Who is responsible for Equality Impact Assessments (EQIA)?
The person/s doing the EQIA should have a detailed understanding of the policy or practice being assessed and be in a position to ensure changes can be made when needed. The ownership and responsibility for EQIA lies at Head of Service level, however, managers and staff play a key role in the assessment process as they will be involved in implementing the necessary actions identified and integrating equalities into planning. Although it may be appropriate for one person to complete the Initial Screening Template, described below, it is recommended that the EQIA be done by a small team to broaden the range of perspectives, skills and knowledge involved.