Quite so! I think in three years time, by when we would have developed and
implemented are schemes on race, disability and gender we would be in a much
better position to go for a generic model.
Good luck to everyone!
Many Thanks
Waqas Hussain
Director
DEO Consultancy UK
Diversity, Equality and Opportunity Ltd
[log in to unmask]
www.deo-consultancy.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)208 240 1999
Fax: +44 (0)871 900 8118
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-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Melanie Landells
Sent: 18 September 2006 10:23
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Single Equality Scheme
I think this is why the DDA DED is so good. Because it has required us to
involve disabled people in drawing up our scheme our priority actions are
inevitably broader than physical access issues. I agree that we would not
want to ignore the other equality strands and also acknowledge in our scheme
that these are not discreet and compartmentalised and people may fall into
more than one group.
The process of developing our DES, involving disabled staff and students and
staff and students reps from across the University functions, has also been
really helpful in informing development and process for the other strands.
Although the road to our DES has been very time consuming and intense I feel
it has produced a better scheme which reflects the priorities of disabled
people. I am aiming to build on this model for other strands.
I agree that there is value in a single scheme and I thought HEFCE's was
good. Politically I feel we can progress the agendas better internally and
involve people more by having separate schemes at first. This also helps us
to address the specific changes that we need to make for the positive duties
in particular and our generic, annual E&D action plan covers actions
regarding other forms of discrimination.
In the end we will probably all do things a bit differently according to
what suits local circumstances. As this is a journey we will change things
here as we go along - ideally of course we wouldn't need schemes at all.
Mel
Mel Landells
Head of Equality and Diversity
Secretariat
University of Plymouth
01752 233973
-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mari Piper
Sent: 18 September 2006 08:58
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Single Equality Scheme
Whilst there are differences between all three schemes, I do still think
there can be a value in a single scheme. My expereince of managing both
single schemes (in my current post) and separate schemes (in a previous
post) is that separate schemes run a real danger of ignoring/assuming
another scheme will cover issues of multiple inequality. The issues for
disabled women can be very different from the issues for disabled men -
ditto for every other equality intersection. My other concern is that if
disability is dealt with away from other equality issues, it can become a
very practical scheme about issues of physical access, and ignore some of
the more 'politcial' issues. This concern is based on my previous experience
of running a separate DES, although that was a voluntary DES, produced
before the legislation and guidance was introduced.
I also worry about what will happen in the future. Whilst three equality
schemes might be possible, it looks likely to me that with the single
Equality Act, and the streamlining of equality legislation, we will need to
address issues of sexual orientation, age and religion or belief. Are six
different equality schemes really workable? Particularly for smaller
institutions?
Because of these issues we have decided to go for a single equality scheme.
This obviously, and rightly, raises concerns from people involved in
disability issues within our University about whether disability will be
lost within all the other equality issues (our Scheme will cover all six
equality areas). However, it has similarly raised questions about whether
race issues, gender issues, age issues, religious issues and sexual
orientation issues will be lost within the single Scheme. I think those
fears are perfectly normal whenever something that has been separate is put
together collectively. The only way to offer reassurance is to make sure
that each equality area is comprehensively and thoroughly covered. If this
is done, then I really think that one Equality Scheme is a great deal more
powerful than six separate ones.
Mari Piper
Equality and Diversity Manager
CSB 7/21
University of Huddersfield
Queensgate
Huddersfield
HD1 3DH
Tel: 01484 473146
-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Melanie Landells
Sent: 18 September 2006 08:38
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Single Equality Scheme
Dear Waqas,
I agree with their stance too and at Plymouth we have developed individual
schemes for race and disability and will do for gender. I would like to
think that we may be able to work towards a single scheme eventually but in
the meantime I believe this route works for us because we are able to focus
better on the specific priority actions for each positive duty strand and
acknowledge the different starting points and position for each.
Mel
Mel Landells
Head of Equality and Diversity
Secretariat
University of Plymouth
01752 233973
-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Waqas Hussain
Sent: 17 September 2006 14:55
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Single Equality Scheme
Dear Melanie,
I'd agree in its entirety with the DRC's stance on this matter. DED in its
very essence is uniquely distinctive from the other two duties both in terms
of its application and outcome.
We have been heavily involved across the public sector in developing DESs
for various key public authorities. Our advise to those public authorities
who wish to follow the route of developing a single equality scheme is that
first of all they should consider developing their DES as a stand a loan
document and then, try to merge it into the generic document i.e. by
allowing specific sections in the single equality scheme for action plan and
specific outcomes etc.
Hope this helps!
Many Thanks
Waqas Hussain
Director
DEO Consultancy UK
Diversity, Equality and Opportunity Ltd
[log in to unmask]
www.deo-consultancy.co.uk
This email and any files attached are confidential and are solely for the
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in error please notify the sender immediately by return of email or by
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-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Melanie Landells
Sent: 17 September 2006 08:33
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Single Equality Scheme
Colleagues may be interested on the DRC's view on SESs:
Thinking about a single equality scheme?
Many public authorities have expressed an interest in developing single
equality schemes to meet their obligations on race and gender as well as
disability. In response the DRC has produced a note reflecting our view.
Although it is not unlawful to produce a single equality scheme under the
DED this may be problematic, due to the distinctiveness of disability rights
and the duty itself.
The DRC would caution against single equality schemes unless this has been
very carefully thought through and planned. Without careful planning there
is a danger of not effectively meeting the requirements of the duty and
failing to effectively promote disability equality.
Follow the link to read our note on producing single equality schemes
http://www.drc.org.uk/pdf/Single%20Equality%20Scheme.pdf
Mel
Melanie Landells
Head of Equality & Diversity
Secretariat
Plymouth University
Plymouth PL4 8AA
[log in to unmask]
01752 233973
________________________________
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list on behalf of Hunter Sara
Sent: Fri 15/09/2006 10:17
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Single Equality Scheme
Because of the different legislation in N Ireland we have had a single
equality scheme for the past 5 years. It is available at
http://www.equality.ulster.ac.uk/scheme.html
Regards
Sara
Sara P Hunter
Head of Equality Policy and Practice
Department of Teaching and Learning
University of Ulster
Shore Road
Newtownabbey
BT37 0LR
+44 2890 368137
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Helen Tatch [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 14 September 2006 12:13
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Single Equality Scheme
Hi all
Following the publication of HEFCE's Single Equality Scheme (SES)
consultation, I was wondering whether any colleagues within other
universities are planning on (or already are) developing their own SES?
Kind regards
Helen Tatch
Staff Equality and Diversity Adviser
University of Brighton
email: [log in to unmask]
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