The Scottish Government

To consider options for a full legislative review of the Education (Additional Support for Learning ) (Scotland) Act

2004) ( ASL Act)

Will take forward recommendations and areas for improvement from the HMIE review of the ASL Act (report produced October 2007), and issues arising from Court of Session rulings.

Schools Directorate, Support for Learning Division ( SFLD)

2008-2009

Improved education and support for children with additional support needs ( ASN) and disabilities to help them achieve the 4 capacities outlined above

Will be wide consultation and national events across Scotland on any changes to the ASL Act, regulations and code of practice. Will actively engage disability groups and families

National consultation with any interested parties/persons

Extend the scope of the Additional Support Needs Tribunals ( ASNT) in Scotland to hear all Disability discrimination cases in schools. Currently these cases are heard by the Sheriff Courts. This policy was instigated by the Disability Rights Commission ( DRC) now Equalities and Human Rights Commission ( EHRC).

To take forward Scottish Proposals in the UK Single Equality Bill.

Schools Directorate,

( SFLD)

Following timetable of UK Government Bill, due for first reading at end of 2007.

Key benefits to parents and children

- will mean expert body to hear appeals, less formal system, quicker more workable remedies, and more accessible hearings.

Proposals were developed following a wide consultation and involvement of key stakeholders including disabled people and Disability Groups such as Disability Rights Commission ( DRC), ENABLE, Capability Scotland and parent representative groups such as Govan Law Centre. All disability groups will continue to be involved as the policy develops.

Key stakeholders including EHCR,

Education Authorities ( EAs) and other disability groups.

Bill due to be passed late 2009.

To improve the gathering and collation of quality and robust disability statistics at Education Authority ( EA) and Scottish Government ( SG) level.

Meetings to be facilitated by Scottish Government ( SG) to discuss current data held on disability, links with other data collection systems and what further information is needed to fully meet EA specific duties under the Disability Equality Duty ( DED). Changes to be made through the SG Annual Pupil Census.

Schools Directorate ( SFLD), EAs, EHRC.

Early 2008

Will help EAs and SG to meet their requirements under the DED, by enabling better measurement of the effects of policies and practice. Will improve planning and provision for disabled pupils in schools. Use of SG annual census will ensure uniformity of data collection across Scotland.

Small group of key stakeholders, including EHRC, set up to consider and take forward Data Changes.

May 2008

To be ready for SG Annual Pupil Census.

September 2008 onwards

Ensure Scottish representation at major Disability events and involvement in research at UK and international level

SG will be actively involved in international disability research and data collections eg OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and PISA (Proposal for International Student Assessment).

Schools Directorate ( SFLD)

Ongoing

Ensure Scottish voice heard at international level and will allow larger comparative research studies on

Indicators and outcomes.

Scotland will work with Celtic Nations Autism Partnership to establish an alliance of interested parties to work together.

For first time, Scotland is now represented on the European Agency for the Development in Special Needs Education. We will host next international meeting in Edinburgh

Ongoing

April 2009

Will improve collaboration and improvements in all aspects of Additional Support Needs ( ASN) and disabilities - share practice and experiences.

Consider how best to support Education Authorities to help them address their specific duties in the Disability Equality Duty

We will revise SG guidance on accessibility strategies which form a key part of EAs' DED. Strategies cover access to the curriculum, access to school information and physical environment. The guidance will reflect and link the current legislative context including DED. Will include good practice examples in EAs on taking forward the DED. Will encourage staff disability awareness training

Schools Directorate ( SFLD)

Small group of key stakeholders will develop guidance which will then be subject to wider consultation. EHCR included on Group.

Guidance to be produced by autumn 2008

Will result in more robust Disability Equality Schemes to provide a firm foundation for delivering improved outcomes for disabled pupils

To work with For Scotland's Disabled Children ( FSDC) to support their campaign to heighten the profile of and services to disabled children and their families. The Group is a coalition of a number of key voluntary groups such as Contact a Family and Scottish Society for Autism.

Schools Directorate are part of a Cross SG group of officials which will look in a co-ordinated way at disability issues raised by FSDC. Have support of Ministers who have hosted events.

Issues high on agenda include ASL Act and improving transitions from school to post school.

Cross Government - lead is Safer Children, Stronger Families Division

Ongoing

Provides a more focussed and co-ordinated approach. Gives disabled children, young people and their families the attention and services they deserve. Will help shape policy and practice on disability

Provision of materials for Education Authorities and Schools which will ensure that equality issues, including disability, are mainstreamed into the curriculum

We will work with CERES (Centre for Racial Equality)at Edinburgh University to produce Equality, Inclusion and Anti-discrimination - an induction pack for staff in schools

Schools Directorate, ( SFLD), CERES, Equality Groups, education authorities, teachers and school staff

Summer 2008

Will assist staff in developing their knowledge in relation to equality, including disability, and will ensure the principles are mainstreamed into the curriculum to better support all pupils

To improve communications and provide better information to parents regarding their rights under the Education (Additional Support for Learning ) (Scotland ) 2004 Act ( ASL Act) and disability legislation.

