SCOPE
This section contains information on Lancashire County Council’s duties under the Equality Act 2010.
The Equality Act (2010) requires Lancashire County Council to have “due regard” to the needs of groups with protected characteristics when carrying out all its functions, both as a service provider and an employer. These protected characteristics are:
- age;
- disability;
- gender identity/gender reassignment;
- race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin;
- religion or belief;
- being pregnant or on maternity leave;
- sex;
- sexual orientation;
- being married or in a civil partnership (although marriage and civil partnership status only applies in relation to work and the first aim of the Public Sector Equality Duty).
The main aims of the Public Sector Equality Duty are:
- To eliminate discrimination, harassment, or victimisation of a person because of protected characteristics.
- To advance equality of opportunity between groups who share protected characteristics and those who do not share them. This includes encouraging participation in public life of those with protected characteristics and taking steps to ensure that disabled people can participate in activities/processes.
- Fostering good relations between groups who share protected characteristics and those who do not share them/community cohesion.
In relation to disability and hidden disability, colleagues are reminded to consider the need for “reasonable adjustments” to ensure that the service user, their family/carers or other relevant people can understand all information and participate fully in all processes and decision making.
More information can be found on the Lancashire County Council website, or by contacting the Equality and Cohesion Team (see Local Contacts).
