GETTING OUR PRIORITIES RIGHT (GOPR)

EQUALITIES IMPACT ASSESSMENT

1. 1. Introduction

1.1 The public sector duties require the Scottish Government pay "due regard" to the need to:

• Eliminate discrimination, victimisation, harassment or other unlawful conduct that is prohibited under the Equality Act 2010;
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not; and
• Foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic.

These three requirements apply across the "protected characteristics" of age; disability; gender reassignment; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion and belief; sex and sexual orientation.

In effect, this means that equality considerations are integrated into all the functions and policies of Scottish Government Directorates and Agencies.

1.2 A key part of those duties is to impact access all of our policies to ensure that we do not inadvertently create a negative impact for equality groups and also that we actively seek the opportunity to promote equality of opportunity and to foster good relations.

2. Aims of the Guidance

The aim of this updated version of Getting our Priorities Right is to further strengthen frameworks to help all local child and adult service partners ensure that their decision making processes are robust. This is to ensure that they are well equipped to provide the best possible supports and protections for vulnerable children and families at risk from problematic substance use issues.

In this section of the consultation questions we are particularly interested in finding out your views on whether the guidance is meeting the needs of the following groups:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender
• Sexual orientation
• Gender reassignment
• Pregnancy or maternity
• Race
• Religion and Belief?

Your responses to the questions included will help us to carry out a full equality impact assessment of the guidance.

3. Questions

1. From your knowledge of the diverse needs of vulnerable children and families at risk from problematic substance use issues , can you provide any further information that you think we should have in this guidance? In addition, is there any other information you think we should obtain? How or where should we find this information?

2. Do you think the guidance will have a disproportionately negative impact on particular groups of people in our target audience?

3. If you think this guidance will have a negative impact on a particular group, why is this?

4. What positive impacts do you think the guidance will have on particular groups of people?

5. What changes to this guidance would you suggest to reduce any negative impact or enhance any positive impact you have identified?

6. When we complete our impact assessment on the guidance - are there any other significant issues we need to consider in relation to:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender
• Sexual orientation
• Gender reassignment
• Pregnancy or maternity
• Race
• Religion and Belief?