Policy and guidance

We welcome your comments and feedback

Appendix B - Equality action plan timetable

Action

Responsible

Target date

LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY (2)

Appoint a Diversity Champion

Include equality and diversity on agendas of Management Board and team meetings

Establish Diversity Steering Group

Review all existing diversity and equal opportunity policies

Management Board

Head of Corporate Services

Executive Team

30.10.08

31.12.08

30.01.09 CONSIDERATION OF PRISONERS' CASES

Perceptions and openness (3.1)

Provide clear and accessible information to stakeholders including victims, prisoners and their representatives on our website about the parole process

Head of Communications

Ongoing

Case management and decision-making (3.2)

Work with MOJ to review equality of decision making and case management to ensure there is no improper discriminatory impact on any group of prisoners

Review whether the time currently allowed for prisoners to prepare for hearings allows for translations, materials in accessible formats or other support as appropriate to ensure no prisoner identified prior to review has a less than fair hearing.

Ensure views are heard from victims across all diversity areas and that the parole process is open and accessible for them

Executive Team

Head of Operations

Executive Team

Ongoing

31.03.09 Ongoing

Monitoring and research (3.3)

Monitor complaints about discrimination

Work with NOMS to find a system for monitoring outcomes across diversity groups

Consider commissioning research on equality and the parole process

Head of Corporate Services

Director of Q&S

Ongoing

31.03.09 Work with partner agencies (3.4)

Develop a more proactive role in our work with partners and establish channels to raise issues of potential unfairness in the parole process, particularly in relation to the timeliness of decisions. (Minimising delays and achieving full dossiers, consistency, access to interventions etc - see section 3.4)

Produce information on the potential equality impact on our decisions of the failure to address the issues above.

Raise concerns with Ministry of Justice

Executive Team

Ongoing

As appropriate

MEMBERS AND STAFF (4)

Members (4.1)

Work with MOJ to monitor ethnicity, gender and disability

Continue to provide a mentor scheme for new members

Review with MOJ the recruitment processes and procedures

Review and update, if required, the equal treatment competencies

Continue work with MOJ to make contacts with relevant organisations

Continue with MOJ to review our fee structure in case a deterrent to more diverse applications

Update the Members Handbook to include more information about equality and diversity

Add section on equality on the members and staff extranet and keep updated

Provide training on equality and diversity and legal requirements for all existing and new members

Provide information to Members about MOJ equality and diversity support groups

Monitor members views on equality, diversity and discrimination through annual members and staff engagement survey

Director of P&D

Director P&D

Director of P&D

Head of Communications

Director of P&D

Head of Communications

31.03.09 Ongoing

31.08.09 Ongoing

30.04.09

31.08.09

31.03.09 Annually

Staff (4.2)

Update staff handbook

Encourage development and progression through positive action measures

Monitor recruitment, retention and progression processes across diversity strands

Monitor grievance, disciplinary and appraisal processes

Add section on equality on the members and staff extranet and keep updated

Provide training for all staff in equality and diversity

Provide information to staff about MOJ equality and diversity support groups and forums

Monitor staff views on equality, diversity and discrimination through annual members and staff engagement survey

HR Manager

Executive Team

HR Manager

Head of Communications

Executive Team

HR Manager

Head of Communications

30.04.09 Ongoing

30.04.09

31.08.09

31.03.09 Annually

ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION (5)

Use The Board Sheet and GEM to communicate on diversity issues with staff and members

Provide information for prisoners in accessible formats and other languages if requested

Make better use of web site to convey commitment to equality and diversity

Use the annual member and staff engagement survey to assess progress on equality and discrimination

Use the annual stakeholder engagement survey to obtain stakeholders views on equality and discrimination

Head of Communication

Head of Communications

Ongoing

Nov 2008/09/10

Oct 2009/10

EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT (6)

List policies and procedures and assess their relevance for equality

Ensure all policies are clearly written and accessible

Draw up a three-year programme to impact assess existing policies in order of priority

Conduct equality impact assessment of all new policies and procedures

Conduct an equality impact assessment of member guidance and the present human rights and equality training provided for members

Identify and train responsible staff

Produce a standard format or template for impact assessment.

Quality control

Head of Corporate Services

Directors P&D and Head of Casework

Executive Team

31.03.09 Ongoing

28.02.09 Ongoing

31.03.09

31.01.09

31.12.08 Ongoing

PUBLICATION (7)

Publish this action plan

Produce a short and accessible leaflet on the equality action plan , distribute

Publish annual progress reports on our web site

Publish major equality impact assessments on our web site and list others which can be made available on request.

Head of Communications

31.12.08

30.04.09 Annually

Ongoing

REVIEW (8)

Executive Team review of plan

Management Board review of plan

Diversity Champion report to Management Board

Plan to be reviewed and updated in 2010

Executive Team

Management Board

Diversity Champion

Executive Team

Each meeting

Every 6 months

April and October

31.3.10

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The Parole Board for England and Wales

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