An EQIA should be an integral part at the earliest stage of development and before a final decision is made to go ahead with a change to monitor the actual impact of the implementation.

EQIA should be considered when you are first looking at, for example:

• Planning or developing new services, policies, strategies, practices and plans.
• Reviewing or amending existing services, policies, strategies, practices and plans.
• Developing business services, policies, strategies, practices and plans.
• Ending or substantially changing a service, policy, strategy, practice or plan.
• Considering a change management process or organisational review, particularly those that could involve relocating staff or rationalisation of posts.
• Any major communications.
• Reviewing or introducing forms, leaflets, guidance or codes of practice.