Equality Impact Assessment Tool: Policy,
Strategy and Plans
(Please follow the EQIA guidance in completing this form)
1. Name of Strategy, Policy or Plan
Renfrewshire Weaning Fair
Review |
This is a : Current;#Current Policy
2. Brief Description - Purpose of the policy, Changes and outcomes, services or activities affected
Weaning Fair Programme
was a result of extensive consultation in all SIP areas in Glasgow where
new areas of food work were identified from the Food and Health Action
Framework 2001-2006. Weaning Fairs aim to promote healthy weaning
practices and oral health advice for parents/ carers with babies aged
around four months of age. Parents are invited by Health Visiting staff to
a local venue held in a variety of locations across Renfrewshire Health
and Social Care Partnership (HSCP). The reduction in staff numbers has
called for a review on the delivery and attendance of the fairs to ensure
best value. This will determine the future delivery across the HSCP.
|
3. Lead Reviewer
Anne Gibson
|
4. Please list all participants in carrying out this EQIA:
Lindsay Jack (Health
Improvement Lead -Maternal and Child Health); Elaine Byrne (Team Lead);
Alison Eaglesham (staff nurse); Dominika Bugajska (Community
Nutritionist); Amanda Cunningham (Staff Nurse); Linda Shaw (Health
Visiting Support Worker); Debbie Whyte (COMMUNITY NURSERY NURSE); Low,
Alastair (Planning & Development Manager)
|
5. Impact Assessment
A. Does the policy explicitly promote equality of opportunity and anti-discrimination and refer to legislative and policy drivers in relation to Equality | |||||
The current delivery seeks to meet the
commitments outlined in policy and guidance noted below, which are
underpinned by the principles of Health For All Children 4(2005). -
Improving Maternal Health and Infant Nutrition: A Framework for Action
(2011), Scottish Government - Infant and Young Child Nutrition: Global
Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding (2002), WHO - Infant Feeding
Strategy (2008-2012), NHSGGC | |||||
B. What is known about the issues for people with protected characteristics in relation to the services or activities affected by the policy? | |||||
Source | |||||
All |
Weaning fairs are offered to all
parents/carers with babies of 4-6 months of age via the Health Visiting
Team. •The invitation/letter/information for weaning is given to parent/
guardian of the child. The Health Visitor assesses the wider needs of
family and any additional individual needs will be supported by the
Children & Family Team. •When people attend the event they are asked
to sign in. •A Quality Assessment Framework is in place for Weaning Fairs.
•Evaluations should be carried out at the end of the programme bi-annually
to assess impact. |
QAF, Weaning Action Group
members | |||
Sex |
•Through staff observation we can
conclude that weaning fairs are predominantly attended by women however
there is some attendance from men. There is no record kept of this. - All
staff are aware of the GBV Policy - All Staff should have attended Basic
Domestic Abuse Training/Sensitive Routine Enquiry Training
|
Staff Observation
| |||
Gender Reassignment |
- Weaning fairs are offered to all
parents/guardians irrespective of gender reassignment. - Staff are aware
of the Transgender Policy and act accordingly ensuring transgender people
attending a fair do so without fear or prejudice, discrimination or
harassment. |
| |||
Race |
- Weaning fairs are offered to all
parents/guardians irrespective of race. - Information in alternative
formats can be provided on request - Translator services can be provided
on request by the NHS Corporate Inequalities Team - Racial incidents are
dealt with through appropriate channels. Some additional information is
given on Vitamin D supplements for darker skinned babies. |
| |||
Disability |
•Four venues are used across the
HSCP area, which are all physically accessible. There is also nearby car
parking available at each of the venues. Lift access is available at some
of the venues. •Designated disabled parking available at all venues. •The
venues all have good transport links to enable access by people who may
not have personal transport. - An interpreting service can be booked on
request for those who are hard of hearing or deaf. - Patient information
which is given out can be requested in alternative formats e.g. Braille..
- Patients with learning disabilities can bring along a family member or
carer if they wish to do so. |
| |||
Sexual Orientation |
- Weaning fairs are offered to all
parents/guardians irrespective of sexual orientation. - Staff are aware of
the Civil Partnership Act. |
| |||
Religion and Belief |
Weaning fairs are offered to all
parents/guardians irrespective of religion or belief. - Information on
religious beliefs of those attending the fairs are not collected. - A
variety of dates and times are available for people to attend a fair which
suits their needs and may allow them to attend outwith prayer times or
religious services. - Additional information can be given if a dietician
is present on specific diet requirements or the parent/guardian is advised
to seek GP advice. |
| |||
Age |
- Weaning programmes are targeted
towards babies between 4 and 6 months. - The fairs are open to all
parents/guardians irrespective of age. •Information on weaning changes
over time and views held by grandparents can impact decision made by the
parents. Therefore Grandparents are also invited to attend which can
ensure improved support around current weaning practices. •Age group of
parent/guardian is recorded on evaluations. |
| |||
Pregnancy and Maternity |
•Weaning fairs are offered to all
parents with babies of 4-6 months of age, including women who may be going
through another pregnancy. •Any mother who wishes to breastfeed during
weaning fairs is welcome to do so. •Venues used for weaning fairs have
additional space for prams. - Women who are currently pregnant are not
excluded from the fairs. |
| |||
Marriage and Civil Partnership |
- Weaning fairs are offered to all
parents/guardians irrespective of marital status. - All staff are aware of
the Civil Partnership Act - Information on marriage and civil partnership
is not currently collected. |
| |||
Social and Economic Status |
•Post code information is collected
in the evaluation to help understand whether local people attend the
events. This is particularly helpful in areas of deprivation. •Postcode
information has been analysed by SMID to explore uptake in 15% datazone
areas. •Venues for weaning fairs are rotated into different areas to help
boost uptake in deprived areas. • Weaning fairs are free to attend and
free samples of toothpaste and beaker cups are given out. |
| |||
Other marginalised groups (homeless, addictions, asylum seekers/refugees, travellers, ex-offenders |
•Weaning fair invitations are given
out via Health Visiting staff. Parents and carers with additional support
needs may be offered home visits to or as an alternative to weaning fairs
if required. HOMELESSNESS - Health Visiting staff would extend invites to
parents experiencing homelessness. - Additional time is given at the end
of the fairs and many staff have weaning tips for those in temporary
accommodation. ADDICTIONS - Health Visiting staff would extend invites to
parents experiencing addiction. ASYLUM SEEKERS/REFUGEES - NHS interpreting
service can be booked on request. - Patient information is available in
alternative formats on request. TRAVELLING COMMUNITY - Each Health
Visiting Team has a named staff member as the main contact for Travelling
Families. The health visitor provides a Health Information pack including
information on weaning to all Travelling Families. PRISONERS AND
EX-OFFENDERS - Weaning information would be passed on by NHS health
professionals within the prison service if relevant hence women in custody
have access to the same information as women in the community. Information
on weaning is also provided to Foster Carers where appropriate. - Invites
would be issued to parents regardless to whether they are ex-offenders.