SG are taking forward a number of actions including -

(i) Media campaign - The pilot exercise will take place in Dundee City Council and will aim to raise awareness of the ASL Act. Will include radio advertising, targeted postcode mail drops, and newspaper adverts.

Schools Directorate, ( SFLD), key stakeholders including voluntary sector

The campaign will run from 21 April 2008 for six weeks

We will raise awareness of the ASL Act and the rights that parents have under this legislation. The evaluation will help to determine the shape of any national media campaign.

(ii) We are working with Children in Scotland to take forward a series of national seminars on - co-ordinated support plans; dispute resolution and multi agency working: and embedding additional support needs within social work and health undergraduate and professional training. Seminars will be open to all key stakeholders including disability groups.

Early 2008

Will improve quality of communication to parents, inconsistencies in CSPs and better co-ordination and support of agencies

(iii) SG also fund a number of organisations to support pupils with ASN and disabilities eg Enquire, a national advice and information service , for parents and children with additional support needs and disabilities. Disability organisations are on the Advisory Steering Group;

Govan Law Centre's, Education Law advice line for parents and professionals; Partners in Advocacy, who help young people with ASN and disabilities to self advocate on matters relating to their education

Services will continue to be free in all instances. Information will continue to produced in different formats and languages

Ongoing

Clear advice and support to families

which will improve services for vulnerable and disabled children and families, and inform them of their rights

To consider how curriculum materials can be made available in suitable formats for pupils with a range of ASN and disabilities.

A stakeholder group representing a number of organisations (eg RNIB, Dyslexia Scotland) and local authorities set up to consider matter.

Group agreed Learning and Teaching Scotland ( LTS) will create a searchable database of adapted curriculum materials with links to resources which can be used by mainstream teachers for all pupils with additional support needs, available in all schools. Will tie into developments with GLOW.

Schools Directorate,( SFLD)

Other external stakeholders

Pilot to be ready end of April 2008

Pilot to be extended if successful

Will improve teaching experiences of pupils with ASN and disabilities

SG endeavouring to get the current school copyright licence, which offers copyright exemption for those with visual impairment, extended to all pupils with a print disability.

Ongoing

Would directly benefit

34,000 pupils- means material could be shared and copied across schools

SG to take forward project which will enable pupils to listen to digital curriculum materials spoken in Scottish voice.

SG and Centre for Communication Aids for Language and Learning ( CALL Centre)

2008-2009

Will improve access and communication for many disabled pupils - free on CALL website

Curriculum for Excellence

To achieve transformational change in Scottish education through developing the values, purposes and principles of the Curriculum for Excellence Programme. This Programme is fully inclusive.

SG to continue to develop the new framework and guidance for learning and teaching to ensure that the curriculum, in its broadest sense, can allow for better innovation, flexibility, and inter-disciplinary work to ensure that children develop the 4 capacities (as at outcomes).

SG, Learning and Teaching Scotland, HMIE, SQA , education authorities, schools, FE and HEI, employers

2008-2010

Through best possible teaching, all children and young people will be enabled to become successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors

Schools will be expected to design a curriculum around a set of principles including personalisation and choice. They will be better placed to manage the curriculum to meet the needs of all children including those who are disabled.

Draft curriculum outcomes being released for engagement and trialling

To mid-May 2008

More choices more chances for disabled people. Ensures access to more flexible, varied and engaging vocational options in employment or training

National event to join up Curriculum for Excellence Programme; Getting It Right For Every Child and More Choices, More Chances agenda

10 June 2008

SG will be consulting on proposals for qualifications at the Standard Grade Credit and General Intermediate 1 and 2 ( SCQF levels 4 and 5)

June-Oct 2008

Better co-ordination of all agencies to benefit all children

Including disabled people and families

School Design

Help Education Authorities meet their statutory obligations of the Disability Discrimination Act when planning and building new schools, which ensures they are fully accessible to all young people.

The SG issues a range of guidance on school design issues which includes advice on designing accessible facilities for children with additional support needs and disabilities.

