Mainstreaming equality

The Sure Start, Extended Schools and Childcare Group are dedicated to ensuring that we have the correct training, information and tools to effectively mainstream equality throughout everything we do from the outset. We are also working with practitioners and Local Authorities to ensure that this practice is embedded in to their planning of services.

What does mainstreaming equality mean?

There are a plethora of definitions that identify what mainstreaming equality means, however the context in which we have identified its meaning is:

• Ensuring that policies, programmes and services which are accessible, flexible and affordable, and meet diverse needs of our communities and families are designed and implemented
• Ensuring that equality considerations are embedded into every stage of all work.

Why is it important?

• Focuses minds on equality/inclusion issues from the outset; and
• Provides a tool that enables us to plan to ensure that equality and diversity considerations are central to the development and delivery of policy and services
• The outcome of ensuring we mainstream equality is services that are more flexible & responsive and meet peoples needs more effectively
• Helps to comply with equality legislation.

What is the process?

Mainstreaming equality can be done several ways however there are some key principles that should act as a guide. Your aim should be to design and implement measures that are accessible, flexible and meet the community’s diverse needs, paying particular attention to ensuring that no family or child is disadvantaged. Planning ahead and consultation are key to the success of mainstreaming equality. You need to consider:

• Who are services/practices/policies aimed at?
• Are they effective without disadvantaging others?
• Have you consulted with those they are aimed at?
• Do you understand how services can adversely affect people in different ways?
• Have you enough base line data?
• Have you consulted equality commissions? Have you knowledge of equality legislation?
• What current information or research can help you identify the impact of your service?
• Think about the possible effects on underrepresented or minority groups including fathers.
• Have you checked that there is no risk of illegal discrimination?
• Have you a robust equality/inclusion plan in place with built in targets?
• Have you provided service deliverers with clear guidance and support?

Are you sure that your services/policies are fair, accessible and meet diverse needs of your customers and do not:

• Explicitly/implicitly treat one group less favourably than another
• Promote equality and diversity
• have an adverse effect on people who are members of more than one group that may suffer unfair discrimination but are;
• valid and legal.

What effective processes/methods can I use?

• Consult widely with service users, providers, useful organisations (see list of resources) and equality commissions
• Set targets
• Develop an effective communication strategy (you will need to consider outreach workers or connectors to get the message across to those families who are not aware of services available). Encourage them to feedback to you about communication and services.
• Monitoring – you should develop monitoring systems to ensure you can evaluate effectiveness and impact of services
• Evaluation – develop evaluation processes to ascertain the impact and effectiveness of services
• Update – use the information collated to update and make changes