approved_eqseia_blank_form.UNCRC REPORT
Argyll and Bute Council · 26 September 2024
Back to Argyll and Bute Council — 26 September 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Argyll and Bute Council: Equality and Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Section 1: About the proposal Title of Proposal Children’s Rights Report: 2020-2023 Review Intended outcome of proposal Required Children’s Rights Report as per, Part 1, Section 2 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 places a duty on listed public authorities to complete a children’s rights report very 3 years. Description of proposal An update of the previous Children’s Rights Report published in 2020 Business Outcome(s) / Corporate Outcome(s) to which the proposal contributes Children’s Rights outcomes; noted under Outcome 4. Lead officer details: Name of lead officer Mandy Sheridan Job title Service Improvement Officer Department HSCP Appropriate officer details: Name of appropriate officer Brian Reid Job title Senior Manager (Children, Families and Justice Services) Department HSCP Sign off of EqSEIA Date of sign off 28/02/24 Who will deliver the proposal? UNCRC Implementation Group and other groups and departments within the Council and Health Board Section 2: Evidence used in the course of carrying out EqSEIA Consultation / engagement This is a review of the previous report in 2020. Consultation and co-production took place with regards to the planned engagement exercise which will take place around Children’s Rights this year. This engagement included the pursuit of funding for this, which was achieved (see report). A further report will be produced following these engagements that will include a more in depth statement of the views of children and young people. There will be a child friendly version produced of this current report.
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Data Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014; the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024. Other information Information provided by contributors to the plan, including: UNCRC Implementation Group, Education, Employability Partnership, Council Officer (EQIA’s), Child Protection Officer, Child Health Lead, Child Poverty Action Group, Youth Justice Lead, Community Planning Partnership, Housing, Domestic Violence Lead, Bute Advice Manager, Refugee Team Lead, Young Carer’s Worker, Welfare Rights Lead. Gaps in evidence It would have been good to consult more with children and parents. However consultation has been done regarding the planning of engagement happening this year that will inform a future report. The CPP have also captured the views of children in their work on the Argyll and Bute Outcome Improvement Plan and this is reflected in this current report. Section 3: Impact of proposal Impact on service users: Negative No impact Positive Don’t know Protected characteristics: / Age / Disability / Ethnicity / Sex / Gender reassignment / Marriage and Civil Partnership / Pregnancy and Maternity / Religion / Sexual Orientation / Fairer Scotland Duty: Mainland rural population / Island populations / Low income / Low wealth / Material deprivation / Area deprivation / Socio-economic background / Communities of place / Communities of interest / If you have identified any impacts on service users, explain what these will be. This a report that is about children’s rights and making it clear what they are, why they are important and that this is recognised in Argyll and Bute. It details some of the things we do to ensure that everything we do is in the best interests of the child and that their views are heard and considered. It is about important things like tackling child poverty, keeping families together and supporting children who can’t be with their families. It is about how
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we support children to be the people they choose to be and ensure that they live in safe, happy communities. It is about how we work with children who have come into contact with the Justice System and ensure that their rights continue to be respected. It is about how we ensure our staff are aware and trained to support and empower children. All of this, the adoption of the UNCRC into Scottish law and ensuring that Argyll and Bute Council and Highland Health Board are rights respecting organisations, will have a positives impact on all of the areas noted above. This report reflects that. If any ‘don’t know’s have been identified, at what point will impacts on these groups become identifiable? Impact on service deliverers (including employees, volunteers etc): Negative No impact Positive Don’t know Protected characteristics: Age / Disability / Ethnicity / Sex / Gender reassignment / Marriage and Civil Partnership / Pregnancy and Maternity / Religion / Sexual Orientation / Fairer Scotland Duty: Mainland rural population / Island populations / Low income / Low wealth / Material deprivation / Area deprivation / Socio-economic background / Communities of place / Communities of interest / If you have identified any impacts on service deliverers, explain what these will be. No direct impacts however promoting children’s rights and the work around this will have positive impacts on their families. Children’s Rights are Human Rights and increased promotion and establishment of children’s rights will impact positively on adults. This will be consolidated with the Human Rights Bill. Staff will become more aware of children’s rights and how they play a role in their working and personal lives. If any ‘don’t know’s have been identified, at what point will impacts on these groups become identifiable?
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How has ‘due regard’ been given to any negative impacts that have been identified? Section 4: Interdependencies Is this proposal likely to have any knock-on effects for any other activities carried out by or on behalf of the council? The report should have a positive impact in many areas as it will increase understanding of children’s rights in the community, with our employees and volunteers and with children, young people and their families. Along with training and other information offered to staff it will help them to understand what their roles and responsibilities are in terms of children’s rights. It should be noted that there is a risk to the Council if it does not become compliant with the requirements of the new Act. Details of knock-on effects identified Increased awareness with children and young people of their rights and planned engagements with them, may lead them to be more assertive in terms of insisting on being heard and their rights respected. This is a positive thing and can be supported by more engagement with children and young people on decision making and the provision of child friendly information in key areas that concern them. If the Council fails to be compliant with the new Act and demonstrate that it is forwarding / protecting children’s rights, there is a risk. Complaints can now be made to the Children’s Commissioner and breeches can be heard in Courts of Law. It is important to deliver on the necessary rights respecting actions and equally important to be able to evidence that by the completion and sharing / publication of Equality Impact Assessments. Section 5: Monitoring and review How will you monitor and evaluate the equality impacts of your proposal? In engagement with children, young people and their families; listening and hearing what their views are. Through feedback from young users of Council and Health Board Services. Through complaints procedures and any concerns raised with the Children’s Commissioner.