Dorset County Council Equality Impact Assessment Toolkit Assessment Form Insurance Claims Handling / Management (including the

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1 Insurance Claims Handling / Management (including the Title of service, function or Claims Handling Protocol) policy being assessed: Corporate Name of Directorate and service: Resources Dave Watson Senior Claims Handler Name and role of officers Chris Wall Corporate Insurance Officer completing this assessment: Marc Eyre Corporate Risk Officer Contact Telephone Number: Date assessment completed: 30 June Is this a new policy/function/service or a review of an existing one? Existing service and protocol 2. What are the aims and objectives of the policy/function/service/review? (For guidance see appendix B) Handle insurance claims made against the Council for negligence or a breach of statutory duty within the framework of the law and the Council s Customer Care standards. 3. What needs or priorities is it designed to meet? To protect the Council and public funds against any claims where there is no liability or breach of statutory duty on the Council s behalf. Ensure that people that are injured or sustain losses as a result of a breach of statutory duty or negligence by the Council and its employees are given fair recompense in line with current mainstream standards. To ensure that claims are handled within timescales set down within the Council s customer care standards and the Civil Procedure Rules. 4. Who and/or what has been involved with implementing the policy, strategy, procedure or function? (For guidance see appendix B) Chief Executive Head of Legal Services Chief Financial Officer NB Only fill the sections that are relevant to you. 1

2 Risk Management Group The Council s insurers, brokers and their appointed handling agents. 5. In relation to the policy/service what do you think are the main issues, positive and/or negative, relating to the different equality groups? You need to demonstrate that you have used data from existing sources to tell you about the current policy/service in terms of meeting the needs of the different equality groups. What does consultation with stakeholders/beneficiaries tell you about the current or proposed policy/service? Your sources could include, for example, census data, OPM baseline study, DCC employee survey and the bi annual residents survey. (For an overview of the main issues to consider reefer to guidance notes in appendix B and E.) Race/ethnicity (NB this includes Gypsies and Travellers) Claimants are not required to provide any information in respect of race/ethnicity within the claim form issued by DCC. However, the forms do ask claimants for their name, which could give an indication of a claimant s race/ethnicity. This personal data is required both in terms of statutory declarations to the Department of Works and Pensions and to the Audit Commission for anti fraud data matching purposes. It does not affect the outcome of claims process which is based on court decisions involving negligence and/or statutory obligations. Claims are subject to regular auditing by external Insurers and internal audit, Claimants are also advised that any complaints regarding the outcome of the claim or the handling of the issues can be referred to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services ( Deputy Monitoring Officer ) for an in depth independent review. Where English is not the first language of the claimant and/or their representatives a translation service for claims documentation would be offered in our initial correspondence. Disability Claimants are not required to provide any information in respect of disability within claim forms. However, where a claimant refers to a disability, appropriate facilities are offered, these have included, home visits, assistance with the completion of claim forms, letters sent out written in larger font. Religion and/or belief Claimants are not required to provide any information in respect of religion and/or belief within claim forms. Sexual orientation Claimants are not required to provide any information in respect of sexual orientation within claim forms. Age Claimants are required to provide information in respect of age insofar as they have to provide their date of birth. This personal data is required both in terms of statutory declarations to the Department of Works and Pensions and to the Audit Commission for anti fraud data matching purposes. It does not affect the outcome of claims process which is based on court decisions involving negligence and/or statutory obligations. Claims are subject to regular auditing by external Insurers and internal audit, Claimants are also advised that any complaints regarding the outcome of the claim or the handling of the issues can be NB Only fill the sections that are relevant to you. 2

3 referred to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services ( Deputy Monitoring Officer ) for an in depth independent review. Gender Claimants are required to provide information in respect of gender. This personal data is required both in terms of statutory declarations to the Department of Works and Pensions and to the Audit Commission for anti fraud data matching purposes. It does not affect the outcome of claims process, which is based on court decisions involving negligence and/or statutory obligations. Claims are subject to regular auditing by external Insurers and internal audit, Claimants are also advised that any complaints regarding the outcome of the claim or the handling of the issues can be referred to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services ( Deputy Monitoring Officer ) for an in depth independent review. Rural isolation/exclusion/deprivation/other issues 6. How does the current or proposed policy/service meet the needs of the six equality groups? If it doesn t where are the gaps? Please include the findings and actions in the attached improvement plan. All claims are handled and settled within their own respective merits, based on statute and case law. 7. Are there any aspects of the policy/function/service that result in quantifiable or different quality outcomes for different groups (higher or lower uptake/failure to access/receive a poorer or inferior service/evidence that different groups have different needs)? (see guidance notes in appendix B) No 8. What gaps have you identified and what further data/consultation do you need carry out if any? Please include the actions in the attached improvement plan. 9. In what way(s) might this service or policy have an adverse impact on the grounds of race/ethnicity, gender, disability, age, religion and/or belief or sexual orientation? Please give your reasons/evidence for this, use your answers from box 5-8. [Note: Adverse impact means that the policy or service is disadvantageous to one or more groups of people.] NB Only fill the sections that are relevant to you. 3

4 10. If you have identified that the service or policy is having, or might be having, an adverse impact, is it justifiable or legitimate? Please give your reasons for this. (see appendix B for examples) 11. If you have concluded that the adverse impact or the discrimination is justifiable or legitimate, you will need to explain your actions and reasons to people. This is because we have a statutory duty to promote good relations between people of different groups. You will need to think what action could be taken to mitigate the adverse impact on people. Please include the actions in the attached improvement plan. 12. If you have concluded that the adverse impact or the discrimination is illegal, you must take action to remedy this immediately. Please outline the action you will be taking and include it in your improvement plan (see appendix B for examples) 13. Please outline any unmet needs you have identified as a result of carrying out this assessment and how you intend to address them. Please ensure this is included in your improvement plan. NB Only fill the sections that are relevant to you. 4

5 Improvement Plan Please list actions that you plan to take as a result of this assessment (continue on separate sheets as necessary) Date on which the improvement plan will be reviewed: Officer responsible for review of the improvement plan: Issue Identified Action Required Budget Implications Please notify the relevant service accountant Officer responsible By when These actions needs to be built into the service planning framework, targets should be measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound. Any consultation exercise should follow the guidance provided by David Keddie, Consultation and Engagement Manager Please contact your Directorate representative for advice and guidance Adult Services and Community Services Glen Gocoul Children s Services Les Gardner Environment Services Dave Ayre and Mike Evans Corporate Resources Dan Menaldino and Karen Andrews Please return this form to Camilla Gibson, Diversity Officer, Human Resources, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XJ Page 5 of 5