Health and social care integration

The public sector equality duty is referred to as the ‘general equality duty’ which is part of the Equality Act (2010). The general equality duty applies to the Scottish Borders Integration Joint Board, which has a legal obligation to pay due regard to meet the need to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act.
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
• Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 came into force on the 27 of May 2012 and were amended in 2015 to bring additional listed authorities within their scope.  This included Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership.

The Scottish Specific Public Sector Equality Duties 2012 (SSPSED) requires the Partnership as a listed authority to:

1. Report on mainstreaming the equality duty
2. Publish equality outcomes and report on progress
3. Review and assess policies and practises
4. Gather and use employee information
5. Publish gender pay gap information
6. Publish information on equal pay etc
7. Embed in procurement processes
8. Publish in an accessible manner
9. Consider matters as prescribed by Scottish Minister

In 2018, the Fairer Scotland Duty (Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010 and formally known as the socio-economic duty) was brought into legislation. This duty requires the IJB to actively consider (‘pay due regard’ to) how the IJB can reduce inequalities of outcome caused by socio-economic disadvantage, when making strategic decisions.

To enable the Integration Joint Board evidence compliance with the Fairer Scotland Duties, the equality and human rights impact assessment documentation, approved by the Health and Social Care Partnership’s Strategic Planning Group in December 2022 incorporates the requirements of the Fairer Scotland Act 2018 and the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Equality Measurement Framework.

• Equality Outcomes and Mainstreaming Framework 2023 to 2025 
• Equality Outcomes and Mainstreaming Report 2019 to 2023 
• Equality Mainstreaming Progress Report 2019 to 2023
• Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessments Stage 1 Proportionality and Relevance
• Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessments Stage 2 Empowering People - Capturing their Views
• Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessments Stage 3 Analysis of Findings and Recommendations