Guidance on Cuts, Equality and Fairness

posted: 28/10/2010

In making cuts and changes to services, public bodies have to obey equality law. Equality law does not prevent public bodies from making difficult decisions about reorganisation, relocation, redundancies, and service cuts, nor does the law stop public authorities from making decisions that may affect one group more than another.

A Must: Equality Impact Assessments
But the public equality duties do enable public authorities to show they are making decisions in a fair, transparent and accountable way, considering the needs and the rights of different members of their community.

The law says public bodies have to carry out an assessment of the impact that changes to policies, procedures and practices could have on different equality groups. These assessments help public bodies make better decisions, based on robust evidence. Public bodies must then 'have regard to' the impact any changes and cuts would have on sections of the community protected by equality law.

The assessment does not have to be a document called an Equality Impact Assessment, although this is what the Equality and Human Rights Commission recommends, as it helps public authorities:

• ensure they have a written record of the equality considerations they have taken into account
• ensure that their decision includes a consideration of the actions that would help to avoid or mitigate any unfair impact on particular equality groups
• make their decisions based on robust evidence
• make the decision-making process more transparent
• comply with the law.

If an Equality Impact Assessment is not done, then the public body must use an another method to systematically assess any adverse impact of a change in policy, procedure or practice.

It is a legal obligation which should remain a top priority, even in times of economic difficulty. Failure may result in authorities facing costly, time-consuming and reputation-damaging legal challenges.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched a short guide to help put fairness and transparency at the heart of the difficult financial decisions through meeting the legal obligation to assess equality impact. The guide covers:

• What the law requires now
• What the law requires from April 2011
• Guidance (for practitioners and decision-makers)
• Relevant case law
• Best practice examples
• FAQs Public authorities and service providers
• FAQs Service users and organisations

Short Guide

Full details

HIV in Tameside and Glossop

posted: 15/09/2010

George House Trust has completed a HIV Needs Assessment for Tameside and Glossop. It involved a survey and discussions with local people with HIV, a detailed study of the HIV statistics and use of treatment, community and social services. Key prefessionals involved in providing services were interviewed and a report with recommendations has been passed to Tameside & Glossop Primary Care Trust and Tameside Metropolitan Council. The Tameside and Glossop Needs Assessment is to assist HIV service planning and development.

There are significant changes that will be affecting the NHS, Tameside Adult Care, the AIDS Support Grant, and funding challenges, all of which mean the context for this assessment has many uncertainties.
 

Generally Working Well

Health, social and community care for Tameside & Glossop residents with and affected by HIV are generally well regarded and working well.
 

There are 157 residents of Tameside and Glossop known to be living with HIV, who were receiving HIV care in 2009. Around one quarter to one third of people with HIV do not yet know this; the total HIV population is likely to be around 210.
 

Survey and number crunching

30 people (20% of people living with HIV in the district) took part in an online and paper survey, others attended a focus group, and interviews with key professionals built on the findings from detailed analysis of the published statistical data and records of service use.
 

Prejudice, Stigma and Discrimination

The challenge that people with HIV face is that HIV is a long-term incurable condition that evokes strong prejudice and discrimination among others, and that bears disproportionately on sections of the community that are already marginalised. The HIV prejudice and discrimination is what makes accessing most services and resolving most of life’s challenges far more complex for people with HIV.
 

Challenges

Some of the challenges for Tameside and Glossop service providers and commissioners are 

• HIV among injecting drug users has become over-looked and there is a gap in HIV awareness, prevention and support services that risks further HIV transmissions. 
• Late diagnosis of HIV is a problem across North West England, and Tameside and Glossop has among the worst rates in England. 
• The proportion of older people (over 50 years) with HIV, who usually have more complex needs, is relatively high in Tameside & Glossop and is set to grow significantly, from around 19% to nearly half within the next ten years. 
• Children’s Social Work and Safeguarding Children Board needs to change their practice, to support and protect vulnerable young people with HIV. 
• Better co-ordination and strategic planning for HIV health and social care is required.
• Existing social care services have much to offer that would meet the needs of people with HIV locally. Outreach social services need to become HIV aware, accessible and HIV-friendly and be actively promoted to people with HIV.

HIV Harassment Investigation

posted: 08/12/2009

Public bodies in England, Scotland and Wales face an inquiry into how they deal with disability-related harassment by the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, the watchdog announced.
 

The commission promises that bodies that do not adequately uphold the rights of people with disabilities, including everyone living with HIV, could face legal action.

Public bodies have a legal duty to take steps to eliminate disability-related harassment – part of their disability equality duties.
 

The inquiry, which will publish its final report in early 2011, follows the inquest into the deaths of Fiona Pilkington and her disabled daughter Francesca. Their deaths followed years of harassment and exposed weak public responses to tackling this.
 

EHRC commissioner Mike Smith said: "Disabled people experiencing harassment can become conditioned to hostile treatment, or are sometimes told to ignore it by those around them - including by public authorities. They may also go to enormous lengths to avoid putting themselves at risk which can limit their freedom and opportunities. These are unacceptable outcomes for anyone in our society."
 

Evidence exists
The commission said it already had evidence that harassment of disabled people was widespread throughout Britain and that people with learning disabilities and mental health problems were at a particularly high risk. People living with HIV similarly may experience significant harassment and violence because of stigma.
 

What are Councils and Health Bodies actually doing?
The Inquiry will look at what public bodies are doing to end disability-related harassment and to deal with its causes, including prejudice and negative attitudes; and how public authorities have involved people with disabilities in eliminating harassment and its causes – for example by effective joined-up reporting procedures.
 

