Our commitment to Equality and Diversity: Equality Scheme 2010-2013 - Currently being updated to be published in April 2012

This scheme sets out the HPA's values and commitments on race, disability, gender, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief.  The Equality Scheme is a plan for building equality and diversity into all aspects of the agency’s work. All public bodies are required to have in place Race, Gender and Disability Equality Schemes, which set out how they  plan to meet the ‘general and specific duties’ contained in each of the following pieces of legislation:

• The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.
• The Disability Discrimination Act 2005.
• The Equality Act 2006.

The HPA's equality and diversity scheme is available for download.

Equality and Diversity Information Reports

Information on staffing and employment in the Health Protection Agency is based on the last full year for which figures are available, ie. year ending 31st March 2011. This report has been written to provide information, on our staffing and employment, to the general publicand key stakeholders. We also have a legal obligation to publish this information.

Equality and Diversity Information Report (PDF, 204 KB)

Equality impact assessments

Equality Impact Assessment template: Advice and guidance (Word Document, 58 KB)

Equality Impact Assessment template: Education and Training (Word Document, 73 KB)

Equality Impact Assessment template: Recruitment and Selection (Word Document, 62 KB)

Equality Impact Assessment template: Flexible Working (Word Document, 60 KB)

Listed below are our completed equality impact assessments, organised by date that they were begun.

In line with good practice we are committed to publishing the results of our equality impact assessments, it is also one of our obligations under the three existing public sector equality duties for race, disability and gender.

