Preliminary Equality Impact Assessment – Vocational.pdf

Preliminary Equality Impact Assessment – Vocational Qualifications PRELIMINARY EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT 1. The purpose of a Preliminary Equality Impact Assessment is for the Department to assess whether new options or options for change are likely to impact on equality of opportunity or good relations, and seeking to identify which Section 75 groups, if any, would be adversely affected. The Department must record the outcome of the Preliminary Section 75 Assessment and will make this available on request. 2. It is essential that before completing this preliminary assessment you should satisfy yourself that you are familiar with the commitments outlined in the Department’s Equality Scheme. 3. This form should be completed when (a) considering options for a new policy, service or programme, or (b) changing an existing policy, service or programme. The form will help you to record the evidence for the decisions you have made and the final outcome of the Preliminary Equality Impact Assessment for new and/or changes to policies. 4. As part of a series of changes to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, new duties came into force on 1 January 2007. These new duties require that public authorities, when exercising their functions, must have due regard to the need:- - to promote positive attitudes towards disabled people; and - to encourage participation by disabled people in public life. The Preliminary Equality Impact Assessment has been revised in light of this new duty and appropriate screening questions have been added under 26 and 27. 5. Please contact DEL Equality Unit if you have any queries. Guidance on completion of Preliminary Equality Impact Assessment (DEL Equalit