SFHA extends deadline for comment on Draft Equalities Guidance
Deadline for comment extended to close of play on Monday 1 February.
Just before Christmas, SFHA issued the draft document Collecting Equalities Information: Guidance for Social Landlords to members for comment.
SFHA is aware that the draft may have flown a little under the radar due to the festive period and, as such, has extended the deadline for comment to close of play on Monday 1 February.
This comprehensive document was drafted by Stewart Montgomerie on behalf of SFHA, in partnership with GWSF, ALACHO and the Scottish Housing Regulator. The draft is available by clicking the link below.
Many thanks to those who have already been in touch. Please send any further comments to Nicola Adams nadams@sfha.co.uk
While we appreciate these are challenging, busy times – and would certainly not expect detailed comments at this stage – SFHA is keen to ensure that this document is as helpful as possible for members. The guidance has been commissioned to provide social landlords with advice regarding equality data collection, with the intention that it will aid understanding of how data can be used to develop and improve services. Crucially, it will also assist effective implementation of the Scottish Housing Regulator’s regulatory requirements and includes a template alongside practical guidance to assist with this.
In its August 2020 Covid-19 briefing, the SHR advised that in recognition of the Covid-19 situation, and, indeed, the production of this guidance being delayed as a result, it would not begin assessing compliance with these new requirements from April 2021 as intended. It would, instead, ask all landlords to include an update on their position in relation to equalities and human rights in the October 2021 Annual Assurance Statement. The SHR is currently reviewing its regulatory approach in light of the coronavirus pandemic so this could again be adapted. Any views on this would also be most welcome.
It is important that equalities data collection is not something that is just done because it is an SHR requirement, and, as such, the document contains a lot of further material provided by Stewart in respect of equalities more generally. SFHA would welcome any views in terms of the clarity of the guide and appreciate that it is a lengthy document.
Finally, please note that Jeremy Hewer – who had led on the production of this guidance – has now retired from SFHA after years of distinguished service. Alan Stokes now be picking this up, so if you have any queries please get in touch.