Diversity & Equality Steering Group Terms of reference

Prepared by Audit Scotland February 2009

Audit Scotland is a statutory body set up in April 2000 under the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000. It provides services to the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission. Together they ensure that the Scottish Government and public sector bodies in Scotland are held to account for the proper, efficient and effective use of public funds.

Diversity&EqualitySteeringGroup–termsofreference�

Contents Introduction page2

Steeringgroup–termsof reference page4

Role

Responsibilities page5

Deliveryteams–termsof reference page6

Role

Deliveryteammembers

Responsibilities page7

Knowledge,skillsand competencies page8

Knowledge

Skillsandcompetencies

Plannedtraining page9

Appendix1.Steeringgroupkey objectives page10

Appendix2.Steeringgroup membership page11

Appendix3.ProfileofDiversity& EqualitySteeringGroupmembers page12

Introduction

Wearecommittedtovaluingandpromotingdiversity andequality.

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Introduction�

Introduction

1.AuditScotlandprovidesservices totheAuditorGeneralandthe AccountsCommissionforScotland. Together,weensurethattheScottish Governmentandpublicsectorbodies inScotlandareheldtoaccountfor theproper,efficientandeffectiveuse ofpublicmoney.Ourcorporateplan identifiesourfivestrategicpriorities thatprovidethefocusofAudit Scotland’swork.Theyare:

• deliveringmorestreamlinedaudit inpartnershipwithotherscrutiny bodies

• maximisingourcontributiontothe improvementofpublicservices

• increasingtheimpactofourwork

• becomingacentreofexcellence forpublicaudit

• improvingthetransparency ofourcostsandgovernance arrangements.

2.Basedonthesevenprinciples identifiedbytheNolanCommittee onStandardsinPublicLife,Audit Scotlandhasalsoidentifiedfourvalues thatunderpineverythingwedo:

• Effectivecommunication

• Quality

• Commitmenttolearningand improvement

• Respect.

3.Recognisingthesevalues,we setoutadiversitystatementthat underpinsourcorporateplanand policies.Themainelementsofour diversitystatementareasfollows:

Allstaffareentitledtobe treatedwithrespectand enjoyequalityofopportunity inorderthattheirselection andsubsequentdevelopment isbasedentirelyonmerit. Discriminationwillnottake

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placeagainstanycurrentor prospectivememberofstaff onthegroundsoftheirageor perceivedage,civilpartnership status,colour,disability,ethnic origin,familyresponsibilities, gender,maritalstatus, nationality,nationalorigin, race,religionorbelief,sexual orientation,trans-genderstatus orworkpattern.

Wewillputthepromotion ofdiversityandequalityat theheartofpolicymaking andwilltakealeadingrolein demonstratinggoodpractice.

Wewillactivelypromote equalityofopportunitythrough circulatingvacancydetails aswidelyaspossibleanda rigorousprocessofmonitoring byourHumanResources department.

Wewillraisestaffawareness ofwhatequalityandvaluing diversitymeansandenable managerstopromoteand beaccountableforequality ofopportunitythroughour PerformanceDevelopment Schemeandtrainingforallstaff.

Wewillpositivelyvaluethe differentperspectivesandskills ofstaffandmakefulluseof these.

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4.Understandingissuesofdiversity andequalityisimportantnotonlyfor howwerunAuditScotlanditself,but alsoforworkingwithourclientsand stakeholders,allofwhomhaveto considerdiversityandequalityinthe day-to-daydeliveryofpublicservices. Webelievethatwecanplayan importantroleinpromotingdiversity andequality,bothasanemployer, andasaserviceproviderforthe AuditorGeneralforScotlandandthe AccountsCommission.

5.Wearecommittedtovaluingand promotingdiversityandareworking towardsincreasingthediversityof ourstaff,andtakingaleadingrolein

promotingequalopportunitiespractices anddiversitybothasanemployerand throughourauditactivity.