EX-SERVICE PERSONNEL - Health Visitors will extend invites to weaning
fairs regardless of military service. |
| |||
C. Do you expect the policy to have any positive impact on people with protected characteristics? | |||||
Highly Likely |
Probable |
Possible | |||
General |
Dependant on the
outcome of the review, a change in the current delivery format will have
an impact. Weaning information will continue to be given by the Health
Visitor at the 3 month visit in line with the Universal Pathway.
|
|
| ||
Sex |
|
|
Regardless of the format of
delivery the Equality Act 2010 and NHS Policy ensures men and women will
be treated fairly when weaning information is provided.
| ||
Gender Reassignment |
|
|
There is no indication that
the change to fairs will have either a negative or positive impact on the
protected characteristic of gender reassignment. | ||
Race |
|
|
There is no identified
negative or positive effect to the protected characteristic of
race. | ||
Disability |
Dependant on the new
format of delivery , consideration needs to be given to parents attending
fairs that require additional support, for example a carer, or special
arrangements for travel, and accessibility for wheelchairs.
|
|
| ||
Sexual Orientation |
|
|
There is no identified
negative or positive effect to the protected characteristic of sexual
orientation | ||
Religion and Belief |
|
|
There is no identified
negative or positive effect to the protected characteristic of religion or
belief | ||
Age |
|
|
There is no identified
negative or positive effect to the protected characteristic of age
| ||
Marriage and Civil Partnership |
|
|
There is no identified
negative or positive effect to the protected characteristic of marriage
and civil partnership. | ||
Pregnancy and Maternity |
|
|
There is no identified
negative or positive effect to the protected characteristic of pregnancy
and paternity | ||
Social and Economic Status |
Fairs held at
immunisation clinics will one appointment rather than two which will have
a positive impact on time and travel costs. |
|
Future delivery formats
should no incur additional costs for travel. | ||
Other marginalised groups (homeless, addictions, asylum seekers/refugees, travellers, ex-offenders |
|
There may be more
likelihood of other marginalised groups attending weaning fairs dependant
on the delivery format. |
| ||
D. Do you expect the policy to have any negative impact on people with protected characteristics? | |||||
Highly Likely |
Probable |
Possible | |||
General |
Alternative forms of
delivery may affect attendance Dependant on the outcome of the review, a
change in the current delivery will have an impact. A reduction in the
number of fairs may negatively impact on attendance rates, whereas
availability of weaning information at immunisation clinics may increase
the number of parents receiving the information, but the quality of
information may be compromised if time per patient is limited. Careful
consideration would need to be given to all options, although it is
important to note that all parents will receive information on weaning at
a 3 month visit. |
|
| ||
Sex |
There is no identified
negative effect to the protected characteristic of sex. |
|
There is no identified
negative effect to the protected characteristic of sex.
| ||
Gender Reassignment |
|
|
There is no indication that
the change to fairs will a negative impact on the protected characteristic
of gender reassignment. | ||
Race |
|
|
There is no identified
negative effect to the protected characteristic of race.
| ||
Disability |
Parents attending
fairs that require additional support, for example a carer, or special
arrangements for travel will be able to obtain the weaning information and
immunisation at one appointment rather than organising arrangements for
separate appointments. If weaning fairs are run at health centres during
immunisation clinics, this may have an impact on those attending using
equipment such as wheelchairs. Although health centres are accessible,
space is often limited, especially during busy times. - Noise may also
have a negative impact on some people's ability to take in all the
information being given. |
Dependant on the new format
of delivery , consideration needs to be given to parents attending fairs
that require additional support, for example a carer, or special
arrangements for travel. |
| ||
Sexual Orientation |
|
|
There is no identified
negative effect to the protected characteristic of sexual
orientation | ||
Religion and Belief |
|
|
There is no identified
negative or positive effect to the protected characteristic of religion or
belief | ||
Age |
|
|
There is no identified
negative effect to the protected characteristic of age | ||
Marriage and Civil Partnership |
|
|
There is no identified
negative effect to the protected characteristic of marriage and civil
partnership. | ||
Pregnancy and Maternity |
|
|
There is no identified
negative effect to the protected characteristic of pregnancy and
paternity | ||
Social and Economic Status |
If the number of
fairs are reduced this may result in further travel and additional costs
for those in low income. |
|
| ||
Other marginalised groups (homeless, addictions, asylum seekers/refugees, travellers, ex-offenders |
|
|
There is no identified
negative effect to the protected characteristic of marginalised
groups. | ||