Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) are public documents. Equality Impact Assessments accompanying reports going to County Councillors for decisions are published with the committee papers on our website and are available in hard copy at the relevant meeting. To help people to find completed Equality Impact Assessments we also publish them in the Equality and Diversity section of our website. This will help people to see for themselves how we have paid due regard in order to meet statutory requirements.
Name of directorate: Health and Adult Services
Name of service area: Service Development - Brokerage
Lead officer: Mike Rudd
How will you pay due regard? For example working group, individual officer: Lead officer as named above, engagement with staff and people using the service
When did the due regard process start: October 2023 at project scoping phase
Section 1. Describe briefly what this Equality Impact Assessment is about
The e-Brokerage project will replace manual processes within the Brokerage team with a systems based approach with a view to improving the speed, consistency and value for money achieved within the service. This primarily relates to the sourcing of care packages and care home placements with both in-house and commissioned service providers.
Section 2. Why is this being proposed? What are the aims? What does the authority hope to achieve by it?
During calendar 2024, Health and Adult Services will implement an e-Brokerage solution to replace existing manual processes. The aim of this project is to improve and speed up the sourcing of packages of care and care home placements. This is achieved by moving away from a manual, email and telephone based approach towards a systems based approach which will standardise practice and also allow for more accurate recording and auditing of practice and performance within the service.
This will ensure that Health and Adult Services is achieving best value and best match when sourcing care, whilst gathering additional market insights and information as part of standard processes.
Savings of £125,000 in each year between 2024/25 and 2027/28 are proposed as part of this project - totalling £500,000 to be achieved through the reorganisation and restructure of the brokerage service in a phased way over this period.
Section 3. What will change? What will be different for customers and/or staff?
The precise details of the system to be implemented and the implications of this are still in development. However as set out above, the key change will be a move away from email and telephone to a systems based approach to sourcing care.
Brokerage colleagues will work through this system and this will represent a significant change in working practice for the team. Wider Health and Adult Services teams will not be directly impacted and people accessing the service should not see a material impact as their link to the council will remain through Care and Support.
People should see a more timely response to care requests and the system should allow for a wider choice of providers to ensure best value, best match. Details and precise impacts of this will need to be determined as the project progresses.
Whilst the project is focussing on a systems based approach, the person will remain at the heart of all decision making and personal conversations between brokers, care and support teams and the individual and their family will remain the guiding and determining factor in decision making on future care options.
Section 4. Involvement and consultation
The project is in the early stages and as such limited engagement has been undertaken with the team and wider stakeholders.
Brokerage team leaders have been engaged in work to standardise processes ahead of this change and colleagues from Care and Support and Integration have also been involved, including in the formal project board.
Moving forward, there will be formal engagement with brokerage colleagues as part of any significant change to the team. Support from the Health and Adult Services Practice team has been requested to ensure that the link between Brokerage, Care and Support and people receiving services is strengthened and that the person and their wishes remain at the heart of the process.
Section 5. What impact will this proposal have on council budgets? Will it be cost neutral, have increased cost or reduce costs?
The project is projected to deliver savings of £125,000 in each year between 2024/25 and 2027/28, totalling £500,000 over this period.
Section 6. How will this affect people with protected characteristics?
Age
Make things better.
Why will it have this effect?
Revised systems and processes should allow for more timely and cost effective care sourcing ensuring people have better access to care services.
Disability
Make things better.
Why will it have this effect?
Revised systems and processes should allow for more timely and cost effective care sourcing ensuring people have better access to care services.
Sex
No impact and make things better.
Why will it have this effect?
For people receiving services there is no evidence or expectation of an impact based on this characteristic. The existing Brokerage workforce is predominantly female, as such any changes or reductions in staffing will impact this group.
Race
No impact.
Why will it have this effect?
There is no evidence or expectation of an impact based on this characteristic.
Gender reassignment
No impact.
Why will it have this effect?
There is no evidence or expectation of an impact based on this characteristic.
Sexual orientation
No impact.
Why will it have this effect?
There is no evidence or expectation of an impact based on this characteristic.
Religion or belief
No impact.
Why will it have this effect?
There is no evidence or expectation of an impact based on this characteristic.
Pregnancy or maternity
No impact.
Why will it have this effect?
There is no evidence or expectation of an impact based on this characteristic.
Marriage of civil partnership
No impact.
Why will it have this effect?
There is no evidence or expectation of an impact based on this characteristic.
Section 7. How will this proposal affect people
How will it affect people who live in a rural area?
No impact.
Why will it have this effect?
There is no evidence or expectation of an impact based on this characteristic.
How will it affect people who have a low income?
No impact.
Why will it have this effect?
There is no evidence or expectation of an impact based on this characteristic.
How will it affect people who are carers (unpaid family or friend)?
No impact.
Why will it have this effect?
There is no evidence or expectation of an impact based on this characteristic.
Section 8. Geographic impact
The impact will be North Yorkshire wide.
Section 9. Will the proposal affect anyone more because of a combination of protected characteristics?
Based on demographics, most changes to Adult Social Care services have a disproportionate impact on older women as they make up a large part of those accessing services. Any impact is due to this demographic position rather than anything inherent to the programme.
The current Brokerage team are predominantly female, in line with much of the Adult Social Care workforce. Any changes that this project introduces would therefore inevitably impact this group more, however this is due to the demographics of the team and not planned aspect of the change.
Section 10. Next steps to address the anticipated impact
Adverse impact - continue the proposal. The Equality Impact Assessment identifies potential problems or missed opportunities. We cannot change our proposal to reduce or remove these adverse impacts, nor can we achieve our aim in another way which will not make things worse for people.
Explanation of why option has been chosen: Changes to staffing numbers and structures will impact a predominantly female workforce. This change is an inherent part of the proposal and such the impact reflects the make-up of the team.
By working closely with Human Resources the project will support staff through consultation and will look for opportunities to support colleagues in a range of ways, including those who may wish to leave the council or look for alternative roles within the organisation.
The savings allocated to this project are based on a reduced headcount within the service, as such the risk Adverse impact is accepted and will be mitigated through the project structure.
Section 11. If the proposal is to be implemented how will you find out how it is really affecting people?
Post implementation reviews will be planned periodically and the overall change to the service is planned to take place over a number of years. Progress and expectations will be continually reviewed over this period and changes will be made and reflected in this document.
Section 12. Action plan
Action: Engagement with Brokerage colleagues
Lead: Mike Rudd, Head of Service
By when: Quarter two 2024
Progress: To start 2024
Monitoring arrangements: Project Board HASLT
Section 13. Summary
The impact of the project on people receiving the service should be positive and as such poses no issues, although performance and outcomes will be closely measured through the project board.
There is a planned and predictable impact on staff. Again this will be managed through the project and efforts will be made to mitigate this as far as possible in consultation with Human Resources colleagues.
Section 14. Sign off
This full Equality Impact Assessment was completed by:
Name: Mike Rudd
Job title: Head of Housing, Technology and Sustainability
Directorate: Health and Adult Services
Signature: M Rudd
Completion date: 20 December 2023
Authorised by relevant Assistant Director (signature): Abi Barron
Date: 22 December 2023