6.Inordertotakeforwarddiversity andequalityacrossAuditScotland, anewdeliveryinfrastructure hasbeenestablished.Thenew infrastructurehasbeendesignedto helpmainstreamdiversityandequality withintheorganisationandensure acoordinatedcorporateresponseto thisagenda.

7.Inthefollowingsectionsweoutline thedeliveryinfrastructuretogether withtermsofreferenceforaDiversity &EqualitySteeringGroup(DESG) andfordeliverygroupsineach businessarea.Thedifferentroles andresponsibilitiesofthesteering groupmembersarealsooutlined withsomeindicationoftheskillsand competenciesmembersarelikelyto require.

February�009

Steeringgroup– termsofreference

DESGwillchampiontheorganisation’sstrategyon diversityandequality.

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Steeringgroup–termsofreference�

Role

1.TheDESGwillchampionandsteer theorganisation’sstrategyonallmatters relatingtodiversityandequality.This includesensuringeffectivedesign anddeliveryofAuditScotland’sand theAccountsCommission’sequality schemesandactionplans.TheDESG willalsoholdbusinessgroupsto account,throughtheirdeliveryteams, fortheirprogressinmainstreaming diversityandequalityinallactivity.

2.TheDESGwillreportdirectlyto AuditScotlandManagementTeam onitsactivityandprogressonits workplanandpriorities,andthrough themanagementteamtotheAudit ScotlandBoard,theAuditorGeneral forScotlandandtheAccounts Commission.Exhibit�belowsetsout therelationshipsbetweentheDESG, seniormanagementandthedelivery teamsineachbusinessarea.

Responsibilities

3.DESGhasthefollowing responsibilities:

• Toensurethedevelopment, promotionandreviewofthe organisation’sdiversityandequality strategy,schemesandaction

planstoensurethatdiversity andequalityisanintegralpart ofAuditScotland’s,theAuditor General’s,andtheAccounts Commission’swork.

• Toprovideaplatformfor discussionofallaspectsof diversityandequalityandtheir relevanceandimpactonthe organisation’swork.

• Toreviewandre-prioritise equalityschemesandaction plansinresponsetointernaland externaldrivers.

• Tooverseethedevelopmentand implementationofappropriate equalityimpactassessment activityandimprovements,and ensurelearningissharedacross theorganisation.

• Toensurecompliancewith equalitieslegislation.

• Toensureallrelevantstakeholders areconsultedandinvolvedin activitythataffectsthem.

• Toholdlocalmanagementteams anddeliveryteamstoaccountfor completingactionsandachieving diversityandequalitygoals.

• TokeeptheboardofAudit Scotland,theAuditorGeneral andtheAccountsCommission fullyinformedofdevelopments internallyandexternally.

• Toanalysedataandinformation gainedfrommonitoring,impact assessmentsandgeneral consultationactivitytoinform prioritiesandfuturepractice.

• Toensurethereistransparency, sharingofgoodpracticeand collaborativeworkingonall diversityandequalityactivitywithin AuditScotland.

4.DESGhasbeenestablishedto providelong-termandcontinuing support,andleadership,fordiversity andequalityissuesacrossAudit Scotlandandinsupportofthe AccountsCommissionandthe AuditorGeneral.

5.KeyobjectivesforDESGareset outatAppendix�andadetailedwork planhasbeendeveloped.

Exhibit1 Delivery arrangements

Audit Scotland Board

Audit Scotland Management Team

Diversity & Equality Steering Group

Corporate Services Group Delivery Team

External consultancy and support

Audit Services Group Delivery Team

Public Reporting Group Delivery Team

Audit Strategy Delivery Team

Accounts Commission Auditor General

Deliveryteams– termsofreference

Deliveryteamswillensurethatdiversityandequality ismainstreamed.

