Equality Aim 1
Making services more accessible and ensuring no one is missing out on services who needs them
The council provides a range of services to support residents in need, however, sometimes these are not suitably accessible.
It is important that council services are accessible and inclusive to residents of all backgrounds and needs. We will help people to access our services, including better support for those who:
- do not speak English
- have a disability
- cannot access online services
This is integral to our residents being able to engage with our services and supports their engagement with our community.
Throughout our consultation and engagement, this aim received some of the strongest support. Feedback gathered asked that the council:
- properly understand their communities
- consider older people
- provide more support for the most vulnerable and isolated in our communities
Residents also requested more learning and work opportunities for adults with disabilities (including learning disabilities) as well as doing better at how we communicate with them.
"More widely listening to vulnerable residents of RBKC, (elderly, disabled...)."
"The council should be clear on who needs help and what help they need. Better information and data on these groups will help with timely service delivery."
Achievements to date
Significant efforts have been made to ensure that all our services are accessible, including:
- delivering a new information, advice and guidance contract with fourteen outreach points across the borough to be closer to our communities
- implementing a new learning disability strategy to enhance our work with residents with learning disabilities. The strategy covers seven key areas developed with residents with learning disabilities, including areas such as:
- support for family and carers
- housing
- health
- information and advice
- living independently in the community
Digital inclusion
Our Digital Inclusion Programme helps to address how services requiring people to be more skilled at using online services can make issues like poverty, social isolation, and health inequality worse. This can also reduce an individual's involvement with their community and job opportunities. The Kensington and Chelsea Digital Inclusion Partnership, recognised nationally as a model of best practice, has over 200 members. They share a vision of 'no-one left behind' and work together to support residents and provide resources.
Housing accreditation
We are working towards achieving the Housing Diversity Network Accreditation, the benchmark for equality, diversity and inclusion excellence in the housing sector. This is to ensure equality is firmly embedded in all their work with residents.
The Transport Team regularly hosts the Mobility Forum bringing together service users with transport providers, to share concerns and updates.
Our targeted actions
In addition to the current work of the council, we will take further steps to ensure service accessibility and inclusivity based on what we have heard from our residents.
Action 6
Create a forum for disabled residents to meet with council services:
- to take timely action on issues affecting their access to council services
- ensure their lived experience shapes the design and delivery of services
Progress measure
An increase in the number of disabled residents participating in the forum for meeting with council services.
Monitoring and reporting the issues reported by residents and their effective resolution and how they have shaped council services.
Action 7
Use the World Health Organisation’s Framework for Age Friendly Communities to create a more age-friendly borough for older residents.
Progress measure
Assess the council’s position against the eight domains of the age-friendly framework.
An increase in targeted interventions across council services that support the delivery of an age-friendly borough.
Action 8
Use data effectively so that services:
- reach the residents who need them
- safeguard against decisions negatively impacting residents with protected characteristics
Ensure services across the council are consistently collecting demographic data on our residents and service users to help with better targeting of services.
Conduct a full review of our approach to equality impact assessments, including:
- a greater focus on the needs and experiences of residents
- the needs of particular groups, include, for example, those in social housing
- a more robust approach to review and monitoring.
Progress measure
Analyse whether services are reaching diverse groups equitably.
Monitor any changes in service experience among different groups and take steps to address them.
Monitor the equalities considerations when thinking about the design and delivery of services to ensure it is timely and robust.
Impact of equality impact assessments reviewed on an annual basis.
Action 9
Boost the existing offer of free leisure centre memberships for those living within 500m of Grenfell Tower. This will increase the reach and impact of this offer and improve health and wellbeing.
Progress measure
Monitoring distribution of memberships to reach an additional 400 residents.