Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Integration Joint Boards) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025 ("the Order"): equality impact assessment

The Scope of the EQIA

The policy has been framed and informed by existing qualitative and quantitative research conducted with unpaid carer and lived experience representatives on IJBs that examined their personal experiences of engagement and participation on their IJB, as well as wider engagement with members of the public with lived experience of accessing services and providing care, and the organisations that represent those groups.

The team conducted a consultation exercise in the form of a survey with IJB Chairs and Vice Chairs in February 2025, with follow-up interviews offered to all respondents. To comply with the requirements of section 12(3) of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 each local authority, Health Board and integration joint board was further consulted in writing between 24 November and 5 December 2025

The three PSED duties are as follows:

• Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and any other conduct prohibited by the Act.
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.
• Foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.

The three PSED duties were considered during the consultation as specific questions in the survey examined the inclusivity and accessibility of recruitment processes, training provided to support lived experience representatives to support them with the role, and the recruitment of lived experience representatives from underrepresented communities such as ethnic minorities, rural areas or those with disabilities. Race and disability were also considered through the consultation.