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Deliveryteams–termsofreference�

Role

1.Themainroleofthedeliveryteams istoensurethatappropriateaction takesplaceondiversityandequality issueswithinbusinessgroups, iethroughthebusinessgroup’s approachanddeliveryofitsworkand throughtheresultsofthatwork.It isimportantthatallactivitysupports achievementofAuditScotland’s valuesanddiversitystatement aspirations.

2.Aseniormemberofstafffrom eachbusinessgrouphasbeen designatedleadondiversityand equalitywithintheirbusiness group,andwillalsositontheDESG representingtheirbusinessgroup. Thebusinessgrouplead’sroleisto actasachampionfordiversityand equalityissuesintheirrespective businessarea,andholddelivery teamstoaccountfortakingforward prioritiesandactions.Theleadwill reportregularlytotheirbusiness groupmanagementteamonactions andprogress.Deliveryteamswillbe supportedbymembersoftheDESG, whowillalsoactaslocalchampions.

Deliveryteammembers

3.Themake-upandnumbersof membersofthedeliveryteamswill varyacrossfunctionsandwillreflect boththesizeofthefunctionandthe scopeofworkrelatedtodiversityand equality.Integraltothisapproachis havingafluidpoolofskilledindividuals toinvolveintheteamsasappropriate. Duetoparticularresponsibilities,with regardtoequalityimpactassessment, therewillbeanearlyemphasis onensuringasufficientnumber ofindividualshavethetraining andsupporttoconductimpact assessmentsintheirrespectiveareas.

Responsibilities

4.Businessgroupmanagement teams,throughtheworkoftheir deliveryteam,havethefollowing responsibilities:

• Toensurethatequalityimpact assessmentactivitytakesplace atalocallevelinaccordancewith theoverarchingAuditScotland approach.Thisinvolvesfulfilling thelegaldutiesrelatingtorace, genderanddisabilitythatallpublic authoritieshavetocomplywith. Inessence,impactassessment activityisdesignedtoensurewe fulfilourobligationsandembrace opportunitiesinthefollowingareas:

– promotingequalityof opportunity

– promotinggoodrelations

– promotingpositiveattitudes

– eliminatingharassment

– eliminatingunlawful discrimination.

• Actasagatekeeperforlocal implementationoftheequality schemesandensuredelivery onactionsaspartofsectorand businessplanningprocesses.

5.Businessgroupdeliveryteams havethefollowingresponsibilities:

• Toengagewithlocalbusiness managementteamstoenable agreementofplansandwork activities.

• ToreportbacktotheDESGwith regardtoprogressagainstaction plans,promotingdevelopments andraisingawarenessabout emergingissues.

• Takeaproactiveapproachto communicatingandpromoting localworkondiversityandequality bothtothesteeringgroupandto thewiderorganisation.

• Encourageallstafftotake personalresponsibilityfor consideringdiversityandequalityin theirdailywork.

• Contributeto,andsupportcross- organisationalactivityondiversity andequalityincludinginvolvement eventswithpeoplewithdisabilities andwithotherequalitystrandsas appropriate.

• Takeatemperaturecheckon organisationalcultureatalocal leveltoassesstowhatextent AuditScotlandispromoting equalityofopportunityand respectingthediversityof employees.

Knowledge,skills andcompetencies

Wewilldevelopourskillsandcompetencies andbuildoureffectiveness.

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Knowledge,skillsandcompetencies9

1.DESGanddeliveryteammembers cansupportandactivelyendorse • willneedarangeofknowledge,skills thegoalsofdiversityprojectsor andcompetenciesinordertofulfil initiatives theirresponsibilities.Trainingand supportwillbeavailabletoensure cancommunicatewithpeopleof • thatallindividualscancontinuously allculturesinwaysthatbuildtrust buildtheireffectiveness. andrespect

Knowledge cancoachanddevelopothersto • achievediversitygoals

2.DESGanddeliveryteamswillbe supportedtodeveloptheirknowledge arehighlyinfluentialandinspire • sothatthey: otherstofollowtheirlead.

