The protected characteristics are:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marital and civil partnership
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race (including colour, nationality (including citizenship), ethnic or national origins)
• Religion or belief (including a philosophical or no belief)
• Sex
• Sexual orientation.

The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that there is no discrimination and that any identified adverse impact is mitigated. Some impact will be positive and in this regard it is important that we promote good practice to demonstrate how we are advancing equality of opportunity and fostering good relations.

As part of the reform process an equality impact assessment template is being used to capture the research, evidence and consultation used to inform the development of our policy and practice.

Completed equality impact assessments will be available through the website as part of the equality duty to publish.