Equality Action Plan
2013-2018
What we did between April
2014 and March 2015
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Table 1: Equality action plan
Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland
Action Point
1. Implement accessible information for all
policies and procedures geared at
safeguarding and protecting children and
young people. To include:
 Timely accurate and child friendly
information (which is accessible to all
children including those with sensory
and learning disabilities), should be
provided before, during and after all
occasions to promote communication
between children and young persons
and SBNI. This should include
information about what is being asked
of them, who is involved in the process
and how decisions should be made,
including feedback of their
Intended Outcome
Performance
Indicator
By who and By
when
Access to information is
improved for children and
parents / carers / professionals
Policy in place
Policy and
Procedures,
Engagement
and
Communication
Committee
Children and young people
with sensory and learning
disabilities and children
from black and minority
ethnic backgrounds have
equal access to information
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Positive feedback
from children and
young people with
a disability and
from black and
minority ethnic
children on
accessibility of
information
Director of
Operations
On-going with
development of
policy
involvement on SBNI decisions.
 Alternative formats as required, for
example, Key publications are
translated into languages, the use of
Plain English, Easy Read and pictures
and diagrams where possible.
 Standard font Arial, size 14 is used in
publications where possible.
Link to Strategic Priority 3 ‘Working in
Partnership to ensure children and young
people are living in safety and with
stability’ and cross-cutting
What we did over the last year
With the implementation of the SBNI’s Business Plan, opportunities for engagement arose to shape public awareness
of the campaign ‘The More You Know, The More You See’. SBNI worked with the Participation Network and Parenting
NI to develop materials for group participation and engagement with children and young people; and parents by
developing creative images and key campaign messages. SBNI commissioned the theatre company Alter Ego to
provide 48 performances of ‘Chelsea’s Choice’ to post-primary children and young people, across Northern Ireland.
This innovative and hard hitting play dealt with the issues of CSE in an age-appropriate way whilst incorporating esafety and healthy relationship messages. As well as main stream a school, the play was delivered to main stream
schools as well as the school for deaf and blind children and young people.
A young person’s version of the Ministerial Directed Thematic Review Report has been developed in this financial
year, as well as a re-print of the children and young person’s guidance into CSE.
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2. Complete equality impact screening on all
policies and procedures linked to the
Strategic Plan.
Equality impacts identified
and mitigation in place.
screening completed
and EQIA’s
undertaken where
deemed necessary.
Policy and
Procedures
Committee –
On-going
Internal Policies
– Director of
Operations Year
1
What we did over the last year
Screening was undertaken during 2014-15 on the following SBNI policies and procedures
Policy
1
Child Death Overview Process
2
Learning and Development
Strategy
Date of
Consultation
Up to Dec 14
Date of Publication Included in
on EU website
quarterly
Screening
Report?
Oct-14
Y, Q3 2014-15
Awaiting final
version of
screening, updated
following Children’s
Law Centre
Comments
Y Q2 2015-16
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3
Information Sharing Agreement
Latest version I have
is dated March 15
July 15
Y, Q1 2015-16
4
Case Management Review
Up to Jun 15
Jun-15
Y, Q1 2015-16
5
Child Sexual Exploitation
Latest version I have
is dated May 15
Jun-15
Y, Q1 2015-16
3. Review SBNI engagement with children
and young people to date to identify whose
voices are less likely to have been heard
(including very young children, those with
sensory and learning disabilities, those from
black and minority ethnic backgrounds and
young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual
or transgender).
Section 75 groups of
children and young people
whose voices are easily
ignored are identified.
Review completed.
Engagement
and
Communication
Committee
Year 1 and
annually
Link to Strategic Priority 3 ‘Working in
Partnership to ensure children and young
people are living in safety and with
stability’ and cross-cutting
What we did over the last year
With the implementation of the SBNI’s Business Plan, opportunities for engagement arose to shape public awareness
of the campaign ‘The More You Know, The More You See’. SBNI worked with the Participation Network and Parenting
NI to develop materials for group participation and engagement with children and young people; and parents by
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developing creative images and key campaign messages
Opportunities for consulting children and young people were afforded by member agencies and organisations through
the SBNI Engagement & Communications Committee; Safeguarding Panels; and by contacting other organisations
who have direct involvement with children and young people.
4. Arrange face to face discussions with
Section 75 groups of children and young
people on child protection and safeguarding
issues as identified within the SBNI Strategic
Plan – particular focusing on those children
adversely affected.
Ascertain the views of
children and young people
regarding child protection
and safeguarding issues
with a view to informing
SBNI policies and
procedures and action to
Target groups of children whose voices are
address their specific
easily ignored (including very young children, needs.
those with sensory and learning disabilities,
those from black and minority ethnic
Section 75 groups of
backgrounds and young people who are
children and young people
lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender) to
whose voices are easily
explore their views.
ignored are heard.
Link to Strategic Priority 3 ‘Working in
Partnership to ensure children and young
people are living in safety and with
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Achieve target of 2 Engagement
discussion sessions and
per year.
Communication
Committee
April & October
2013
stability’ and cross-cutting
What we did over the last year
With the implementation of the SBNI’s Business Plan, opportunities for engagement arose to shape public awareness
of the campaign ‘The More You Know, The More You See’. SBNI worked with the Participation Network and Parenting
NI to develop materials for group participation and engagement with children and young people; and parents by
developing creative images and key campaign messages
5. Use statistical data provided by HSCB to
Identification of adversely
inform SBNI of those groups who are
affected groups.
adversely affected in relation to safeguarding
and child protection.
