Screening Form

SCREENING FORM

Background

Under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the FE Sector is required to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity:

• between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation;
• between men and women generally;
• between persons with a disability and persons without; and,
• between persons with dependants and persons without.

Without prejudice to the obligations set out above, the FE Sector is also required to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group.

Belfast metropolitan College’s (Belfast Met) 2nd Generation Equality Scheme was approved by the Equality Commission in January 2012. The College is committed to equality screening all policy decisions.

Screening

The College uses the tools of screening and equality impact assessment to assess the likely impact of a policy on the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations.

Equality Commission guidance states:-

‘In the context of Section 75, ‘policy’ is very broadly defined and it covers all the ways in which we carry out or propose to carry out our functions in relation to Northern Ireland. In respect of this Equality Scheme, the term policy is used for any (proposed/amended/existing) strategy, policy initiative or practice and/or decision, whether written or unwritten and irrespective of the label given to it, eg, ‘draft’, ‘pilot’, ‘high level’, or ‘sectoral’.

Completion of this equality screening exercise will lead to one of the following three outcomes:-

• the policy has been ‘screened in’ for equality impact assessment
• the policy has been ‘screened out’ of an equality impact assessment but with mitigation measures or alternative policy has been proposed
• the policy has been ‘screened out’ of an equality impact assessment without mitigationmeasures or an alternative policy has been proposed.

1.0Information about the policy

1.1 Implementation factors

1.2Main stakeholders affected

1.3Other college policiesthat relate to this policy

1.4Available evidence

Evidence to help inform the screening process may take many forms. We must ensure that our screening decision is informed by relevant data. This can be obtained from MIS (quantitative data) or evidential/qualitative data (surveys, reports, conversations etc).

What evidence/information (both qualitative and quantitative) have you gathered to inform this policy? Specify details below.

1.5Needs, experiences and priorities

Taking into account the information referred to above, what considerations are essential to ensure those in the following categories can achieve equal access/fair participation in relation to this policy, and what actions the College will take to address these considerations?

(considerations may include access to courses (e.g. those with caring responsibility – action could be timetabling courses at different times, provision of crèche facilities, distance learning, use of Blackboard and technology); Some faith groups need prayer time which may fall during a lesson – Action to promote equality is to ensue Attendance policy incorporates permission for approved absences for students).

**The needs, experiences and priorities to ensure that the categories can achieve access/ fair participation are covered within the College, by the following policies - Extenuating Circumstances Policy and Appeals Policy. These policies and associated procedures are open to all without favour to any particular grouping. The policy details are explained as part of the College, Programme and Module induction process, with support provide as necessary during pastoral care sessions. Additionally the Course provides support through the Learner Services in the form of evaluation to assess requirements for supplementary time or resources as necessary.

Part 2

Introduction

Having collated relevant information in relation to Part 1, it is now necessary to use this information when making a decision as to whether or not there is a need to carry out an equality impact assessment.

In assessing the questions in Section 2 it will be necessary to determine the impact of the policy in respect of Section 75.

If the college’s conclusion is that there is amajorimpact in respect of one or more of the Section 75 equality of opportunity and/or good relations categories, then consideration should be given to subjecting the policy to the equality impact assessment procedure.

If the college’s conclusion is that there is a minorimpact in respect of one or more of the Section 75 equality categories and/or good relations categories, then consideration should still be given to proceeding with an equality impact assessment, or to:

• measures to mitigate the adverse impact; or
• the introduction of an alternative policy to better promote equality of opportunity and/or good relations.

If the college’s conclusion is that there is no impact, i.e. nonein respect of all of the Section 75 equality of opportunity and/or good relations categories, then the College may decide that the policy does not have any adverse impact or is likely to have any adverse impact on any of the Section 75 equality or good relations categories, then the policy is‘screened out’. If a policy is ‘screened out’ as having no relevance to equality of opportunity or good relations, the College must document the reasons for that decision in the screening form.

Reasons/Factors

‘Major’ impact

a)The policy is significant in terms of its strategic importance;

b)Potential equality impacts are unknown, because, for example, there is insufficient data upon which to make an assessment or because they are complex, and it would be appropriate to conduct an equality impact assessment in order to better assess them;

c)Potential equality and/or good relations impacts are likely to be adverse or are likely to be experienced disproportionately by groups of people including those who are marginalised or disadvantaged;

d)Further assessment offers a valuable way to examine the evidence and develop recommendations in respect of a policy about which there are concerns amongst affected individuals and representative groups, for example in respect of multiple identities (i.e. more than one equality category is impacted);

e)The policy is likely to be challenged by way of judicial review;

f)The policy is significant in terms of expenditure.

‘Minor’ impact

a)The policy is not unlawfully discriminatory and any residual potential impacts on people are judged to be negligible;

b)The policy, or certain proposals within it, are potentially unlawfully discriminatory, but this possibility can readily and easily be eliminated by making appropriate changes to the policy or by adopting appropriate mitigating measures;

c)Any equality impacts caused by the policy are intentional because they are specifically designed to promote equality of opportunity for particular groups of disadvantaged people;

d)By amending the policy there are better opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity and/or good relations.

None

The policy has no relevance to equality of opportunity or good relations.

a)The policy is purely technical in nature and will have no bearing in terms of its likely impact on equality of opportunity or good relations for people within the equality and good relations categories.

Taking into account the evidence presented above, consider and comment on the likely impact on equality of opportunity and good relations for those affected by this policy, in any way, for each of the equality and good relations categories, by applying the screening questions given overleaf and indicate the level of impact on the group i.e. minor, major or none.
2.0Screening questions

**The College Higher Education Assessments Policy and the associated processes, guidelines are in place to ensure that no one is disadvantaged under any section 75 categories, with the opportunities to request additional support through Learner Services, request extensions and consideration under the College Extenuating Circumstances Policy and/or challenge through the College Appeals Policy.

The College Higher Education Policy is a neutral policy with the other College Policies (Extenuating Circumstance. Appeals) in place to redress an issues not already identified and where reasonable adjustments are not currently in place

Part 3

3.0Screening decision

If Option 1 is identified proceed to Part 4 of the form.