures): Improve Disability awareness via information and links on the Council website
Outputs: The website has been updated to include a dedicated web-page detailing disability awareness information
Outcomes / Impact: Individuals accessing our website can be linked to information relating to various disabilities
5
Action Measures fully implemented (other than Training and specific public life measures): Review the feasibility of providing 1 additional changing places facility
Outputs: Identification of potential facilities
Outcomes / Impact: 2 accessible mobile changing units (commissioned by town and village management) to use borough wide
3.
Please outline what action measures have been partly achieved as follows:
1
Action Measures partly achieved: Improve accessibility to changing places provision within the borough
Milestones/ Outputs: Two new accessible changing facilities have been commissioned.
Outcomes/Impacts: Once in place the number of facilities in the borough will be increased
Reasons not fully achieved: Time required to support the build of mobile facilities. It is planned the facilities will be in place fully at the end of the next reporting period.
2
Action Measures partly achieved: Every Customer Counts Initiative progressed
Milestones/ Outputs: Not all facilities have been audited
Outcomes/Impacts: Facilities suitable for all customers’ needs/requirements
Reasons not fully achieved: Audits have been planned over a longer period than the review
3
Action Measures partly achieved: Extension of JAM Card roll out
Milestones/ Outputs: Increase the number of retailers who take up the initiative
Outcomes/Impacts: Improved support for disabled people when engaging with retailers
Reasons not fully achieved: Due to the pandemic extended roll out was postponed
4
Action Measures partly achieved: Develop inclusive initiatives in partnership with Autism NI.
Milestones/ Outputs: Increased Autism friendly sport and well-being initiatives. Design of a sport and well-being Autism Friendly Development/Action Plan. Establish a working group to improve access
Outcomes/Impacts: Some Autism friendly initiatives took place. The Action plan has been drafted but has not progressed to approval.
Reasons not fully achieved: Due to the pandemic, social distancing restrictions some initiatives were postponed. One of the actions in the plan included the establishment of a working group which has not yet been completed.
5
Action Measures partly achieved: To improve information for people with disabilities
Milestones/ Outputs: Development of virtual information on the Leisure App detailing accessible leisure provisions in the 4 centres. Improved information for individuals with Autism.
Outcomes/Impacts: There has been improved information regarding facilities and accessible equipment/services available. However, there are plans to extend the provision further.
Reasons not fully achieved: The provision previously determined has been extended and actions have been set over the next 2 reporting periods.
6
Action Measures partly achieved: Review the role of organisational Diversity champions
Milestones/ Outputs: Extend the role to organisational directorates to sit on working groups
Outcomes/Impacts: Improved promotion of equality and embedding of equality matters.
Reasons not fully achieved: The role has been reviewed and calls for interest have been extended. However the initial meeting has been rescheduled until all staff are available to meet.
4.
Please outline what action measures have not been achieved and the reasons why.
1
Action Measures not met: Improve Learning Disability Awareness of staff via training.
Reasons: Face to face training of Leisure Services Staff was cancelled due to restrictions as a result of the pandemic. The training has been moved to the next reporting period.
2
Action Measures not met: The recruitment process review to identify adjustments for applicants with learning difficulties has been delayed to the next reporting period.
Reasons: The review had to be pushed back into the next reporting period as a result of covid and the increasing pressure on the OD/HR function.
3
Action Measures not met: Café Pavement Licensing to support individuals to fully participate in cultural life
Reasons: Council is still awaiting guidance from DfI
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?
Yes
If yes please outline below:
1
Revised/Additional Action Measures: The 2 Actions not achieved have been allocated extended timescales for completion
Performance Indicator: Learning Disability Staff Training and Review of recruitment process to support individuals with learning difficulties.
Timescale: End of next reporting period
2
Revised/Additional Action Measures: Increased staff awareness regarding health and wellbeing initiatives.
Performance Indicator: Performance indicator has been changed from ‘maintain a dedicated webpage on the staff portal’ to ‘inclusion in the staff news’ as this ensures greater coverage and contact with staff and elected members.
Timescale: Ongoing – 2020 - 2024
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?
No; the Disability Action Plan was fully reviewed in 2020/21 following the completion of an Audit of Inequalities and the continued adoption of the Every Customer Counts initiative and associated action plans.
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.