NHSScotland secondment policy: equality impact assessment results

4. Key Findings

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

NHSScotland Secondment Policy has a positive impact in eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation across all protected characteristics. This may be particularly evident in respect of age, disability and pregnancy and maternity. The NHSScotland Secondment Policy:

• applies to all employees who wish to apply for a secondment
• complies with current legislation and meets the aims of the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010
• is clear that refusing secondment should be made on the basis of service requirements rather than protected characteristics
• applies to all employees who wish to apply for a secondment
• complies with current legislation and meets the aims of the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010
• is clear that refusing secondment should be made on the basis of service requirements rather than protected characteristics
• the manager guide states that if an employee becomes pregnant during a secondment, the terms of the NHSScotland Maternity Policy would apply
• Is clear that a secondment request cannot be refused or ended early due to the secondee’s pregnancy, shared maternity, adoption and shared adoption leave
• adopts non-gendered terminology with role specific terms such as manager, employee, staff used. Pronouns they, their, them have been used throughout.

• 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.

NHSScotland Secondment Policy has a positive impact in advancing equality of opportunity across all protected characteristics. NHSScotland Secondment Policy:

• states that if the seconded role becomes available on a permanent basis, for example through the resignation of the permanent post holder, the permanent post would be advertised through the board’s usual recruitment processes
• is clear that a secondee would not automatically be entitled to be made permanent in a seconded role and should apply through the recruitment process
• states that if a secondee is on the redeployment register, they may be given early access to the role through the redeployment process
• is clear that for secondments to organisations external to NHSScotland, the policies of that organisation will apply
• sets out the expectation that managers will carefully consider the secondment request and where possible support the request
• 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. It was developed with insights from multiple usability studies to improve the experience for all staff. The following may particularly support older staff or staff with certain disabilities, advancing equality of opportunity through accessibility:

• screen can be zoomed beyond 300%
• used an 18px font size as standard, making the starting size for fonts more readable.
• alternative formats page where users can request content in a format that suits their needs.
• a site map, that can help some people find content more easily.
• supporting documents have an HTML version that makes the content more accessible than they would be in PDF or other file formats.
• links all use meaningful text which can be read and understood out of context by screen reader users.
• headings follow a sematic structure allowing screen reader users to easily scan and understand the content structure.
• colour contrast of all text is compliant to WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.
• meaningful text alternative created for the visual flowcharts. This is linked to before the visual flowcharts to support screen reader users.
• development of a style guide for policy writing which focuses on improving readability for a range of users. For example, by reducing sentence length, best use of grammar and providing meaningful website links to advance equality of opportunity through accessibility.

a person-centred approach is promoted in the application of all NHSScotland Workforce policies. This is demonstrated across the policy and supporting documents.

The NHSScotland Secondment Policy has no negative impact in promoting good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. The policy applies to all employees and workers. Managers are encouraged to take a person-centred approach. The policy advocates that the releasing manager should keep in touch with the secondee through the period of secondment and be kept up to date with any departmental changes. The guide also advises that on return to their substantive role the releasing manager should ensure the secondee is reintegrated back into the team. This should include a discussion to update the team member on changes within the team, to consider any training or development needs and agree key work priorities or objectives.

The website was developed through extensive user testing and is compliant to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standard. However, in terms of access to the policy, it was identified that some staff may struggle with technology or do not have access or experience of using IT equipment and could be disadvantaged. This may be more likely in older age groups.

The following actions have been taken to minimise any negative impact:

• policies and supporting documents have been created as downloadable documents which can be printed and shared in hard copy.
• upon initiating a workforce policy, managers are required to formally write to the employee informing them of this. Within this, managers are asked to include a hard copy of the policy, flowchart and any other relevant supporting documents.
• downloadable copies of the policy and supporting documents include a references section. This details in full any hyperlinks contained within the document to support those accessing hard copies and provide signposting.

Scottish Government will continue to monitor and review this EQIA to ensure ongoing assessment of potential impacts on people with protected characteristics.