NHSScotland adoption, fostering and kinship policy: equality impact assessment

4. Key Findings

The EQIA has highlighted areas with potential impacts on different groups and opportunities for promoting equality.

The NHSScotland Adoption, Fostering and Kinship Policy is expected to have a positive effect in eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation across all protected characteristics. The Adoption, Fostering and Kinship Policy:

• sets out the statutory and terms and conditions of service for eligible employees. There is no differentiation on entitlement to access the Adoption, Fostering and Kinship Policy in relation to any protected characteristic.
• is open to all employees. Male or female employees may be the primary parent.
• references intended parents to include adoption and surrogacy arrangements.
• recognises kinship arrangements with signposting to leave provisions. Data highlighted the increased prevalence of fostering and kinship caring by grandparents, and the impact of this, combined with an ageing workforce.
• managers are encouraged to adopt a flexible approach to support employees who are fostering or have kinship arrangements.
• reinforces compliance with the Equality Act (2010) and the Principles and Values | NHS Scotland.
• is written to fulfil legislative requirements and comply with statutory responsibilities.

The NHSScotland Adoption, Fostering and Kinship Policy has a positive impact in advancing equality of opportunity across all protected characteristics. The Adoption, Fostering and Kinship Policy:

• is open to all NHSScotland employees who meet the eligibility criteria. All employees are entitled to adoption leave.
• can support fostering within a diverse workforce and create a positive societal impact.
• promotes inclusion through use of gender-neutral language.
• will support a significant number of women. The NHS is a major employer with a 78.8% female workforce in NHSScotland.
• references surrogacy, which can support same sex couples.
• is accessible through a purpose built NHSScotland Workforce Policies website. The website scores high on the System Usability Scale (universal usability scoring system). This may particularly support older staff or staff with certain disabilities, advancing equality of opportunity through accessibility.
• advocates a person-centred approach in the application of all NHSScotland Workforce policies. This is demonstrated across the policy and supporting documents.

The NHSScotland Adoption, Fostering and Kinship Policy has no negative impact in promoting good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. The policy is open to all employees. Managers are encouraged to take a person-centred approach.

Currently, there is no evidence of negative impacts on individuals with protected characteristics. Nevertheless, Scottish Government will continue to monitor and review this EQIA to ensure ongoing assessment of potential impacts on people with protected characteristics.