Equality Impact Assessments
Equality Impact Assessments are an effective means of identifying any areas that might discriminate or disadvantage residents on the grounds of age, disability, ethnicity, faith/belief, gender, sexual orientation or gender identification.
Hackney Homes has carried out a number of Equality Impact Assessment and has improved the way we deliver services as a result.
Here are some examples of what we have improved.
1. We knew that satisfaction with our service was lower for black and minority ethnic groups. We looked at how we can improved the perception of our service within these communities.
We have changed:
- We now offer residents the option to have the Hackney Homes newsletter translated or available in another formats such as large print or Braille.
- We now produce the Hackney Homes newsletter in Turkish.
- We have increased the use of Language Line translation service.
- We have introduced focus groups for black and minority ethnic communities.
- We have provided our staff with equality and diversity training.
2. We wanted to ensure residents could easily pay their rent. We also need to help residents avoid getting into arrears. So we checked that our policies help all residents to pay their rent.
We have changed:
- We have increased rent awareness, especially how to sign up for Direct Debit.
- We have produced the rent leaflet in a number of languages.
- The Direct Debit form is available in large print.
- We have introduced portable induction loops in all our neighbourhood receptions for people with hearing impairments or those with hearing aids.
- We have promoted home visits for elderly, disabled and vulnerable residents.
- We have changed the parking permit scheme to ensure disabled people are not disadvantaged. Previously, residents with rent arrears were not issued with parking permits, including for visitors. We will now issue visitor permits for disabled visitiors if the resident has signed up to repay their arrears.
3. We wanted to check that our service for hate crime victims is easy to access for everyone.
We have changed:
- We launched our policy for providing services to hate crime victims and invited residents and other key agencies.
- We have included information about hate crime on our DVD for new tenants, which is available in 190 languages.
- We have trained staff, including in our cleaning and grounds maintenance supervisors
- We have widely distributed information about how to access the service
4. We want residents to be able to easily contact us to order a repair, so we tested the service to see if it met everyone's needs.
We have changed:
- We introduced Caught on Camera. This allows residents to send in a photo of fly tipping, graffiti or a communal repair using the camera on their mobile phone.
- We have introduced a new policy for vulnerable residents. This is to help vulnerable residents with more repairs.
- Staff in our call centre have undergone extensive equality and diversity training.
5. We install door entry phone systems to provide a safe and secure environment for residents. We wanted to check that this programme doesn't discriminate against any of our residents.
We have changed:
- We now survey all blocks at the start of the programme to identify residents who might be disadvantaged by the new door entry.
- We have used the assa door key locking system on some estates to allow residents to comply with their religious beliefs on Saturdays and religious holidays.
Download a report with details of EIAs completedby Hackney Homes over the past three years
Read some of the recent EIAs completedby Hackney Homes
Download a report of the EIAs completed and what we have actions we are taking as a result