Socio Economic considerations
Although not specifically/directly covered by the Equality Act 2010, the following socio-economic characteristics can be taken into account when developing policy and practice in order to ensure people are not unfairly disadvantaged and socio-economic inequalities are reduced:
- Families including large families
- Parents/families with disabled children
- Single parent families
- Carers, including young carers
- Adopted/fostered/looked after children
- People living in rural isolation
- People newly arrived to the area who may have limited knowledge of services etc.
- People without access to a car or regular public transport
- People and families on low incomes
- Ex-offenders
- People in full time employment or study
- Unemployed people, young people who are “NEET” – Not in Education, Employment or Training
- People with limited literacy or numeracy skills
- Homeless people (may not have access to home address, land-line etc)
- Facilities for children such as changing facilities (including disabled children) and safe spaces
- Access to technology such as computers/internet
- ‘Trigger points’ or objective criteria and language that enable consistent/fair treatment of individuals. Consider what ‘serious’ really means
- Whether everyone has equal access to the service or benefits? What evidence do you have?
- Whether there are any barriers to participation e.g. low numbers compared to the population? What evidence do you have and what can you do to mitigate those barriers?
- Whether it will support economic independence and help people out of poverty?
- Whether it will promote health and wellbeing generally, including mental health?
- Whether it will ensure access to housing/affordable housing?
- Whether it will tackle harmful behaviour and safeguard children and vulnerable adults?
- Other factors that are relevant to your service:
Human Rights
• Right to life
• Protection from torture
• Protection from slavery and forced labour
• Right to liberty and security
• Right to a fair trial
• No punishment without law
• Right to respect for private and family life
• Freedom of thought, belief and religion
• Freedom of expression
• Freedom of assembly and association
• Right to marry and have a family
• Protection from discrimination (in relation to the above)
• Protection of property
• Right to education
• Right to free elections
Does anything conflict with Human Rights? Do you need to balance two or more Rights? Some Human Rights are ‘absolute’ whilst others are ‘conditional’ so bear this in mind when prioritising people’s rights. For example, a Right to Life would have higher importance than a Freedom of Expression.
For more information about Human Rights visit the British Institute of Human Rights and Equality and Human Rights Commission.