Annex 2 - Good Relations Action Plan 2022-25
Actions to Promote Good Relations
Summary of Good Relations Aims
1. Training and Development
- Identify an e-learning good relations package for staff.
- Provide ongoing training and support to policy authors in relation to the requirements of equality and good relations policy screening.
2. Representation
- Analyse recruitment data for ethnic minority applicants and appointees and the community backgroundof applicants and appointees.
3. Promotion of Good Relations and Dialogue
- Update the Events tour script to include the artefacts and images in Parliament Buildings.
- Publicise the Assembly ‘Quiet Room’ as a space for visitors and staff with/without faith for prayer and reflection.
- Scope out, and where appropriate, procure new technologies to support self-guided tours.
4. Participation and Engagement
- Deliver awareness raising and capacity-buildingseminars specifically for minority ethnic communities.
- Establish an external minority ethnic stakeholder group.
- Hold a planned series of cultural events with minority ethnic groups.
- Scope out, and where appropriate, procure new technologies to support visitor feedbackon the Assembly website and at Parliament Buildings.
- Conduct research to discover how other legislatures accommodate the language needs of minority ethnic communities on their websites.
Corporate Strategy Theme – Investing in the development, expertise and well-being of our people
| 1 | Good Relations Aim (1) Training and Development Actions | Desired Outcomes | Performance Indicators | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1.1 |
Identify an e-learning good relations package for staff. |
Staff better understand good relations and its relevance to them in their roles within the Assembly Commission. |
Year 2 (March 2024) Identification and implementation of a Good Relations E-Learning programme for staff.
Year 3 (November 2024) Staff have been trained in good relations. |
Lead – Learning and Development Team and Equality and Good Relations Unit |
|
1.2 |
Ongoing training and support to policy authors in relation to the requirements of equality and good relations policy screening. |
Assembly Commission policies are screened for equality and good relations as per the Assembly Commission’s Equality Scheme and Equality Commission guidance. |
Over the Lifetime of the plan:
Support and advice is provided by Equality and Good Relations Unit to Policy Authors on an ongoing basis.
Monitoring information is collected by Learning and Development Team in relation to policy screening training.
Quarterly Screening Reports are shared with Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and published on the Assembly website. |
Lead – Equality and Good Relations Unit
Learning and Development Team |
Corporate Strategy – Building excellence and innovation in our services “Ensuring high standards in equality, governance and regulatory compliance through effective and efficient processes.”
| 2 | Good Relations Aim (2) Representation Actions | Desired Outcomes | Performance Indicators | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.1 |
Analyse recruitment data for minority ethnic applicants and appointees and, community background of applicants and appointees, against 2021 census data and take appropriate action(s) to address any under-representation issues arising e.g. welcoming statement in recruitment advertising etc. |
Staffing is reflective of the Northern Ireland working age population in relation to ethnicity and community background i.e. religious belief/political opinion. |
Year 1 – 3 In May of each year produce an annual written review of monitoring data against 2021 Census data.
Year 1 – 3 Positive steps used where necessary in external recruitment to attract more applicants from minority ethnic communities and from persons of a community background that is under-represented. |
Lead: Human Resources |
Corporate Strategy – Building excellence and innovation in our services “Ensuring high standards in equality, governance and regulatory compliance through effective and efficient processes.”
| 3 | Good Relations Aim (3) Promotion of Good Relations and Dialogue Actions | Desired Outcomes | Performance Indicators | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.1 |
Update the Events tour script to include the artefacts and images in Parliament Buildings. |
To enhance the visitor experience. |
Year 1 (March 2023) Tour Script updated. |
Lead: Events |
|
3.2 |
Publicise the Assembly ‘Quiet Room’ as a space for visitors and staff with/without faith for prayer and reflection. |
The shared space for prayer and reflection for visitors, service users and staff of all faiths, and none, is publicised. |
Year 1 (March 2023) Quiet Room is publicised on the Assembly website. |
Lead: Head of Building Services |
|
3.3 |
Scope out, and where appropriate, procure new technologies to support self-guided tours. |
To enhance the visitor experience, increase the number of visitors and make information more accessible. |
Year 1 (March 2023) Scope out what is possible in terms of self-guided tour technology.
Year 2 (March 2024) If appropriate, procure suitable technologies. |
Lead: Events |
Corporate Strategy - Strengthening engagement with the public “Building connections with target groups”
| 4 | Good Relations Aim (4) Participation and Engagement Actions | Desired Outcomes | Performance Indicators | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4.1 |
Deliver awareness raising and capacity-building seminars specifically for minority ethnic communities. |
Increased participation by minority ethnic communities in the work and activities of the Assembly. |
Year 1 (March 2023) Host a series of awareness raising and capacity-building seminars. |
Lead: Engagement |
|
4.2 |
Establish an external ethnic minority stakeholder group. |
Improved targeting of, access to, and participation in, Assembly Commission services and activities by BME communities. |
Year 2 (March 2024) Ethnic minority stakeholder group is established. |
Lead: Engagement, Equality and Good Relations Unit and Assembly Committees |
|
4.3 |
Hold a planned series of cultural events with minority ethnic groups. |
Raise awareness of Assembly services with minority ethnic communities and also raise the awareness of staff about minority ethnic cultures. |
Year 1 – 3 A series of events is held over the lifetime of the plan. |
Lead: Engagement and Clerking |
|
4.4 |
Scope out, and where appropriate, procure new technologies to support visitor feedback on the Assembly website and at Parliament Buildings. |
Improving the visitor experience. |
Year 2 (March 2024) Scope out what is possible in terms of technology to support visitor feedback.
Year 3 (March 2025) If appropriate, procure suitable technologies. |
Lead: RaISe with support from Equality and Good Relations Unit |
|
4.5 |
Conduct research to discover how other legislatures accommodate the language needs of minority ethnic communities on their websites. |
To gain greater reach and to raise awareness of the services and operations of the Assembly with minority ethnic communities via the Assembly website. |
Year 1 (March 2023) Working with RaISe to conduct research to identify how other UK and Irish legislatures accommodate the language needs of minority ethnic communities on their websites and identify solution options. |
Lead: RaISe with support from Equality and Good Relations Unit |
