2013-2015 Single Equality Scheme Action Plan
Please telephone:
The Quality Administrator on 01509 631259 if you would prefer to access
this document in Braille, Large Print or audio.
Or write to:
Jane Bailey
Quality Administrator
RNIB College Loughborough
Radmoor Road
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 3BS
Or e-mail:
[email protected]
The Internet link for all RNIB College Loughborough’s equality
information including its Scheme, Action Plans and annual reports is:
http://www.rnibcollege.ac.uk/equalityanddiversity.html
If you want to go straight to the current Action Plan, click here
What is this action plan for?
 In 2010 the RNIB College introduced its first Single Equality Scheme
and Action Plan. Annually we have lodged update reports on our
Internet and Intranet sites showing the impact the Scheme and Action
Plan has had. The original action plan has been completed apart from
four actions. Therefore, we met again with students and staff and
RNIB College Loughborough – Single Equality Scheme 2013-2015 Action Plan
Quality Administrator Dec 2015 V6
1
consulted others such as parents/carers and employers to bring
together a new action plan. The new action plan incorporates the four
actions not completed previously.
Why did we do this?
 The RNIB College Loughborough is committed to removing barriers to
inclusion and success no matter how unintentional. It is one of our main
strategic aims.
 It is considered to be best practice under the Single Equality Act 2010 to
have a transparent action plan that as many people as possible are
involved in producing and then apply to their work at the College.
 The original action plan has been completed but those actions have not
been forgotten - they are now embedded and continue to be applied to
the work we do.
How does this fit in with wider RNIB policies and procedures?
 This document sits within the context of Human Relations (HR) policies
that are produced by RNIB corporately. Many issues of equal
opportunities such as the right to have your application pack in Braille is
covered already by these corporate-wide policies. Therefore,
operational actions such as these are not included in the action plans of
the College.
2013-2015 Action Plan – Single Equality Scheme
 The following action plan has been endorsed by the Principal, Chair of
Governors and the College Management Team.
Each action on this plan shows which of the protected characteristic/s it
particular addresses. Protected characteristics are:








Age
Disability
Gender Reassignment
Pregnancy/Maternity/paternity
Race
Religion or belief (including non-belief)
Sex
Sexual Orientation
RNIB College Loughborough – Single Equality Scheme 2013-2015 Action Plan
Quality Administrator Dec 2015 V6
2
Also, the plan shows after each objective, which main aim of the General
Duty it is focused upon. There are three main aims of the General Duty:
 Eliminating discrimination
 Promoting/advancing equality
 Fostering relationships between people in protected characteristic
groups
Data
As well as maintaining statistical data about the College’s demographic
profile and thus being able to action plan improvements, we have a wealth
of performance data around student achievement and destinations. Data
around the retention and achievement of students demonstrates that there
are no significant achievement gaps between students from different
protected characteristic groups. The College’s Data Calendar ensures that
regular reports are given to teams every half term. For example, the
Curriculum team use these reports in their monthly progress meetings to
identify students whose performance may not be meeting predicted
outcomes. In addition, there are three formal census dates in the year
when all data is reviewed, updated, discussed and disseminated. This
approach has led to swifter actions for improvement and has heightened
accountability for student progress with staff.
Although not specifically required by the Equality Act in addition to
protected characteristics we also include the monitoring of the progress of:




Students who would be classed as ‘looked after children’
Students with ESOL needs (English for Speakers of Other Languages)
Students who receive bursaries (ie socio-economic factor)
Students whose family are on a low income (socio-economic)
As we are such a small College the number of students in low-incidence
groups is very small indeed and hence statistics do not provide meaningful
insights into the performance of the College regarding such groups as a
whole. However we are mindful of the importance of monitoring the
individuals from the following groups:
 Students who present with an unusual prior educational history (eg
previously attended school abroad)
 Students who have identified themselves as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or
Transgender
 Ex-offenders
RNIB College Loughborough – Single Equality Scheme 2013-2015 Action Plan
Quality Administrator Dec 2015 V6
3
 Teen parents
 Young carers
These aspects are currently action planned through our quality data
calendar and census reports described above and so these actions are not
repeated here.