The SG encourages authorities to consult widely and constructively with all users of schools to ensure the designs respond to user aspirations and requirements.

eg In North Lanarkshire, the Senses of Place: Building Excellence project worked with young people and teachers to explore how to create learning settings that would allow schools to reconfigure their space for different learning and teaching approaches for pupils with additional support needs

SG, EAs and other key stakeholders

ongoing

Increased involvement of disabled users and improved accessibility in new buildings

Teacher Education

To take forward specific action to improve teachers' knowledge and understanding of inclusion

2 year Action Plan to be taken forward collectively by all Initial Teacher Education ( ITE) establishments in Scotland to embed inclusive approaches to teaching for pupils with additional support needs ( ASN), starting with dyslexia

Schools Directorate,( SFLD)

Ongoing - to Conclude early 2010

Will ensure trainee teachers have necessary skills to teach pupils with dyslexia and other ASN

First Minister hosted Dyslexia Summit for the 7 Deans of the Faculties of Education January 2007. SG, Dyslexia Scotland and Deans will all work together to take forward plan

Progress of plan by regular reports/ meeting

SG funding an Inclusive Practice project in Aberdeen University to revise and develop

new inclusive training courses for trainee teachers. Links to above Action Plan.

2005-2010

Continuous Professional Development, following recent talks with the SG, the General Teaching Council ( GTCS) for Scotland has now added five new areas to their professional recognition framework, including autism and dyslexia. Competencies being developed.

(other 3 are hearing, visual and hearing and visual impairments )

GTCS, Schools Directorate,( SFLD)

Other external stakeholders eg Dyslexia Scotland

From May 2008

onwards

Will provide clear pathway which teachers can use to gain recognition for their expertise in teaching children with ASN

Policy on children affected by disabilities and their families.

Evidence: Issues of rationalising Government funding and support for families with disabled children raised as important issues through the Get Involved consultations.

New team established. Scoping existing work and identifying gaps. Developing plan of work and reacting to needs as they arise. Support for Children and Families Team has split into two team, in consequence developing an Scottish Government wide coordinating remit for children and disability issues

To provide greater and more flexible support to families with disabled children through extending the work of the Family Fund, a government funded independent charitable organisation which makes small grants to families on low income with severely disabled children, the development of clear guidelines to local authorities to stimulate uptake of direct payments to families with disabled children,

and continuing support

to vulnerable families with very young children aged 0-3 years including children and disabled parents under Sure Start Scotland.

Safer Children, Stronger Families Division - Children, Young People and Social Care Directorate

Ongoing

Increased numbers of grants to families with disabled children,

greater parental empowerment and control over services to disabled children and continued support for vulnerable families affected by disability.

Changing Lives

Implementation of the change programme for social work / social care laid out in the Changing Lives report. Note - user groups, including people with disabilities, are actively engaged in policy development and implementation

Workforce and Capacity Division - Children, Young People and Social Care Directorate

Programme runs to 2010

Improved capacity of social care / social work sector to support vulnerable groups, including those affected by disability

Implementation of Getting it Right for Every Child and the Early Years / Early Intervention Framework

Developing approaches to working with children and their families that prevent, manage and deal with risks, to secure improved outcomes for all children.

Positive Futures (Early Years / Early Intervention) and Boyd McAdam Safer Children Stronger Families ( GIRFEC) Division - Children, Young People and Social Care Directorate

Both represent substantial ongoing blocks of work, working with a wide range of partners

Every child gets the help they need when they need it. Risks are prevented and managed. Outcomes are improved. Universal ambitions - therefore these outcomes apply to children affected by disability.

Children's Rights

Ensuring adherence to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Positive Futures Division - Children, Young People and Social Care Directorate

UK including Scottish Government will give evidence to the UN in autumn 2007. Longer term programme of work being developed

Rights of all children, including those affected by disability, are respected.

Disabled Students' Allowance ( DSA) - a review of the DSA. This review is being undertaken as a result of issues raised by stakeholders, including disabled students, during the Funding for Disabled Students Project.

The aims of the review are to:

• Consider the current provision provided to students through the DSA;
• Identify any limitations with the current provision and support;
• Highlight good practice provision provided to disabled students by institutions;
• Consider what constitutes 'reasonable adjustments'; and
• Consider draft guidance on what can and cannot be provided for under the DSA.

Lifelong Learning Directorate -Residency & Supplementary Student Support team, Student Awards Agency for Scotland.

Ongoing Review - due to be completed around winter 2007.

Draft guidance on what can and cannot be provided for under the DSA.

Partnership Matters -update of partnership matters guidance document. This came about due to a recommendation from the Scottish Parliament's Equal Opportunities Committee's Disability Inquiry Report. A number of disability organisations provided evidence to the committee.

We are reviewing the guidance document to update case studies; clarifying policy; sharing good practice; encouraging uptake considering the options for extending the document to the university sector.

We are consulting various stakeholders including SKILL Scotland on this review.

Lifelong Learning Directorate -Residency & Supplementary Student Support team.

Ongoing Review - due to be completed around late Summer 2007.

Revised/updated guidance document with new case studies. Extending the document to the university sector.

Complex Needs - reviewing the funding practices and provision of further education opportunities available to people with complex needs. This review was a direct result of the consultation responses (including those from families with disabled children and other disability organisations).

