Equality Impact Assessments
For more information on EIA's please contact the Diversity and Inclusion Team at inclusion@bps.org.uk.
What is an Equality Impact Assessment?
An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool that helps us to place equality, diversity, cohesion and integration at the heart of everything we do and make sure our strategies, policies, services and functions do what they are intended to do for everybody.
Carrying out an EIA involves assessing the likely (or actual) effects of policies, practices and proposals on people in respect of protected equality characteristics.
This includes looking for opportunities to promote equality and equity that may have previously been missed, as well as negative or adverse impacts that can be removed or mitigated where possible
What are the protected characteristics included in the BPS EIA process?
- Age
- Race
- Gender Reassignment
- Religion and Belief
- Sexual Orientation
- Sex
- Pregnancy and Maternity
- Marriage and Civil Partnership
- Disability
We also encourage, where possible, exploration of the following:
- Socio-economic background
- Caring responsibilities
- Intersectionality
- Equity
Our EIA process is as follows:
Scope
- Why are we doing an EIA?
- Is the EIA strategic, operational or exploratory
- What is the background to the EIA?
- What is the proposal?
- How much evidence is already available?
- What are the timeframes for completion?
Assess and action
- Where is the evidence?
- Do we have the data?
- How will we involve those who might be impacted?
- What is the assessment telling us?
- Are there adverse impacts?
- Are the actions specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timebound?
Sign-off and review
- Have our actions been implemented?
- Where is the evidence of implementation?
- What are the measurable outcomes?
- Do we need to review again?