Abbreviations used in this action plan:
APP
SA
RAM
RAO
APF
MIS
PLC
PLLP
EODWG
ESOL
Assistant Principal Programmes
Senior Administrator
Referrals and Admissions Manager
Referrals and Admissions Officer
Assistant Principal Finance
Management Information Systems Officer
Programme Leader Curriculum
Programme Leader Student Progress
Equal Opportunities and Diversity Working Group
English for Speakers of Other Languages
Please go to the next page for our 2013-2015 Action Plan. Please go
to our Internet site for our previous action plan.
RNIB College Loughborough – Single Equality Scheme 2013-2015 Action Plan
Quality Administrator Dec 2015 V6
4
RNIB College Loughborough
2013-2015 Single Equality Action Plan (please see internet site for previous plan which is now
completed)
A = Age D = Disability G = Gender including gender reassignment and pregnancy/maternity/paternity; R = Race;
RB = Religion/Belief; S = Sexuality;
Objective 1: To continue to build on our knowledge and awareness of our demographic profile so we can
make improvements (Focus is to 1. Eliminate discrimination, 2. Promote/advance equality)
No Actions
1.1 Collect information from
Head Office re equal
opportunities at
application, interview an
appointment stages
1.2 Send ‘health and well
being’questionnaire to
staff every term plus to
all new starters to
capture data as quickly
as possible
1.3 Report on statistics at
every Equality
Opportunities and
Diversity Working Group
(EODWG)
Deadline A
June
2013
X
D
X
G
X
R
X
RB S
X
X
June
2013
X
X
X
X
X
X
On-going
X
RNIB College Loughborough – Single Equality Scheme 2013-2015 Action Plan
Quality Administrator Dec 2015 V6
X
X
X
X
X
Update
Responsibility
Unable to obtain
reports since the
RNIB corporate
restructure.
SA/QA
Yearly H&W survey
to be sent out each
March.
QA
Embedded
MIS Officer
No Actions
Deadline A
1.4 Take appropriate actions As they
to address any areas of arise
under-representation, eg
adult female students
1.5 Continue to report on
Annually
progress on the
January
Internet/Intranet site
each
X
including comparisons to year
local and national
benchmarks
D
G
R
RB S
X
Update
Responsibility
On Going
QA
X
Third update for Jan QA
2014 uploaded.
X
X
X
X
X
Objective 2: To increase the number of adult female trainees. (A statistical analysis in our last annual
update of equality and diversity showed that we need to improve the number of female adult trainees.) (Focus is
to 1. Eliminate discrimination, 2. Promote/advance equality)
No
2.1
2.2
Actions
Monitor statistics from
enquiries to visits to
application to enrolment to
retention/achievement
When outcomes of 2.1 are
known action appropriately
Deadline
March
2014
March
2014
RNIB College Loughborough – Single Equality Scheme 2013-2015 Action Plan
Quality Administrator Dec 2015 V6
A
D
G
X
X
R
RB S
Update
RAM and
MIS review
monthly
Responsibility
RAM
On-going
RAM
Objective 3: Increase the percentage of male staff. (Focus is to 1. Eliminate discrimination, 2.
Promote/advance equality)
No Actions
3.1 Hold focus group with
current male staff to
establish how we can
attract more applicants
from this group
Deadline A
December
2013
D
G
X
3.2 Feed outcomes of above January
into recruitment process 2014
X
3.3 Continue to monitor
statistics around staff
applications and action
any areas required
3.4 Monitor that gender
issues are included in
RNIB recruit right first
time training.
On-going
X
On-going
RNIB College Loughborough – Single Equality Scheme 2013-2015 Action Plan
Quality Administrator Dec 2015 V6
X
R
RB S
Update
Responsibility
QA/SA
Meeting held in Feb
2014 and results
analysed and
actions
implemented.
Changes made to
QA/SA
job advertisements,
full training adding,
male staff attend
jobs fairs, managers
can choose where
adverts are placed
and literature shows
a diverse workforce
On –Going
QA/SA
reviewed twice a
year
On-Going reviewed
at every EDWG.
QA/SA
Objective 4: Improve number of staff with a Black, Minority Heritage background (Focus is to 1. Eliminate
discrimination, 2. Promote/advance equality)
No Actions
4.1 Hold focus group with
current BME staff to
establish how we can
attract more applicants
from this group
4.2 Feed outcomes of above
into recruitment process
Deadline A
November
2013
D
G
R
RB S
X
December
2013
X
4.3 Continue to monitor
statistics at EODWG
and challenge when
necessary.
