5.1Schedule 9 4. (2) (e)

5.2Commitment to staff training

5.3We recognise that awareness raising and training play a crucial role in the effective implementation of our Section 75 statutory duties.

5.4To this end we have introduced an effective communication and training programme for all our staff, and we will ensure that our commitment to the Section 75 statutory duties is made clear in all relevant publications.

5.5Training objectives

5.6Our predecessor organisation in Northern Ireland provided detailed training for its staff during the five-year period of its first equality scheme. We will draw up a further detailed training plan for our staff, which will aim to ensure that the following objectives are achieved:

• To raise awareness of the provisions of Section 75 of the Act, our revised equality scheme commitments and the particular issues likely to affect people across the range of Section 75 categories, to ensure that our staff fully understand their role in implementing the scheme
• To provide those staff involved in the assessment of policies (screening and EQIA) with the necessary skills and knowledge to do this work effectively
• To provide those staff who deal with complaints in relation to compliance with our equality scheme with the necessary skills and knowledge to investigate and monitor complaints effectively
• To provide those staff involved in consultation processes with the necessary skills and knowledge to do this work effectively
• To provide those staff involved in the implementation and monitoring of our equality scheme with the necessary skills and knowledge to do this work effectively.

5.7Awareness raising and training arrangements

5.8The following arrangements are in place to ensure that all our staff and Board members are aware of and understand our equality obligations:

• We will develop a summary of this equality scheme and make it available to all our staff.
• We will provide access to copies of the full equality scheme for all our staff, and ensure that any queries or questions of clarification from staff are addressed effectively.
• Staff will receive a briefing on this equality scheme within six months of its approval.
• The Section 75 statutory duties form part of the induction training for new staff.
• Focused training is provided for key staff who are directly engaged in taking forward the implementation of our equality scheme commitments (for example, those involved in research and data collection, policy development, service design, conducting EQIAs, consultation, and monitoring and evaluation).
• Where appropriate, training will be provided to ensure that staff are aware of the issues experienced by the range of Section 75 groups.
• When appropriate, and on an ongoing basis, arrangements will be made to ensure that staff are kept up to date with Section 75 developments, including this revised scheme.

5.9Awareness-raising and training programmes will, where relevant, be developed in association with the appropriate Section 75 groups and our staff.

5.10In order to share resources and expertise, we will, where possible, work closely with other bodies and agencies in the development and delivery of training.

5.11Monitoring and evaluation

5.12Our training programme is subject to the following monitoring and evaluation arrangements:

• We evaluate the extent to which all participants in this training programme have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge to achieve each of the above objectives.
• The extent to which training objectives have been met will be reported on as part of the Section 75 Annual Progress Report, which will be sent to the Equality Commission.

5.13All our staff have already received training on Section 75, and professional staff on the specific skills they will need during the tenure of the first equality scheme in Northern Ireland. All our staff will receive training on the revised scheme and be made fully aware of our action plan. We will provide on-going refresher training, as required.