The aims of the review are to:

• Consider the current provision provided to students with complex needs. Commissioned the BRITE Centre to undertake a mapping study, this will include consulting with special schools, people with complex needs and their families.

• Identify any limitations with the current provision, funding practices and support;
• Highlight good practice provision provided.
• Consider next steps to improve the further education opportunities - in consultation with the Scottish Funding Council, Local Authorities, COSLA and other relevant stakeholders including disability organisations.

Lifelong Learning Directorate -Residency & Supplementary Student Support team, Scottish Funding Council, LAs; Schools Division.

Ongoing Review - due to be completed around late Summer 2007.

Better information on the further education provision available in Scotland for people with complex needs. Better partnership working to support students with complex needs.

IAG Improving information, advice and guidance on funding for learners in Scotland.

We have:

• Developed and introduced through learndirect Scotland a national information service on funding
• Continue to produce publications specifically for students with disabilities and their advisers.
• Continue to support the Child Poverty Action Group Student and Benefits service for front-line advisers

Lifelong Learning Directorate - IAG Team

On-going

Launch of learndirect Scotland national service on funding in February 2007.

Clearer Information, Advice and Guidance ( IAG) on funding focused on individual needs, provided through appropriate intermediates.

Workforce Plus is an employability framework for Scotland which seeks to increase employment rates and reduce numbers of people dependent on out of work benefits, particularly among people who are furthest from the labour market.

The strategy recognises that people with disabilities are disadvantaged in the labour market. Local employability partnerships are implementing plans to deliver more effective services. In addition, to provide national support at a national level, the Workforce Plus team is:

Lifelong Learning Directorate - Workforce Plus team along with Health and Wellbeing, Equalities, Communities and Social Inclusion

Ongoing

Increase in employment rates, particularly amongst disadvantaged groups.

working with CoSLA on the development of national standards for supported employment;

Workforce Plus team in partnership with CoSLA

Supported Employment Task force to be commenced from April 2008 with likely first stage implementation of frameworks and standards by early 2009

Provision of a transparent and agreed framework of supported employment with standards which will benefit people with a learning disability into work and also employers; and

Increased employment rates amongst people with a learning disability

working with local partnerships to ensure access to employability services for people with learning disabilities;

Workforce Plus Team

Ongoing until March 2009

Increased employment rates amongst people with a learning disability;

and

Improved employability service provision for members of local communities who have a learning disability (more seamless service

working with the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health to provide support for local partnerships developing services for people with mental health illness; and

Workforce Plus team and SDCMH

Ongoing until March 2009

Increased employment rates amongst people with mental health illness; and

Better understanding of mental health illnesses and employment by local partnerships, employability service providers and employers.

working with Jobcentre Plus and NHS Scotland on a pilot initiative which places employment advisers within GP Practices and will see Practice staff make referrals to employment advisers.

Workforce Plus team with Jobcentre Plus and NHS Scotland

Pilot will run until 2010 with an evaluation taking place in 2009.

Allowing a key client group to be targeted which otherwise might not have came into contact with employment advisers; and

Reduction in number of people claiming Incapacity Benefits;

Ministerial Task force on Health Inequalities encompassing the Wealthier and Fairer strategic objective and focusing on enterprise and employment.

Workforce Plus team with health colleagues

Action plan launched by May 2008

Reduce health inequalities across Scotland.

Work with Healthy Working Lives Team and Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives to Identify and support opportunities to create and improve links between services and promote to employers the benefits from supporting employability for people out of work as a result of ill health or injury

Successful conference held in November 2007 between local health and social care staff and employability partnerships. Action plans developed for each area not being taken forward locally

Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives, SG Healthy Working Lives Team, Workforce Plus Team, Jobcentre Plus, NHS Scotland

Ongoing

Ensure effective links between health and social care professionals and employability practitioners.

Increase referrals of people with disabilities to appropriate employability services

Staff Development in Scotland's Colleges

As part of a review of occupational standards for lecturers in Scotland's Colleges, and other relevant work, a range of new continuing professional development qualifications have been created. These include two which are of central relevance in addressing disability issues : a Professional Development Award ( PDA) in 'Inclusiveness : Promoting Equality and Diversity', and a PDA in 'Inclusiveness : Facilitating Strategies to Support Learners With Additional Needs'. We are now working with the Scottish Funding Council and other stakeholders to procure related teaching materials.

Scottish Government, Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Qualifications Authority, Brite Centre, Scotland's Colleges

Teaching materials due to be created and piloted in 2008/09 academic year

Greater awareness among lecturers in Scotland's Colleges of best practice in promoting inclusion, diversity and equality of opportunity.

More Choice, More Chances - a strategy to reduce the proportion of young people not in education and employment or training in Scotland.

The Strategy identifies young people with disabilities as target group at risk of disengaging from learning; local partnerships are charged with implementing the strategy in their target areas with particular focus on the target groups.

