Scoring Moderation and Equality Impact Check

A two-part control: a moderation session record for consistency between scorers, and an equality impact analysis of the provisional outcome.

When to use it

After scoring and before any provisional outcome is communicated. Never skip this step.

Moderating redundancy scores and checking for adverse impact

Scoring produces a ranking. Moderation is what turns that ranking into a decision you can defend. This check does two jobs: it tests whether the scores were applied consistently, and it looks at whether the outcome falls disproportionately on any protected group.

Moderating the scores

Bring the scorers together with the evidence. Look for scorers who are systematically harsher or more generous, criteria where everyone scored the same (which usually means the descriptor was unclear), and scores that cannot be evidenced. Adjust only with a recorded reason, and never adjust to reach a predetermined outcome — that is the one change a tribunal will find.

The equality impact check

Compare the profile of those provisionally selected against the pool as a whole by age, sex, ethnicity, disability, part-time status and family-related leave. The purpose is not to reach a quota; it is to notice a disparity while you can still investigate its cause. A disparity is not automatically unlawful, but an unexplained one is a serious warning sign.

Common causes of adverse impact

Attendance criteria capturing disability-related or pregnancy-related absence. Performance data from a period when someone was on reduced hours. Flexibility or availability criteria that penalise carers. Each is fixable if it is spotted before outcomes are communicated.

Do this before anyone is told

The check must sit between scoring and communication. Once provisional outcomes are shared, changing them is far harder and looks worse. Record the analysis, the conclusions and any action taken, and keep it with the Selection Criteria and Scoring Matrix and the Selection Pool Definition Worksheet.

Our restructuring guides set out the full selection sequence, including what to do when the check surfaces a problem.