Equality and Diversity
Orkney Islands Council is committed to promoting equal opportunities, challenging discrimination and fostering good relations, both in employment and in carrying out its work and delivering services. We want Orkney to be a community where we all have the opportunity to fulfil our potential.
The Equality Act 2010
The Equality Act 2010 replaced previous anti-discrimination laws with a single act. The aim of the Act is to simplify the law, remove inconsistencies and make it easier for people to understand. It also strengthens the law to help tackle discrimination and inequality and protects individuals and groups from discrimination on the basis of the following ‘protected characteristics’:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sexual orientation
The level of protection varies according to which protected characteristic the individual has and whether they are at work or receiving a service.
Annual Equality Report
We have produced an Annual Equality Report to explain how we actively promote equaity and integrate it into our work, both as an employer and as a service provider. Our Annual Equality Report 2013 is available from the Related Downloads section on the left of this page.
Equality Outcomes
All public authorities now have a legal requirement to produce and publish a set of equality outcomes. These are the results we aim to achieve in promoting equality, tackling discrimination and fostering good relations. Eight equality outcomes have been developed by the Council and Education Authority, in addition to work already being carried out to reduce inequality and ensure fairness. Our Equality Outcomes 2013-2017 are available from the Related Downloads section on the left of this page.
Equality and Diversity Strategy
Orkney Community Planning Partnership has developed an Equality and Diversity Strategy. The Strategy will determine how the community planning partners promote equality and diversity in the work they do. It also sets out how the public agencies and organisations within the Partnership are meeting their duties in terms of equality and diversity legislation, the needs of the local community and the aspirations contained in the Orkney Community Plan.
The Strategy replaces the Council's previous schemes for:
- Race Equality
- Disability Equality
- Gender Equality
The Strategy is available from the Related Downloads section on the left of this page.
Equality Impact Assessments
Equality Impact Assessments is a process where Orkney Islands Council considers how its policies and functions are likely to affect different groups of people in different ways. Equality Impact Assessments help to ensure that the Council does not discriminate.
Published Equality Impact Assessments (EqIA's) are available on the top left of this page.
Orkney Islands Area Licensing Board - Multi Equality Strategy
As an autonomous body, the Orkney Islands Area Licensing Board ('OIALB') maintains its own Multi Equality Strategy, available from the Related Downloads section on the left of this page.
Orkney Islands Council employment information - equality and diversity
Orkney Islands Council's HR service monitors recruitment and data is collected for job applicants and employees. The information collected assists the Council to meet legislative requirements and to identify and eliminate any form of discrimination within its employment practices, helping to ensure that equality is a reality for every person who works, or applies to work, for the Council. Employment and recruitment monitoring information can be found in our Annual Equality Report 2013.
The Council displays the ‘two ticks’ disability symbol on job advertisements and application forms. The symbol is awarded by Jobcentre Plus to employers who are particularly positive about employing and retaining disabled people and have made commitments regarding recruitment, training, consultation and disability awareness.
Alternative Formats
All our written information can be made available, on request, in a range of different formats and languages. If you would like any of the documents in any other language or format please contact HR and Performance by email or call (01856) 873535 Ext 2250.
Contact Details
For information on equality matters contact:
Marie Love, Policy Officer (Equalities)
HR and Performance
Orkney Islands Council
Kirkwall
KW15 1NY
Telephone 01856 873535 Ext 2155
or
HR and Performance
Orkney Islands Council
Kirkwall
KW15 1NY
Telephone 01856 873535 Ext 2250