Duties of the Equality Act 2010
- Eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation;
- Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a protected characteristic and persons who do not share it;
- Foster good relations between persons who share a protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.
The Equality Act 2010, Specific Duty 2011 requires St Helens Council to:
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Publish sufficient information to demonstrate compliance with the General Duty across its functions by 31 January 2012 and annually after that, from the first date of publication;
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Prepare and publish equality objectives by 6 April 2012, to demonstrate how the general equality duty will be met.
The most recent annual compliance information is the St Helens Equality Monitoring Report 2018-19, published on 19 December 2019.
Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 requires St Helens Council to prepare a written accessibility strategy, which must:
- Increase the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the schools' curriculums;
- Improve the physical environment of schools for the purpose of increasing the extent to which disabled pupils are able to take advantage of education and benefits, facilities or services provided or offered by the schools; and
- Improve the delivery to disabled pupils of information which is readily accessible to pupils who are not disabled.
Arrangements for increasing the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the schools' curriculums are set out within:
- Guidance For Schools: Meeting Additional Needs (January 2015)
- St Helens Council's Special Educational Needs and Disability - Local Offer
Arrangements for improving the physical environment of schools are set out within the council’s Programme of School Work, which is based on the assessment of all relevant built assets. Arrangements include contingency to make reasonable adjustments that meet unexpected or unforeseen access needs.
Arrangements for improving the delivery to disabled pupils of information which is readily accessible to non-disabled pupils is covered by St Helens Information Advice and Support Service.
Disability Access
The council has a number of officers with a "disability access" remit within the following service areas: Asset Management, Architects, Building Control, Building Surveyors, and Engineering. These staff ensure that (i) the Equalities Act (formerly the DDA), (ii) the current Building Regulations, and (iii) associated best practice are incorporated within all projects and services to ensure fair access for all.
For information about accessibility of council services or general disability access enquiries, please contact St Helens Council Contact Centre by email to contactcentre@sthelens.gov.uk (Subject: "Disability Access Enquiry FAO the Equalities Officer").
Comprehensive Equality Policy
The council's Comprehensive Equality Policy sets out how it meets its duties under the Equality Act 2010.