Ruth Scott, director of policy and campaigns at disability Scope, said: "We would like to see the inquiry focus on how public authorities are raising awareness of disability related harassment among disabled people, to increase their confidence in reporting such cases, and supporting and training frontline staff across public authorities to ensure they respond appropriately and promptly."
A document outlining the terms of reference will be published shortly for consultation and the terms will be finalised early next year. The whole review will be completed within the year.
 

Have you evidence?

The Inquiry will collect evidence from people with HIV and other disabilities and from people affected by disability-related harassment (such as HIV negative partners and family) and from public authorities on what they are doing to tackle the issue.
 

George House Trust will work with other HIV bodies to collect and submit evidence of HIV harassment. Few cases are ever reported, mainly because of HIV stigma and the belief that complaining won’t change things for the better. This investigation, linked to the use (or not) of public powers to deal with HIV stigma, is the best opportunity to make councils, police and health bodies take real action to cut HIV harassment in society.

If people have information on HIV harassment in NW England please contact HIV Policy worker Chris at George House Trust.
 

The investigation follows the recent publication of the UK HIV Stigma Index - information in our recent report and also here. 
 

Good practice too
The Inquiry may also aim to identify examples of good practice in eliminating disability related harassment and addressing its causes.
 

The Commission will consider how public authorities have complied with their obligations in relation to the Disability Equality Duty set out in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, the Human Rights Act, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
 

Useful Information and Guidance

Public Bodies Duties Guidance 
ECHR report – Promoting the safety and security of disabled people 

Sources          The ECHR press release              Community Care 
 

Lancashire Sexual Health Leader Job

posted: 30/06/2009

Lancashire PCT Chief Executives, Directors of Public Health and the Public Health Network are looking to appoint a Sexual Health leader to work for the network across the pan-Lancashire area (this means the shire county of Lancashire, along with the two unitary districts of Blackpool, and Blackburn with Darwen).

On this interactive health map it is the whole area, in lighter green, centred on Preston, and includes Lancaster.

The post holder will be Programme Manager for Sexual Health and responsible for developing and implementing the Network's sexual health strategy. Sexual health is a significant public health priority in England. There is the background of rising HIV and STI infections and capacity issues which mean services are not yet able to meet demand, and there is a strong national policy imperative driving change and improvement in sexual health services.

The Network aims to develop outcome measures, ensure quality standards and strive for excellence and modernisation in sexual health service provision to improve the sexual health of the population of pan-Lancashire whilst achieving organisational targets.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop and lead a programme combining varied work in the field of sexual health with the principles and values of health improvement and reducing health inequalities.

The Lancashire Public Health Network is a forward-looking, dynamic organisation and the post-holder will be a key player in engaging our stakeholders in reducing health inequalities and improving health. It is a collaboration between the Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in Lancashire, Blackpool, and Blackburn with Darwen.

Lancashire Public Health Network - Programme Manager: Sexual Health

37.5 hours per week
Band 8a
Salary: £37,996 - £45,596

12 Month fixed term / secondment contract

Job Pack      Job Description and Person Specification

Make your application online through the NHS Jobs website - click the orange Apply Now button at the bottom right of this page. Then create a login ID with your email address and fill in the form online. If you don't finish it and don't click submit, the system will email you a password so you can back to the form later.

Key details missing from the job pack

Closing Date - 7 July

Interview date - 27 July

Standard, not enhanced, Criminal Records Bureau check will be required

Further information - in the detailed job description and person specification, and much more information online at NHS Jobs, or by contacting Stephen Woods, Delivery Programme Manager 01772 777 001, or 0791 721 0866
 

Testing campaign - MPs meet activists

posted: 25/06/2009

Local campaigners met with MPs and senior primary care trust staff at parliament today to raise awareness of HIV and discuss ways to increase HIV testing.

The ‘Testing Local Leadership on HIV’ event, held at the House of Commons, was organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group on AIDS, Terrence Higgins Trust and NAT (National AIDS Trust). Local campaigners, included people from NorthWest England, and met with MPs from the constituencies with the highest HIV prevalence in England - where at least 2 in 1,000 people are diagnosed with HIV. These include Manchester, Salford and Blackpool - the only areas outside London and Brighton.

Speakers at the event were Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, David Borrow MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on AIDS, Neil Gerrard, MP for Walthamstow and Garry Brough, an HIV campaigner.

Proposals

Issues discussed included offering testing in a wider range of settings, increasing opportunities for community based testing and involving GPs more in testing high risk groups, in particular gay men and Africans.

Over 77,400 people are living with HIV in the UK - more than ever before, but over a quarter of these people (approximately 20,000) are undiagnosed and nearly a third are diagnosed late. As well as risking their own health, people who remain undiagnosed also risk the health of others, as those who don’t know their HIV status account for the majority of onward transmission.

Sir Nick Partridge, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust said “At the moment, thousands of people with HIV don’t know they have it, so it’s vital we increase testing. It needs to be quick and easy to take a test and clinics should be accessible both in terms of location and opening times. We hope the MPs who came along today will encourage their local NHS to take action and make HIV testing a priority.”

Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT comments “Increasing testing is one of the most significant things we can do about HIV in the UK. It requires national commitment and local action from MPs, health commissioners and those at frontline services. Working together we have a real opportunity to not only improve the health of many people who are undiagnosed but also to stop the spread of HIV.”