SBNI member
agencies
addressing those
children adversely
affected.
Policy and
Procedures and
Effectiveness &
Governance
Committees –
Ongoing upon
publication of
yearly statistical
data.
What we did over the last year
SBNI have reviewed the statistical data on child protecting / safeguarding and have produced a draft outcomes based
document. The Board are considering how information is best shared from member agencies in order to take forward
this action.
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6. Put in place a mechanism to ensure that the
voice of the child is heard in relation to Case
Management Reviews (including very
young children, those with sensory and
learning disabilities, those from black and
minority ethnic backgrounds and young
people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or
transgender).
Link to Strategic Priority 1 ‘Driving
improvements in the current child
protection system’
Lessons arising from CMRs
will focus on learning
arising from the child’s
journey through the child
protection, safeguarding
system and take into
account the diversity of
journeys of different
Section 75 groups of
children.
CMR reports clearly
identify the lessons
to take forward on
ensuring the child
remains at the
focus of child
protection,
safeguarding
practice.
CMR and
Effectiveness
and
Governance
Committee.
On-going when
a CMR has
been
commissioned.
What we did over the last year
SBNI reviewed the CMR Reports to ensure the voice of the child was reflected within the reports. This template was
approved by the SBNI Board and SBNI brought a number of CMRs to the SBNI Board which have been approved.
The SBNI are currently developing mechanisms to ensure the learning is communicated to children and young people
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7. SBNI will seek assurance from member
agencies on how the objective of promoting
communication with children and young
people has been met with particular
reference to Section 75 groups of children
and young people whose voices are easily
ignored (including very young children, those
with sensory and learning disabilities, those
from black and minority ethnic backgrounds
and young people who are lesbian, gay,
bisexual or transgender).
Ensuring that children’s
views and opinions are
considered within the child
protection and
safeguarding system.
Self-Audit
information from
member agencies.
Effectiveness
and
Governance
Committee.
Annually.
Section 75 groups of
children and young people
whose voices are easily
ignored are heard by
member agencies.
Link to Strategic Priority 3 ‘Working in
Partnership to ensure children and young
people are living in safety and with
stability’ and cross-cutting
What we did over the last year
SBNI have been engaging with member agencies to undertake engagement opportunities with children and young
people. For example with the implementation of the SBNI’s Business Plan, opportunities for engagement arose to
shape public awareness of the campaign ‘The More You Know, The More You See’. SBNI worked with the
Participation Network and Parenting NI to develop materials for group participation and engagement with children and
young people; and parents by developing creative images and key campaign messages. SBNi are currently engaging
with children and young people in the development of a safeguarding app.
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8. Ensure that feedback is provided to children
and young persons with who the SBNI
has engaged, telling them the outcome of
their involvement and the extent to which
their views, ideas and experience were or
were not taken on board and why.
Link to Strategic Priority 3 ‘Working in
Partnership to ensure children and young
people are living in safety and with
stability’ and cross-cutting
Ensuring that children’s
views and opinions are
considered within the child
protection and
safeguarding system and
they remain engaged in the
process.
Feedback
exercises from
children and young
people.
Engagement
and
Communication
Committee.
What we did over the last year
The Thematic Review young person’s version is being used to feedback to children and young people on the extent to
which their view, ideas and experiences had been taken on board.
9. Identify new methods of communication
strategies aimed particularly at groups whose
voices are easily ignored (including children
– in particular those with sensory and
learning disabilities, those from black and
minority ethnic backgrounds and young
people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or
transgender-, parents and carers).
Link to Strategic Priority 3 ‘Working in
To work with Participation
Network, voluntary, statutory
sectors and member agencies
to identify appropriate
methods of communication.
Children and young people
with sensory and learning
disabilities and children
from black and minority
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Groups whose voices
are easily ignored are
identified and
appropriate methods
of communication in
place.
Engagement
and
Communication
Committee.
Ongoing.
Partnership to ensure children and young ethnic backgrounds have
people are living in safety and with
equal access to information
stability’ and cross-cutting
and Section 75 groups of
children and young people,
parents and carers whose
voices are easily ignored
are heard.
What we did over the last year
The SBNI are currently considering how it engages with children and young people. A engagement strategy has been
approved by the SBNI and the organisation is currently developing an engagement operational plan. The SBNI also
intends to reinstate the communications and engagement committee and employ an communications / engagement
manager in order to take this work forward.
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10.Meeting section 75-related needs of staff
Work with PHA, BSO and partner
organisations to develop a line manager
guide on reasonable adjustments for staff
from a range of Section 75 groups.
Increased capacity of line
managers to identify and
respond to the range of
Section 75 needs of their
staff.
Staff feel that their needs
are being met.
What we did over the last year
This action is ongoing
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resource produced
Director of
Operations with
support from
BSO Equality
Unit.
Mar 2015
11.Section 75 monitoring
Work with PHA, BSO and partner
organisations to develop communication
strategy for staff on rationale for collecting
data.
Robust data is in place to
allow assessment of
impacts and developing
targeted actions.
Director of
Communication
strategy developed. Operations with
support from
BSO Equality
Unit
Mar 2015
What we did over the last year
This action is ongoing
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