knowthekeyequalitystrandsand • Plannedtraining maindifferencesbetweenthem

4.Tosupportthis,trainingisinplace understandhowdifferentequality • orplannedtoJune�009,asfollows: strandsmaybeimpactedbythe workofAuditScotland Developmentofareference •

packtoprovideanoverviewand understandthekeyelementsof • essentialbackgroundreading. diversityandequalitylegislation

One-to-onementoringwith • understandthebusinesscasefor • consultantexpert. promotingequalityandpaying attentiontodiversity. Seminarsonspecifictopicsaspart •

ofscheduledDESGmeetings. Skillsandcompetencies

Deliveryofequalityimpact • 3.DESGanddeliveryteamswill assessmenttraining. developtheirskillsandcompetencies sothatthey: Attendanceatconferenceson •

diversityandequalityissues. recogniseownbiasesand • assumptionsaboutothersand howtheyimpactonperceptions andinteractionswithothers

havetheabilitytorelatediversity • totheirworkandoverallbusiness strategy

canlistenobjectivelytocomplaints • aboutharassment,inappropriate remarksandbehaviour

arecomfortablewithdifferent • culturesandelementsof difference

modelandencourageopen • communicationandeffective teamwork

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Appendix1. Steering group key objectives

Objective 1

Objective 2

Embedthenewdiversityandequalityinfrastructure

DeliverprogrammeofequalityimpactassessmentsacrossAuditScotland’s activities.

Objective 3 DevelopandpublishSingleEqualitySchemes

Objective 4 Developapproachtoconsultationandinvolvement

Objective 5 Developrelationshipswithexternalstakeholders

Objective 6 Improveinternalcommunicationofdiversityandequalitydevelopments

Objective 7

Objective 8

Objective 9

Developexternalcommunicationofdiversityandequalitywork

Maximiseroleasauditbodybypromotingequalitythroughtheauditswe perform

Establishaformalreportingscheduletomeetlegislativerequirements

Appendix�.��

Appendix2. Steering group membership

ThesteeringgroupismadeupofseniormanagersandspecialistsfromacrossAudit Scotland.Thecurrentmembershipincludesthefollowingindividuals:

Role

Chairofsteeringgroup

Current membership

LornaMeahan

Managementteam DianeMcGiffen

CorporateServicesGrouplead JamesGillies

AuditStrategylead PaulO’Brien

AuditServicesGrouplead BobKirkwood

PublicReportingGrouplead

Practitionerandspecialistmembers

PCSrepresentative

AngelaCanning

DavidBlattman,KirstyWhyte,CathyMacGregor, ElaineBoydandJennieMathieson

AsifHaseeb

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Appendix3. Profile of Diversity & Equality Steering Group members

Thefollowingtableoutlinesthecommonanddifferentfocusandresponsibilitiesofsteeringgroupmembers.

Senior MGT/ Practitioner/ Chair Business Group specialist Union reps Secretary

leads members

Advocacy

Actasoverall organisation

diversitychampion including

representingAudit Scotlandexternally whereappropriate

Championingand promoting

allaspectsof diversityand

equalityininternal andexternalwork

Promotingall aspectsofdiversity

andequalityin internalandexternal

work

Promotingall aspectsofdiversity

andequalityin unionactivity

Promotingthe meetingsschedule tointerestedthird

parties.

Actsaschampion foroneofthe

individualequality strandsorother areasoffocusas appropriate(eg, communication,

consultation)

Actsaschampion foroneofthe

individualequality strandsorother areasoffocusas appropriate(eg, communication,

consultation)

Championsunion engagementinkey diversityobjectives

Monitorsexternal events,conferences

andactivities andorganises attendancefor steeringgroup membersas appropriate

Leadsthedelivery teamintheir

businessareaand ensuresaneffective linkintothesteering

group.

