Job responsibilities
Main
purpose of job
Take the lead on enabling the council to meet its
statutory obligations in respect of equality and achieve excellence against
the Equality Framework for Local Government. Enable a culture where equality and
health considerations are owned by everyone and embedded into all relevant
policies, procedures and practice.
Key responsibilities
Lead work to ensure the council is compliant
with the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Research, develop and facilitate the councils
self-assessment on the equality improvement journey using the Equality
Framework for Local Government.
Identify areas of activity that the council
needs to improve to ensure delivery of good equality outcomes and action plan
accordingly. Lead on the design, delivery and evaluation of key equality
improvement projects.
Research, develop, facilitate and ensure
delivery of plans and strategies in the field of equalities.
Act as the primary point of contact within the
Council on equality issues and advise elected members and council officers
with respect to implementation of statutory equalities duties and best
practice relating to equalities (e.g. Equality Objectives, Medium Term
Financial Strategy and procurement).
Enable a robust approach to and application of
the Integrated Impact Assessment tool, with a focus on consideration of
equalities and health inequalities.
Seek to ensure activity is responsive to local
needs and (protected) characteristics of the local population.
Support on wider matters relating to health
and reducing health inequalities, including employee health and wellbeing.
Participation in relevant local and regional
networks, partnerships and strategic groups focussed on equalities, ensuring
key issues relating to the Council are responded to in a timely and
appropriate manner.
Manage governance and assurance arrangements
in relation to equalities and health, as required.
Support the effective delivery of the
Sunderland Healthy City Plan in line with the Plans shared values and
behaviours.
Develop and maintain positive and
collaborative working relationships within the council and with partners in
relation to equalities and health.
Key tasks
Build
organisational understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion, to meet
the needs of residents and customers.
Maintain
effective working relationships with the People Management service which
leads workforce equality, diversity and inclusion.
Champion a
culture that promotes equality, diversity and inclusion.
Coordinate and
manage the development of an agreed range of activity and strategies, working
with internal and external stakeholders as appropriate.
Develop
proactive action plans which are driven by engaged leadership and relevant
stakeholders. Set out how the Public Sector Equality Duty will be met as part
of the equality improvement journey using the Equality Framework for Local
Government.
Develop and
update short, medium and long-term implementation plans in line with changing
needs and expected outcomes.
Promote and
enable the routine application of Integrated Impact Assessment, including
consideration of equalities and health inequalities.
Provide
direction for reducing disproportionate outcomes for residents and
customers.
Provide
assurance to internal and external groups on equality improvement.
Establish and
maintain constructive relationships with a broad range of internal and
external stakeholders (e.g. corporate leadership, equality networks and
advisory groups, voluntary and community sector, health partners).
Represent the
service or Council on relevant networks and groups with responsibility for
delivering equality
Direct and
support implementation of legislation/legislation review and national policy
in relation to equality.
Other duties/specific policies
e.g. DBS
The post holder must carry out their duties
with full regard to the Councils Equal Opportunities Policy, Code of Conduct
and all other Council Policies.
The post holder must comply with the
Councils Health and safety rules and regulations and with Health and safety
legislation.
The post holder must comply with the
principles of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to the management
of Council records and information.
To comply with the principles and
requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR in relation to the
management of Council records and information and respect the privacy of
personal information held by the Council.
Note: The duties/responsibilities listed above
describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The
job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of
a similar level that may be necessary.
