Mainstreaming equality outcomes: consultation analysis

Appendix A - Draft outcomes

Equality Outcome 1

Social Security Scotland will deliver a seamless service that is inclusive and where our clients are able to access the support they need.

How does it meet the general duty?

• Eliminate discrimination
• Advance equality of opportunity
• Foster good relations.

Impacted protected characteristics

This outcome cuts across all the protected characteristics

Link to strategic objectives

• Delivering a service with dignity, fairness and respect at its core
• Promoting equality and tackling poverty
• Ensuring efficiency and aligning our services with the wider public sector for the benefit of the people we serve.

How will we measure success?

• Client Insights Research
• Equality and Feedback Monitoring Form
• Client experience data
• Application journey measures (e.g. Number of applications measured against projections, application drop offs)
• Measurements associated with Social Security Charter
• Feedback from representative groups
• Requests for information in other forms
• Published Equality Impact Assessments.

Activities that could support achieving this outcome

• Inclusive communication project - key client materials and publications provided in various formats at the same time (e.g. BSL, Easy Read and various languages)
• Engagement with equality groups to inform decisions on physical environment for Social Security Scotland locations
• Ensuring feedback from delivery feeds back into service design being led by Social Security programme
• Roll out of the Social Security Scotland's Equality Impact Assessment process, with assurance checking to ensure recommendations are followed up
• Delivery of the Social Security Charter
• Tailored pre-application support delivered throughout local
• delivery areas
• Creation and delivery of Equality and Diversity training, ensuring every contact with our clients aligns to the strategic objectives.

Equality Outcome 2

Social Security Scotland will have a culture built on inclusivity where differences are supported, our people feel valued and they have opportunities to reach their full potential.

How does it meet the general duty?

• Eliminate discrimination
• Advance equality of opportunity
• Foster good relations.

Impacted protected characteristics

This outcome cuts across all the protected characteristics

Link to strategic objectives

• Delivering a service with dignity, fairness and respect at its core
• Promoting equality and tackling poverty.

How will we measure success?

• Staff survey
• Analysis across protected characteristics
• Staff Insights research
• Self-declaration (eHR data on protected characteristics)
• Retention rates
• Number of grievances
• Analysis of Human Resource data
• Organisational rewards
• Success of staff networks
• Reporting supporting specific equality duties
• Board member information.

Activities that could support achieving this outcome

• Creation of staff networks focused on equality
• Training and development opportunities that go further than mandatory e-learning e.g. staff awareness sessions. (Learning and Development to develop a programme of training)
• Overall culture work
• Communications - specific awareness weeks to highlight issues, raise awareness and engage staff
• Proactive outreach work targeting groups with protected characteristics
• Promotion of e-hr self-declaration
• Mental health first aiders
• Human Resource policies in place to support staff in attending religious commitments, medical appointments etc.
• Consideration given within estates facilities e.g. - prayer room, equipment for expressing mothers
• Reasonable adjustment process
• Inclusive communications
• Use Scottish Government Board reporting information to inform recruitment of Executive Advisory Body members.

Equality Outcome 3

Social Security Scotland will be an employer of choice and through our recruitment process we will look to build a workforce that is representative of the population of Scotland.

How does it meet the general duty?

• Eliminate discrimination
• Advance equality of opportunity
• Foster good relations.

Impacted protected characteristics

This outcome cuts across all the protected characteristics

Link to strategic objectives

• Delivering a service with dignity, fairness and respect at its core
• Promoting equality and tackling poverty

How will we measure success?

• Analysis of Human Resource data across protected characteristics
• Staff Insights research
• Feedback on recruitment process
• Recruitment research.

Activities that could support achieving this outcome

• Social Security Scotland recruitment policy
• Stakeholder input into recruitment materials
• Targeted workshops/roadshows with under-represented groups
• Insights research investigating experiences with the recruitment process specifically
• Mentoring opportunities
• Targeted Internships supporting equality groups
• Fair assessment process
• Representative workforce
• Early identification and actioning of possible reasonable adjustments required to improve employee's journey and experiences following recruitment.

Equality Outcome 4

Social Security Scotland uses the equality data (evidence) collected from clients, our people and other sources to respond to feedback and continually improve the service provided to all clients.

How does it meet the general duty?

• Eliminate discrimination
• Advance equality of opportunity
• Foster good relations.

Impacted protected characteristics

This outcome cuts across all the protected characteristics

Link to strategic objectives

• Delivering a service with dignity, fairness and respect at its core
• Promoting equality and tackling poverty.

How will we measure success?

• Equality Monitoring and Feedback Form
• Human Resource data
• Client and Staff Insights research
• Benefit take up rates
• Client experience data.

Activities that could support achieving this outcome

• Development and application of the Clients Insights Research programme.
• Development of accessible client surveys on individual interactions and overall experience when engaging with Social Security Scotland.
• Social Security Scotland reporting on Specific duties (Workforce/Gender/Disability Pay Gap)
• Workforce data analysis - using this to support specific reviews of staff polices
• Implementation of 'All ideas matters' staff suggestion scheme
• Supporting Scottish Government analysts to design and measure benefit take up
• Developing and embedding a continuous improvement culture
• Action plan following staff survey results
• Quality checks in place and performance improvement action plans for staff not achieving the desired standard.

Equality Outcome 5

Social Security Scotland service is delivered through having established partnerships with relevant public sector, third sector and community bodies providing clients person centred advice no matter their circumstances.

How does it meet the general duty?

• Eliminate discrimination
• Advance equality of opportunity
• Foster good relations.

Impacted protected characteristics

This outcome cuts across all the protected characteristics

Link to strategic objectives

• Delivering a service with dignity, fairness and respect at its core
• Promoting equality and tackling poverty
• Ensuring efficiency and aligning our services with the wider public sector for the benefit of the people we serve.

How will we measure success?

• Feedback from organisations
• Client experience feedback
• Equality and Feedback Monitoring Form
• Stakeholder consultations.

Activities that could support achieving this outcome

• Local delivery partnerships established - developing Social Security Scotland's services in close partnership with stakeholders and those with direct lived in experience
• Delivery of our Engagement and Relationships Strategy
• Tailored pre-application support based on local needs
• Developing clients referral arrangements with a range of other advice and support services
• Appropriate design, analysis and reporting of stakeholder consultations
• Providing enough resources to support people
• Ensure support systems and person-centred advice.