Proactivelyidentifies Proactivelyidentifies Proactivelyidentifies goodpractice approachesto

promotingequality andvaluingdiversity

bothinternally andexternally andpromotes

theseacrossthe

goodpractice approachesto

promotingequality andvaluingdiversity

bothinternally andexternally andpromotes

theseacrossthe

goodpractice approachesto

promotingequality andvaluingdiversity

bothinternally andexternally andpromotes

theseacrossthe

Proactively identifiesgood

practiceapproaches fromtheunion experienceand

sharesthesewith thesteeringgroup

organisation organisation organisation

Appendix�.��

Chair Senior MGT/

Business Group leads

Practitioner/ specialist members

Union reps Secretary

Strategy

Overseasthe organisation’s

strategicapproach topromoting equalityand

managingdiversity andrecognises andoptimises

opportunitiesto mainstreamgood practiceacrossthe

organisation

Developsthe organisation’s

strategicapproach topromoting equalityand

managingdiversity byrecognising andoptimising opportunitiesto

mainstreamgood practiceatalocal

level

Developsthe organisation’s

strategicapproach topromoting equalityand

managingdiversity byrecognising andoptimising opportunitiesto

mainstreamgood practiceatalocal

level

Keepsupto datewithgroup

membersactivity andpriorities,and

alertsthechair regarding

emergingissues

Action

Sponsorsand contributestothe developmentof

exemplarequality schemesand actionplans

Contributesto,and ensuresongoing developmentof

exemplarequality schemesand actionplans

Contributesto,and ensuresongoing developmentof

exemplarequality schemesand actionplans

Contributesto,and ensuresongoing developmentof

exemplarequality schemesand actionplans

Producesand publishesthe

schemesandaction plansfollowing

inputfromsteering groupmembers

Overseesthe deliveryofan appropriate

consultationand involvement

strategy

Contributesto,and ensuresdelivery ofanappropriate consultationand

involvement strategy

Contributesto,and ensuresdelivery ofanappropriate consultationand

involvement strategy

Contributesto,and ensuresdelivery ofanappropriate consultationand

involvement strategy

Organisesthe logisticsof

consultationevents asappropriate

Monitoring& review

Holdsindividual membersto

accountfordelivery andreviews

qualityassurance ofequalityimpact

assessments

Ensures managementand deliveryofaction plans,including

qualityassurance ofequalityimpact

assessments conductedatalocal

level

Participatesin investigationpanels

whererequired toreviewalleged casesofbullying, harassmentand

Qualityassurance ofequalityimpact

assessments conductedatalocal

level

Providesacheck andbalance

bylinkingback groupactivityto thediversityand equalityremitof

PCS

Providesreminders andpromptsfordue

datesonactions

Keepsconfidential notesandminutes

asrequired

discriminationif required

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Senior MGT/ Practitioner/ Chair Business Group specialist Union reps Secretary

leads members

Ensuresideasand developments areeffectively

communicatedto internalandexternal

stakeholders

Ensuresideasand developments areeffectively

communicatedto internalandexternal

stakeholders

Ensuresideasand developments areeffectively

communicatedto internalandexternal

stakeholders

Ensuresideasand developments areeffectively

communicatedto internalandexternal

stakeholders

Keepsrecords ofmeetings,

actionsagreed anddistributesto relevantparties

Ensuresprogress updatesand reportsare Generates

Communi­cation Managesapproval

producedto fulfilinternaland externalreporting

progressupdates andreportsto

fulfilinternaland Informsthegroup ofprogressreports andannualdiversity reportingwithAudit

ScotlandBoard andtheAccounts

requirements, includingcontent

fortheannual report,board reportsand

externalreporting requirements,

includingcontent fortheannual report,board

ofPCS-wide diversityand

equalityactivityand howitmaysupport theorganisations

Formatsreports andcoordinates

sendingtorelevant partiesforapproval

Commissionboard progressupdates reportsand goals requiredbyexternal progressupdates

bodiessuchas requiredbyexternal theEqualityand bodies HumanRights Commission

Diversity & Equality Steering Group Terms of reference

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