Lifelong Learning Directorate - MCMC team, Further and Adult Education Division, Higher Education and Learner Support, Careers Scotland; links with colleagues in Schools and Children, Young People and Social Care Directorate

Ongoing Review with local partnerships; good practice seminar on working with target groups to be held autumn 2008

Improved school leaver destinations (including for young people with disabilities); reduction in benefit claims.

Get Ready for Work - National Training Programme for Young People with Additional Support Needs

This policy is currently being reviewed to ensure that there is a route through which all young people can develop, this includes those with disabilities.

Lifelong Learning Directorate, Employability and Skills Division

Ongoing till summer 2008

Defined policy aim document to include those clients the programme is for agreed with delivery partners. Improved Management Information to be collected to better assess who is on the programme

Determined to Succeed (DtS) - the Government's strategy for enterprise in education.

Determined to Succeed (DtS) is an all inclusive strategy, aimed at ensuring that all young people have the opportunity to experience enterprising and entrepreneurial activities whilst at school. DtS fits well with the existing ethos of Special Educational Needs schools and proves to be motivational for the whole school environment, as evidenced in the recent HMIe 'Improving Enterprise' report.

Lifelong Learning Directorate, Enterprise and Employability for Young People Division

Ongoing

High quality, appropriate enterprising and entrepreneurial activities for all young people

( EMA) Maintenance Support in Further and Higher Education

Support in the form of EMAs, bursaries and student loans available to all eligible students regardless of whether they are disabled or not. Support is available to give all young people the opportunity to participate in, and benefit from, FE and HE. If any changes are planned to this support we ensure that we consult with Skill Scotland and other relevant bodies.

Lifelong Learning Directorate, Higher Education and Learner Support Division

Ongoing

Increased entry and retention to Further Education and Higher Education.

Workforce Plus is an employability framework for Scotland which seeks to increase employment rates and reduce numbers of people dependent on out of work benefits, particularly among people who are furthest from the labour market.

Workforce Plus is committed to mainstreaming key priorities currently being developed within the target areas throughout Scotland. This will include mainstreaming action plans by local areas on employability services for people with mental health illnesses and learning disabilities and rolling out the GP pilots initiative across Scotland.

Workforce Plus team in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health and CoSLA

Ongoing

Increased employment rates throughout Scotland for people of all abilities, including people with a learning, physical or mental disability.

Skills for Scotland : A Lifelong Learning Skills Strategy - this new skills strategy for Scotland provides us with the opportunity to set out our ambitions for skills, in a lifelong learning context, from cradle to the grave. The strategy covers early years provision, schools, further and higher education, work related learning and informal learning opportunities, as well as looking at information, advice and guidance and funding systems.

In line with the statement made on equality at the outset of Skills for Scotland, the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that each programme underpinning the Skills Strategy will be equality impact assessed across six strands (race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age and religion/belief) and monitored thereafter to make sure that they are appropriate, to mitigate against any potential negative impact.

This will involve engaging actively with our partners, stakeholders, target groups and individuals in order to evaluate the needs and experiences of the communities that they serve. We are developing a workplan for this and will start engagement and discussion as soon as possible. It is expected that a range of different mechanisms to assess equality impact and subsequent monitoring will emerge to suit each policy, and will involve analysis of information on learning provision for disabled learners.

The Scottish Government

Ongoing

A cohesive lifelong learning system centred upon the individual but responsive to employer needs.

Science Engagement Grants

We have allocated £10k to fund a study of how access to science engagement schemes could be improved to those with disabilities. This is at present only at an early stage of development

Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser

March 2009

A better understanding of needs of disabled people in relation to this programme which can be used to tailor new projects

Human Resources ( HR) Policy

HR policy was updated in 2007 and equalities impact assessed in January 2007. HMIE runs many of its own HR functions but shares some (eg rewards and performance management and aspects of recruitment and selection) with SGHR.

Improve data collation systems

HR team working with Equality and Diversity Group.

Contact: Kevin Mills, HR Manager.

December 2008

Information about how effectively we meet the needs of disabled employees is readily accessible.

HR Policy

Improve administrative guidance for staff responsible for organising meetings, events etc. to take better account of disabled people's issues.

CS Team leaders working with Equality and Diversity Group.

Contact: Laura Burman.

June 2008

Improved, more responsive arrangements in place.

Inspection, review and reporting ( IRR) policy

IRR Policy underpins core functions and purpose of organisation, ie to inspect and report on standards and performance in the education sectors and services for children in Scotland and thereby secure improvements for learners and young people. Current approaches being revised for implementation by August 2007.

Inspection and review staff will undertake to hold discussions with staff in schools and pre-schools, colleges, education and local authorities and their partners about disability equality. These will take place as part of the planned inspection/review programmes and during scheduled meetings.

All inspection staff.

