Protected Characteristics and questions to ask when considering the impact of a service/policy/strategy/plan change

Age:

  • How do you engage with different age groups?
  • Do you use inclusive imagery and language?
  • Are your services accessible to different age groups in terms of location but also time?
  • Does your workforce reflect the age profile of the areas you operate?

Race:

  • Have you built positive relationships with ethnic minority community organisations and community advocates to facilitate the involvement of different racial and ethnic groups?
  • Do you employ different ways to engage with different racial and ethnic groups in the areas in which you work?

Religion and Belief:

  • Are your services sensitive to different religious requirements e.g. times a customer may want to access a service, religious days and festivals and dietary requirements

Disability: 

  • Is information and are services accessible to people who have a range of different disabilities?

Gender Reassignment:

  • Do your services meet the needs of trans customers and are they appropriate to the gender of which they identify?
  • Are records fully reflective of the gender identity of a trans customer, and do staff feel empowered to communicate appropriately with trans customers?

Sex:

  • Do your services consider that men and women may articulate different needs and aspirations?
  • Are your services accessible to men and women in terms of location and time?

Sexual Orientation:

  • Do you build positive relationships with the LGBT community?

Pregnancy and Maternity:

  • Do your services support breastfeeding mothers or parents with children?

Marriage and Civil Partnership: (applies to eliminating unlawful discrimination only)

  • Do publicity, information, policies and procedures treat marriage and civil partnership equally?