• Equality Impact Assessment - Visiting Workers Policy and Procedure Policy Request for a Visiting Worker – Appendix 1 Visiting Workers/Attachment Model Agreement – Appendix 2 (PDF, 130 KB)
  To provide guidance to Managers on safeguarding the interests of the HPA and the worker(s) concerned.
  Added/updated: 29 November 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - HPA Recruitment and Selection Policy and Procedure (PDF, 109 KB)
  To enable those involved in recruitment to recruit employees with the quality of skills, abilities, knowledge and experience to carry out their tasks to a high standard.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Education and Training (PDF, 220 KB)
  To ensure that the provision of education and training provided to HPA staff is delivered in accordance with the equality and diversity policies.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - The production of expert health protection advice and guidance by HPA (PDF, 137 KB)
  Production of high quality evidence based advice, in a timely manner, in the right format for the target audience(s) and in a way that meets the legislative requirements of HPA to give such advice.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - HPA Committees (PDF, 123 KB)
  This document provides a generic Equality Impact Assessment on all types of HPA Committees. October 2011.
  Added/updated: 17 November 2011
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Policy and procedure for 'The Engagement of Individuals' (PDF, 93 KB)
  To set out the HPA’s policy and procedure in respect of the engagement of individuals
  Added/updated: 29 November 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Policy and Guidance on the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (PDF, 86 KB)
  V.1: Protection of children and vulnerable adults when receiving HPA services. Ensuring staff are aware of the responsibility to protect these groups from harm
  Added/updated: 29 November 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Secondment Policy and Guidance (PDF, 213 KB)
  To provide a fair and explicit pathway for secondment opportunities
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Work Experience Policy and Procedure (PDF, 253 KB)
  To provide clarity on the purpose of workforce placements and the framework in which the placements take place.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Annual Leave Policy and Guidance (PDF, 113 KB)
  To ensure that all applications for annual leave are treated in a timely, fair, reasonable and consistent way and that holiday entitlement is taken appropriately.
  Added/updated: 29 November 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Research into the health effects of biological and chemical hazards and radiation (PDF, 92 KB)
  HPA advice is based on the relevant scientific evidence, is robust enough to allow clear evidence based policy making and public reassurance/risk assessment.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - HPA Policy regarding vaccination of employees with seasonal influenza vaccine (PDF, 87 KB)
  To provide employees with a level of protection from seasonal influenza
  Added/updated: 29 November 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - HPA Guidance regarding the use of Bank Contracts (PDF, 87 KB)
  To provide a fair and explicit pathway for the establishment of a staff bank.
  Added/updated: 29 November 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - HPA Code of Conduct for Employees (PDF, 83 KB)
  A Code of Conduct for Employees is a mandatory requirement.
  Added/updated: 29 November 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Policy on Fixed Term Working and Guidance Notes (PDF, 66 KB)
  To ensure that HPA employees are not treated less favorably than comparable permanent employees.
  Added/updated: 29 November 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - HPA Policy on Occupational Health (PDF, 85 KB)
  To promote the health and well-being of all HPA employees
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Learning and development provided for staff within, the HPA and to external agencies. (PDF, 98 KB)
  To ensure that all learning and development activities are provided in a fair manner to all groups of staff.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - National Standard Methods Working Groups (NSMWGs) (PDF, 72 KB)
  To ensure that the composition of the Working Group is undertaken in an open and transparent manner which complies with the Equality & Diversity legislation and the Care Quality Commission standards
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Policy on Flexible Working Arrangements (PDF, 100 KB)
  To promote a healthy work life balance and encourage new ways of working.
  Added/updated: 29 November 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Enhancements relating to On-Call Cover Less Frequent than 1 in 12 (PDF, 85 KB)
  To provide guidance for managers when agreeing rotas less frequent than 1 in 12.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Policy on Positive Absence Reporting (PDF, 94 KB)
  To set out the HPA’s policy and procedure in respect of absence reporting.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Guidance Notes on HR Policy Briefings (PDF, 92 KB)
  To ensure that all Divisions/Centres have access to HR policy briefings
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Public Involvement Policy (PIP) (PDF, 44 KB)
  Sets standards for Public involvement; explains the PI processes; outlines how the agency will meet Care Quality Commission (CQC) core standards for patient and public involvement
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Policy on Special Leave Working Arrangements (PDF, 99 KB)
  To support employees with access to special leave arrangements and to balance their work responsibilities and personal commitments.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Outbreak Investigation and Management (Overarching principles of outbreak investigation, not disease specific) (PDF, 117 KB)
  To protect the public, and learn and apply lessons identified.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Policy and guidance for consent to investigation and/or treatment (PDF, 86 KB)
  The HPA will have regard to the need to obtain valid consent from patients and service users
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - HPA Laboratory Activities (PDF, 104 KB)
  To promote safe segregation, handling, transport, reporting and disposal of hazardous laboratory specimens/samples/other materials and waste.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Consultation (PDF, 90 KB)
  To ensure that in developing policies, procedures and guidance the HPA is informed by a wide range of experience and takes into account the impact of any proposals.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - HPA Guidance on Job Evaluation Arrangements (PDF, 87 KB)
  To ensure that there is clear guidance for the job evaluation process in the HPA.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Emergency Preparedness (PDF, 129 KB)
  To develop and improve emergency preparedness and planning resilience to ensure interoperability of its plans with responders under the Civil Contingencies Act.
  Added/updated: 29 November 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Commercial Affairs Policy including Pricing Policy and Opportunity Assessment Groups (PDF, 84 KB)
  Develop partnerships to generate practical solutions to healthcare problems, and generate funds to HPA for further investment; define basis for establishing prices, products, services and intellectual property provided by HPA; OAGs assess opportunities for externally-funded business.
  Added/updated: 29 November 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - HPA policy on international secondments and guidance notes (PDF, 35 KB)
  To provide a fair and explicit pathway for international secondment opportunities for HPA staff
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - rewards for inventors (PDF, 85 KB)
  To outline how income received by the HPA from the successful exploitation of intellectual property will be shared with employees and former employees
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment on HPA's procurement policies (PDF, 1.3 MB)
  To provide end users with what they need, at best value for money, and to protect the agency and minimise risk through appropriate contractual arrangements.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Guidance for all staff on working hours and attendance during severe weather and transport disruption (PDF, 66 KB)
  To reduce disruption to normal services due to adverse weather and transport difficulties.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Endorsements policy (PDF, 28 KB)
  To ensure HPA staff are aware of the issues surrounding providing endorsements for goods or services from external organisations.
  Added/updated: 29 November 2010
  
• EIA - HPA Organisational change July 2010 (PDF, 53 KB)
  This paper outlines the HPA Organisational Change Programme which has been endorsed by the Executive Group and the Board as a basis for consultation in accordance with the HPA’s Organisational Change Policy and the requirements for such a programme to be subject to an equality impact assessment.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• HPA Organisational change - current and proposed structures July 2010 (PowerPoint Presentation, 174 KB)
  PPT slides to illustrate current and proposed organisational structure, as of July 2010
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• EIA - Policy and procedure on organisational change (PDF, 50 KB)
  To ensure that any change that takes place in the HPA adheres to employment legislation and best practice whilst ensuring that all individuals are supported in an appropriate manner.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Discipline and Grievance policy and procedure (PDF, 49 KB)
  To update the above current HPA policies to ensure that both policies are in line with the current statutory requirements and the revised ACAS Code of Practice.
  Added/updated: 29 November 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Sponsorship policy (PDF, 169 KB)
  To clarify, and remind all staff of, the agency's position on sponsorship.
  Added/updated: 2 December 2010
  
• Equality Impact Assessment - Collective Health and Safety Policies (PDF, 98 KB)
  To ensure effective management of health and safety
  Added/updated: 17 February 2011