On-going
X
Update
Meeting held Feb
2014 results
analysed and
actions
implemented
Changes made to
job advertisements,
full training adding,
BME staff attend
jobs fairs, managers
can choose where
adverts are placed
and literature shows
a diverse workforce
On-Going
Responsibility
QA/SA
QA/SA
QA/SA
X
Objective 5: Develop a more formalised approach to succession planning for middle and senior
management roles (Focus is to 1. Eliminate discrimination, 2. Promote/advance equality)
RNIB College Loughborough – Single Equality Scheme 2013-2015 Action Plan
Quality Administrator Dec 2015 V6
No Actions
5.1 CMT members to
identify posts which
might leave the College
vulnerable in the event
of a lengthy absence of
a post holder and
produce a plan to
mitigate this risk.
Deadline
February
2014
A
X
D
G
R
RB S
Update
Loss of critical post
holders added to
risk register.
Business continuity
plan created.
Objective 6: Embed communication strategies to meet student needs (Focus is to 1. Eliminate
discrimination, 2. Promote/advance equality 3. Foster relationships between different groups)
RNIB College Loughborough – Single Equality Scheme 2013-2015 Action Plan
Quality Administrator Dec 2015 V6
Responsibility
CMT & MIS
No Actions
6.1 Promote equality
through displays via
EODWG
Deadline A
November
2013
D
X
G
R
RB S
Update
Responsibility
QA
Equality
Champions pictures
and Student
Golden Rules
posters up in the
College and SBC.
College Chaplains
attended March
News desk and
Africa Day.
Objective 7: To improve access to staff development programme (Focus is to 1. Eliminate discrimination, 2.
Promote/advance equality)
RNIB College Loughborough – Single Equality Scheme 2013-2015 Action Plan
Quality Administrator Dec 2015 V6
No Actions
7.1 Maintain staff
development
programme re equal
opps/diversity including
training for Governors
and continue with
general awareness
raising plus themed
annual focus specifically
addressing protected
characteristics
7.2 Update on-line equal
opportunities information
to include a selfassessment quiz for
distribution to all staff
and new starters at
induction
7.3 Include an equal
opportunities statement
in weekly bulletins
related to the community
calendar (ie maintain
staff awareness of
issues to embed in
sessions)
Deadline
On-going
A
D
G
R
RB S
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
June 2013
X
RNIB College Loughborough – Single Equality Scheme 2013-2015 Action Plan
Quality Administrator Dec 2015 V6
X
X
X
X
Responsibility
QA
On-going Continue to review
platforms for
training to allow
classroom and online training,
QA
Started Week
commencing 16th
September and
included weekly.
SA
X
March
2014
X
Update
On-Going
X
No Actions
7.4 Continue to embed
equal opportunity
themes and celebrate
diversity within the
curriculum including
students understanding
their rights and
responsibilities
regarding discrimination,
harassment an bullying
– this to include e-safety
7.5 Review the provision of
staff development to
ensure staff have better
access to training
Deadline
On-going
September
2013
A
D
G
R
RB S
X
X
X
X
X
X
RNIB College Loughborough – Single Equality Scheme 2013-2015 Action Plan
Quality Administrator Dec 2015 V6
X
X
X
X
Update
On-Going
Responsibility
APP
Continuous review
of staff
development and
different formats.
QA
X
X
No Actions
7.6 Enhance already
available on-line staff
development material to
include links to internet
sites such as DVD for
safeguarding for a local
safeguarding board.
Areas to add:
 Safeguarding
 Challenging
behaviour
 Food hygiene
 Infection control
 How to write a risk
assessment
 Manual
handling/hoist
training
Deadline
January
2014
A
X
RNIB College Loughborough – Single Equality Scheme 2013-2015 Action Plan
Quality Administrator Dec 2015 V6
D
X
G
X
R
X
RB S
Update
Responsibility
QA
X
Safeguarding
refresher complete.
Have infection
control DVD
Not possible for
moving / handling
or challenging
behaviour as
training
requirements are
very specific.
All training
resources now on
intranet.
Continuous review
of new software to
use in training.
X