Contacts: David Gregory, Lead Inspector, Inspection and Reporting. Jane Lopez, National Specialist (disability).

Ongoing as from August 2007.

Review August 2007.

Increased awareness of disability equality duty from providers as part of the planned inspection/review programmes by August 2007.

Human Resources ( HR) Policy

• Address issues arising from impact assessment.

HR Team

Contact: Kevin Mills, HR Manager

HR Policy: Workforce planning

• Ensure quality information and feedback available on disability issues to enable effective monitoring and continuous improvement to take place from following sources:

HR Team

Contact: Kevin Mills, HR Manager.

Jane Lopez.

December 2008

One stop source for all information being gathered on disability accessible for use

HR Policy: Induction

• Ensure that all employees and associated staff are familiar with disability equalities information and related responsibilities

HR Team

Contacts: Karen Corbett, Jackie Crawford, Jacqui Horsburgh

Induction programme reviewed by August 2008

Induction programmes include disability

equality. All new staff aware of relevant legislation and their responsibilities.

HR Policy: Continuing Professional Development

• Ensure that all employees and associated staff are familiar with disability equalities information and related responsibilities

HR Team

Contact: Karen Corbett

Staged from August 2008 to March 2009

All staff familiar with disability equalities information and their responsibilities.

All key groups have had EQIA training

HR Policy: Performance Management

• Develop staff understanding of equality issues and skills by building goals and targets into performance objectives and/or personal learning plans across the organisation
• Ensure that all line managers are aware of the equality needs of staff they manage.

• Ensure that arrangements for reporting and addressing concerns/complaints related to discrimination/diversity issues are clear to all employees and associated staff.

HR Team working with line managers.

Contact: Kevin Mills

June 2008

All staff working towards equalities objective/s.

Line Managers confident about staff needs.

All staff trained in Dignity at Work policy.

HR Policy: Deployment and Planning

• Ensure disability issues are not a barrier to deployment within any areas of HMIE

.

HR Team working with Manplanning team.

Contacts: Morag Gunion, Jim Gallagher.

March 2009

Regular reporting on staff deployment. Staff report positive outcomes re deployment.

HR Policy: Corporate health and wellbeing

• Ensure all employees and associated staff feel valued
• Ensure effective promotion of positive attitudes towards all colleagues and stakeholders

• Use staff survey to monitor staff perceptions and understanding of disability.

HR Team working with Health and Wellbeing group

Contacts: Donnie Macleod

Annual staff surveys give positive feedback.

Inspection, Review and Reporting ( IRR) Policy

• Undertake impact assessment of all new guidelines

Inspection and Review Strategy ( IRSG) Group

Contact: David Gregory, Lead Inspector

All new guidelines impact assessed.

IRR Policy:

Quality frameworks

• Ensure that all quality frameworks (7) take account of legislation and disability equalities issues
• Ensure that all colleagues are aware of scope of equality indicators across organisation

IRSG group.

Contact: David Gregory, Jane Lopez

March 2008

All quality frameworks addressing disability equality issues. All colleagues aware of scope of quality indicators.

IRR Policy: Inspection and review guidelines and procedures

• Ensure that inspection/review teams and managing inspectors in particular know how to apply relevant quality indicators when evaluating provision in establishments

• Review and evaluate all related inspection/review documentation for stakeholders to ensure appropriate account taken of disability equalities issues
• Seek out equal and balanced representation from stakeholders

RSG group.

Contact: David Gregory, Jane Lopez

October 2008

All inspection and review guidelines and materials have been impact assesses to take account of the needs of disabled people.

IRR Policy: Reporting

• Ensure that equalities issues are reflected within inspection, review and reporting giving fair representation of race/disability/gender issues
• Monitor, through internal quality assurance processes, messages emerging about equality issues and collate and publicise findings

• Use Improving Scottish Education report as vehicle for thematic reporting

RSG group.

Contact: David Gregory, Jane Lopez

March 2009

Reporting formats accurately reflect race/disability/gender issues

IRR Policy: Tasks

• Ensure all tasks take account of equalities issues

IRSG group.

Contact: David Gregory, Jane Lopez

March 2009

Outcomes/reports from tasks positively reflect race/disability/gender issues

Disability training & Awareness

• An equality group has been set up to achieve excellence in our approaches, to promote equality and to meet our duties as a public body. The group has undertaken a disability/carer equality survey of staff and encouraged any disabled/carer staff to join the group. Actions proposed by the group are included below. The group will inform the Agency's learning & development strategy, publish meeting minutes and produce an annual report.

SWIA Corporate Services

Ongoing and subject to review. SWIA 2008/09 learning plan to be published April/May 2007.

Awareness and promotion of disability equality issues amongst staff.

• We will review the staff welcome pack and learning and development strategy/plan to ensure appropriate information and activities on diversity, including disability equality, are included.

