Equality Impact Analysis Forms

An Equality Analysis provides a process for an organisation to examine what affects their functions, policies and services may have on the services they provide and on the people who experience them.  Also to see whether they have the potential to affect people differently.  Their purpose is to identify and address the root causes of any inequalities or potential inequalities as result of policy, practice or service development.

Why analyse equality?

Assessing the potential impact on equality of proposed changes to policies, procedures, practices and services is one of the key ways in which Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust can show ‘due regard’. Not only is it a legal requirement but is also an effective way of improving policy development and service delivery. An Equality Analysis provides a useful framework for doing this as it ensures that organisations consider the needs of their communities, highlights steps to promote and improve equality and attempts to minimise discrimination.  It also provides for more evidence based decision making and policy making and can enhance efficiencies by identifying and support more specific and therefore more effective services. 

Equality Analysis also form part of the Trust’s overall equalities strategy and is seen as a critical way of assessing the potential impact on equalities of any policies, practices, decisions or service development.