Fairer Scotland Duty: guidance for public bodies

Annex A: Evaluation Tool

Introduction

The Fairer Scotland Duty evaluation tool will support relevant public bodies in progressing the implementation of the Duty, to ensure they are actively considering (‘paying due regard’ to) how they can reduce inequalities of outcome caused by socio-economic disadvantage, when making strategic decisions.

Relevant Public Bodies can use the evaluation tool to:

• Assure management that the quality of Duty assessments is robust and evidence-based.
• Benchmark how the Duty is being met across the organisation, understand areas of strength and areas for improvement.
• Understand how to take forward improvements.
• Encourage reflection and the recording of progress.
• Action and record output from this process as evidence for any monitoring by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
• Provide a way of comparing your organisation’s progress with other public sector bodies in Scotland and identify which organisations you can learn from and those you can provide lessons to.

This tool is designed to be used by an appropriate officer to assess how effectively the Duty has been applied in individual assessments. This may be an organisational lead for the Duty or any officer carrying out a Duty assessment for their service area.

This tool is not mandatory, but provided to assist bodies in considering how well they are meeting the Duty. It can be adapted to suit your organisation’s needs.

Key Stages

The key stages, as set out earlier in this document, demonstrate giving ‘due regard’ in influencing how the organisation considers socio-economic disadvantage and inequality of outcome as part of strategic decision-making.

1. Planning

2. Evidence

3. Assessment and Improvement

4. Decision

5. Publication

The templates are available in the supporting files of this document.