SWIA Corporate Services

Review to be completed by December 2009.

Awareness and promotion of disability equality issues amongst staff.

• SWIA intranet will continue to contain links to relevant web pages and articles in relation to equalities including disability.

SWIA Corporate Services

Ongoing 2008 - 2010.

Awareness and promotion of disability equality issues amongst staff

• Disabled service users were surveyed on satisfaction with services, we liaised with the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disabilities for the multi-agency learning disability inspection. They interviewed 92 disabled people, many with profound and multiple disabilities. Findings (provided in evidence of disability issues) have been shared with all inspection staff to enable dissemination of best practice and inclusion in future inspections.

SWIA inspectors and statisticians

Ongoing and subject to review.

Promote the views of disabled people in the development of services.

Access to Information

• We will ensure that our communication channels are fully accessible to disabled people; by providing all publications in plain English, and alternative formats on request.

SWIA Corporate Services

Ongoing.

Enhanced accessibility of services and information to disabled people .

• SWIA's communication strategy stresses accessibility of information to disabled people. We will review our strategy to ensure it reflects the Scottish Accessible Information Forum's Guidance

Review by March 2009.

• An audio version of the inspection information leaflet has been produced for people with visual impairments.

SWIA Corporate Services

Ongoing and subject to review

Enhanced accessibility of services and information to disabled people

• All SWIA meeting rooms are equipped with hearing loops and mobile loops are available for inspection fieldwork. We will ensure all events organised by SWIA provide augmented communication systems as required.

SWIA Corporate Services

Ongoing.

Enhanced accessibility of services and information to disabled people.

• SWIA's website has been redeveloped to enhance accessibility and provide positive images of disabled people. We will review the effectiveness of these changes across 2007.

SWIA Corporate Services

Ongoing and review.

Enhanced accessibility of services and information to disabled people.

• We will monitor the number of people requesting alternative formats of reports.

SWIA statisticians and inspectors

Completed, ongoing and subject to review.

Identify number of disabled people accessing SWIA information.

Engagement and Employment

• Disabled lay inspectors will continue to be involved in future inspections.

SWIA Corporate Services

All inspections to mid-2009 and, ongoing subject to review.

Facilitate active participation of disabled people in the development of all policies and activities.

• Disabled people are actively involved in the inspection process and their views sought as service users. We will continue to approach appropriate agencies who will be representative of a wider group of people.

SWIA inspectors

Completed, ongoing and subject to review.

Facilitate active participation of disabled people in the development of all policies and activities.

• We will continue to recruit using Scottish Government standards, including the two ticks scheme. We will ensure our recruitment literature continues to encourage applications from disabled people and will use disability organisations to advertise vacancies i.e. Disability Now, Positive action for housing.

SWIA Corporate Services

Ongoing.

Promote and encourage the employment and appointment of disabled people.

• We will monitor the number of disabled people applying for employment; actively engage with the Scottish Government in its work placement scheme; and actively recruit and provide appropriate support to disabled lay inspectors.

SWIA Corporate Services

Ongoing.

Promote and encourage the employment and appointment of disabled people.

• We will build on the success of a learning disability work placement managed throughout 2006/07 that led to successful paid employment outwith SWIA by investigating disability placement opportunities to enable disabled people to develop their employment skills and support them to gain and remain in permanent employment.

SWIA Corporate Services

Placement opportunities as and when appropriate.

Promote and encourage the employment and appointment of disabled people.

• SWIA will make all reasonable adjustments to meet disabled peoples' needs.

SWIA Corporate Services

Completed, ongoing and subject to review.

Promote and encourage the employment and appointment of disabled people.

Education

• We will work with social work educators and the SSSC to raise awareness of disability legislation and the implications for teaching, learning and student placements. We have ongoing formal contact with all Scottish higher education authorities to raise awareness of disability issues and bridging the gap between education and employment for disabled people.

SWIA in partnership with disability organisations

Event held Nov 2007. Further events to be arranged.

Increase of opportunities for disabled social work students and awareness of all students. Events organised so far have been positively evaluated.

Positive Image

• Our posters, leaflets and website have been redesigned to promote positive images of disabled people. We will continue to use these methods to promote positive images of disabled people and encourage their participation in public life.

SWIA Corporate Services

Ongoing.

Disabled people are engaged and viewed positively.

Access to and delivery of social work and social care services

• Performance inspections report on social work services for disabled people and make appropriate recommendations where required. Latest inspection published March 2007.

SWIA

Current programme to be completed mid-2009.

A comprehensive evaluation of services for disabled people across all local authorities and improved outcomes for people who use services.

• Our inspections will target and consult with a sample of disabled service users.

SWIA inspectors and statisticians

Mid-2009.

Promote the views of disabled people in the development of services.

