Equality Impact Assessment Stage Three: Embedding

Stages of the model

Timing: from early in the strategy development and review process following on from the scoping and assessment stage and through to initial strategy negotiation, followed by first  draft and then to finalisation of the strategy.

Embedding the outcome of a strategic EIA involves:

• Setting the direction for all decisions arising from the EIA relating to equality within the strategy.
• Ensuring these are effectively mapped across the institution through other identified and relevant strategies, operational plans and policies.  
• Facilitating implementation and mainstreaming of equality priorities, decisions and direction across all relevant operational and business activities, policies and practices, co-ordinating activity through institutional committees, forums and other institutional communication and discussion channels, making links to other relevant institutional EIAs.
• Ensuring that there are sufficiently robust institutional processes that fully support an integrated approach to equality, including more broadly across wider areas of institutional strategy and activity.  Effective embedding of equality relies on a consistent understanding and application of policy and intent. Important factors to consider in this respect include how institutional expectations are communicated and monitored, and the breadth and engagement with staff equality training etc.