Frontline Equality Assessment Tool
The Frontline Equality Assessment Tool (FEAT) has been designed to ensure that every service gets it right every time for all our patients.
Developed in response to feedback from our staff on areas where they feel NHSGGC could be doing better, the Tool also takes into account evidence from the experiences of our patients.
The FEAT focusses on assessing how we can fully meet the needs of all our patients within frontline services. It will be used by lead members of local service teams in collaboration with the Equality and Human Rights Team to look at patient flow and integration of inequalities sensitive practice.
This will involve reviewing how patient data is collected, how communication support is assessed, knowledge of protected characteristic-related issues and associated policies and protocols as well as the impact on discharge planning.
By translating the language of legislation into practical steps for staff, the FEAT offers a sense check which highlights both where there are gaps in services’ inequalities sensitive practice and where there are examples of good practice which could be replicated in other services.
William Edwards, Deputy Chief Executive, NHSGGC
“The Frontline Equality Assessment Tool is a great addition to our processes to enable us to understand and meet the needs of our patients with protected characteristics. Not only will it help us identify where we can take positive action but will also capture where good practice is underway and share across all wards and services.”
Alastair Low, Manager, NHSGGC Equality and Human Rights Team
“Equality legislation can sometimes be seen as distinct or detached from the daily interactions that are at the heart of everything we do. We want to help change that perspective. The time we spend visiting departments will strengthen our understanding of equality legislation and its role in delivering effective, efficient and inclusive services.”
Disability Discrimination Audits (DDAs)
NHSGGC has a duty to remove access barriers for disabled patients. This takes the form of Disability Discrimination Audits (DDA) which involve conducting access audits in partnership with disabled people.
In addition to DDA audits, the Frontline Equality Assessment programme also includes a rapid assessment of a physical environment with proposed enhancements reported back to our Estates and Facilities Directorate.
We are currently carrying out a range of DDAs and FEAT reviews in Acute settings which aim to identify any adaptations required.
Professor Tom Steele, Director of Estates and Facilities
“We know that some aspects of the physical environment can still present barriers for some people who use our buildings. We are committed to a programme of ongoing improvement works as well as deigning space that will act as an enabler to staff, patients, carers and visitors.”