• A multi-agency learning disability inspection was completed - report published in March 2007. SWIA is supporting stakeholder improvement action plans. Ministers have confirmed agreement to two further Inspections

SWIA link inspector supporting action plan delivery.

SWIA inspectors

Summer 2007.

Mid-2009.

Promote the views of disabled people in the development of services.

• Address disability equality issues through the Performance Inspection Model. Amend the PIM illustrations.

SWIA

Ongoing and subject to review.

Promote and support local authorities in improving the equality of social work and care services and compliance with equality duties.

• A quality indicator in the SWIA performance inspection model is "inclusion, equality and fairness in service delivery" SWIA will continue to report on equalities in this context.

SWIA inspectors

Mid-2009.

Local authority action plans in place and implemented to deliver improvements in social work and social care services for disabled people.

• Support local authorities in providing equality of access and delivery of services to disabled people through inspection, dissemination of best practice and supporting implementation of action plans.

SWIA inspectors

Mid-2009.

Improved local authority social work and social care services for disabled people.

Social Inclusion

• Inspection reports reflect community safety arrangements and the partnerships between social work services, housing, the police and others. Last inspection scheduled mid-2009.

SWIA inspectors

Mid-2009.

Improved local authority social work and social care services for disabled people.

• Encourage social work and social care services to provide mechanisms to enable disabled people to participate more fully in public life through inspection, dissemination of best practice and supporting implementation of action plans.

SWIA inspectors

Mid-2009.

Encourage greater participation of disabled people in public life.

• Performance inspections and multi-agency learning disability inspections have a clear focus on social inclusion and a commitment to report on the extent to which services keep people safe and encourage independence. Last PI scheduled mid-2009.

SWIA inspectors

Mid-2009.

Improved social inclusion and better local authority social work and social care services for disabled people.

Inspection policy and procedures

An equality group has been set up to achieve excellence in our approaches, including EQIAs, to promote equality and to meet our duties as a public body.

Performance and multi-agency learning disability services inspections seek to improve all social work and social care services, including those for disabled people. A quality indicator in the SWIA performance inspection model is "inclusion, equality and fairness in service delivery". Performance inspection model illustrations have been amended and will be reviewed.

SWIA quality group and inspectors

Ongoing and subject to review.

Improved services for disabled people.

Support and inform social work policy

We will collect, disseminate and promote good practice in social work service delivery and sharing this with policy colleagues in the development of policy on social work and social care services for disabled people.

SWIA inspectors

Ongoing and subject to review.

Disabled people's needs incorporated in policy.

Organisational governance

SWIA's equality group informs and guides on achieving excellence and meeting equality duties across all our policies, practices and procedures.

SWIA equality group and all staff

Ongoing and subject to review.

Excellent employer.

Disabled Students Allowance ( DSA) - review format of literature.

SAAS will provide Disabled Students' Allowance literature in alternative formats as a matter of course rather than wait for this to be requested.

SAAS will continue to review its provision of material in alternative formats in consultation with disabled students and representative organisations and will produce a strategy for the promotion and distribution of this information.

SAAS Policy Section

Summer 2008

Provision and distribution of information material in alternative formats.

Disabled Students Allowance ( DSA) - raise awareness of allowance.

SAAS and the Funding Council to work closely with further and higher education providers to identify disabled students earlier and signpost SAAS services to them.

SAAS will attend regional career fairs, college and university open days as well as school visits to publicise and explain how DSA works and what support students can expect to help with their disability

SAAS Policy Section

Throughout the academic year.

Publicise DSAs and encourage disabled students to apply for them.

Information, Advice and Guidance on funding support for disabled learners. Discussions with intermediaries who provide advice on funding to learners and prospective learners indicate that not all learners eligible for Disabled Students' Allowance are aware of the support they could get.

Continue to work in consultation with Skills Development Scotland on developing the national information service which provides funding advice to learners and prospective learners to ensure DSA support is publicised

SAAS Policy Section

Throughout the academic year

Ensure that DSA support is publicised

SAAS will attend The BRITE Initiative at Stevenson College to meet the BRITE mentors and staff involved in the assistive technology and needs assessment training.

This event will give SAAS staff the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the most up to date types of assistive technology available and provide them with a better insight into the needs assessment process.

SAASDSA Team

End of April 2008

This will give our staff a clearer understanding of the DSA needs assessment process from both a student and assessor perspective.

The Disabled Students Stakeholder Group ( DSSG) - Chaired by HELS Division the group is attended by the Scottish Funding Council, Students Awards Agency for Scotland, NUS Scotland and other organisations such as RNIB which represent the interests of disabled students. This group meets twice a year to discuss issues which affect disabled students attending college or university.

Through this Group decisions have been taken which have resulted in 30 colleges/universities now being able to assess and validate their own disabled students applications

Higher and further education authorities

Throughout the academic year

A more streamlined application process