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Race
Equality Scheme for the Independent Review Service
The Independent Review Service provides the independent
grievance process, by means of a review, for applicants who are dissatisfied
with Jobcentre Plus' decisions on their applications to the discretionary
Social Fund.
This Race Equality
Scheme sets out how the Independent Review Service plans to continue meeting
its duty under section 71(1) of the Race Relations Act 1976 (as amended) to
have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination and to promote
equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial
groups.
IRS Business Values
Our business values, which we set
out below, guide our staff and are the foundation of our approach to work:
- provide an open and
accessible service to all customers;
- treat all customers,
users and colleagues with respect and courtesy;
- take all necessary
steps to protect and keep secure information and data provided for our
work;
- respect and accept the
differences of others and work together as an organisation to build a diverse
workforce;
- work to improve
standards for all customers of the Social Fund;
- promote easy access
for customers and potential customers of the fund;
- be open to learning in
our work and use this to make improvements to the service we give;
- provide a value for
money service seeking improvements in the efficiency of our work;
- deliver the best
service for the customer and balance fairly the needs of our staff.
These core values help
us to meet our duties under race equality legislation.
IRS Practices
The Independent Review Service:
- Conducts regular
customer surveys, and has conducted focus groups.
- Meets with a wide
variety of individuals and organisations which have an interest in the Social
Fund and its independent review.
- Monitors the ethnicity
of customers on a regular basis.
- Has an External Panel
which gives independent scrutiny to our handling of complaints.
- Has put in place a
number of initiatives to improve access to our services (fuller details
supplied in the "Access to Our Services" section, below.)
- Has policies on
diversity and equal opportunities and has delivered relevant training to
staff.
- Conducts regular staff
surveys, and monitors the ethnicity of members of staff and job applicants.
Relevant Functions,
Policies, and Proposed Policies
We
have considered our functions, policies, and proposed policies and have set out
in Appendix A those we consider relevant to our performance of the duty under
section 71(1) of the Act.
Assessing
and Consulting on the Likely Impact of Proposed Policies on the Promotion of
Race Equality
When developing new
policies, members of staff will consider the likely impact of proposed policies
on the promotion of race equality. Assessment and consultation on the likely
impact of proposed policies will be proportionate and will depend upon the
nature of the policy, the relevance, if any, to the promotion of race equality
and upon the nature and extent of any previous assessment or consultation
relevant to the particular policy.
Assessments may include use of historical data, existing surveys, or
new mechanisms.
Consultations may
include members of staff, the staff council (including trade unions),
individual users of the review service, individuals with relevant expertise and
relevant organisations, local and national.
Monitoring the Impact of Policies on the Promotion of Race
Equality
We will monitor the impact
of our policies on the promotion of race equality. The means of monitoring will
be tailored to the nature of the policy or policies concerned. Our monitoring
processes will include:
- Surveys of customers,
customers' representatives, and staff.
- Ethnic monitoring of
customers and staff.
- Monitoring of
complaints.
- Monitoring of the use
of our language line and translation services.
Publishing the
Results of Assessments, Consultations and Monitoring
The results of the assessments, consultations, and
monitoring, referred to above, will be published annually on the IRS website,
as they become available.
Public
Access to Information and Services
We aim to make our information and services accessible to all. The
following services are in place:
- A translation service
into different languages, including Braille, for our written
communications.
- Translation of oral
communications through Language Line.
- Translations of our
leaflets into other languages on request.
- A website providing
information about the services provided by the Independent Review Service and
about Social Fund law and procedures.
- Communication by
text-phone and telephone on a freephone number and by letter, facsimile, e-mail
and large print.
- Our leaflets have been
quality assured by the Plain English Campaign, and members of staff have
received plain English training.
Staff Training in
connection with the Duties Imposed by the Act
We provide training in equal opportunities, diversity and relevant
legislation for members of staff. This training will continue to be delivered
and will be evaluated to ensure it remains effective.
Action Plan
The IRS Unified
Diversity and Race Equality Action Plan sets out in detail our plans
for fulfilling our duties under the Act. The action plan sets out key tasks,
responsibilities and internal accountability processes. The IRS will account to
the public for progress in the implementation of the plan on an annual basis,
on our website and where appropriate in the Annual Report.
Comments on the Scheme
We welcome comments on our Race
Equality Scheme from service users, members of staff and other interested
parties. The Scheme will be reviewed in the light of any comments received.
Comments may be directed to:
The Office Manager
Independent Review Service
4th Floor Centre City Podium
5 Hill Street
Birmingham
B5
4UB
Facsimile: 0121 606 2180
e-mail: Pauline.Adey@irs-review.org.uk
Appendix A: Functions/Policies/Proposed Policies Assessed as
being relevant to the Independent Review Service's Duty under Section 71(1) of
the Act
| Function/Policy/Proposed Policy |
Priority |
|
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| The Delivery and Administration of the
Review |
High |
| The Handling of Complaints |
High |
| The Employment of Staff |
High |
| Public Information and Relations |
Medium |
|
|
