Monitoring our Progress

What is Equality and Diversity Monitoring?

Equality and Diversity monitoring is the way we make sure that our policies, services and the way we treat our customers and employees are effective in meeting our commitment to eradicating discrimination and promoting fair chances.  It is a practical way of measuring our performance in relation to our commitment to Equality and Diversity.

The Council reviews information and data collected from consultation with members of the public and our strategic partners to assess the level of customer satisfaction, in relation to the six Equality strands, with our policies, functions, services and facilities. We use this assessment to determine how effective we are in meeting our customers’ and employees’ needs and in meeting our equality responsibilities and objectives.  Feedback provided from our Diversity Monitoring Forms is one of the ways we can spot inequalities and find better ways of doing things.  Our Diversity Guidelines provide detailed information about our monitoring.

Equality Impact Assessments are an important way in which we regularly monitor our service delivery and employment practices to see where changes may be needed in the future so that we can further improve our performance.  It enables us to set new targets for improving access to services and making them more relevant to the needs of the community, including the groups which are protected by law as well as marginalised or overlooked groups.

Through monitoring our services and activities, we can identify and address issues of inequality and direct or indirect discrimination.  Monitoring also covers local services which are delivered by the Council or by a third party such as the private sector/third sector on the Council’s behalf.

How do we Monitor?

We carry out monitoring of existing and proposed policies and services by:

• Consulting with our customers, employees and strategic partners.
• Reviewing and improving current methods of data collection .
• Analysing data.
• Undertaking Equality Impact Assessments.
• Reviewing and, where necessary, amending our policies, procedures and/or services.
• Regular reporting to Senior Management Team, the Customer Access and Equalities Group, and the Council’s Service Review Committee.
• Cabinet consideration of equality and diversity implications of a proposal prior to decision.

Monitoring allows us to measure:

• The level of customer and employee satisfaction with our policies, procedures and services.
• The extent to which we are meeting the diverse needs of our communities.
• The effects, or potential effects, of current or proposed policies, procedures and services on particular groups of people.
• The diversity of our workforce and other HR data.
• The diversity of our service users.