1.1 What do teams have to do in the CHIA process?

Here we provide a summary of the CHIA process. More detail can be found in Section 2 'Step-by-Step Guide to the CHIA Process'.

• Health Impact Assessment (HIA) typically has 6 steps: starting with screening and ending with monitoring impacts
  (see Figure 1, left panel).
• See Figure 1 for on overview of the HIA process in capital investment, that is, the CHIA process.
• Step 1 in the CHIA is Plan and run a screening workshop. This means holding a workshop to identify possible health and equity impacts.
• If the workshop identifies potential impacts that cannot be addressed through other impact assessments (e.g. Equalities Impact Assessment) then projects can move to Step 2: Scoping to identify what is needed in the HIA and set out the terms of reference in a commissioning document.
• Project teams can then commission Steps 3 and 4 - the evidence appraisal and development of recommendations.
• Project teams will then undertake Step 5: Reviewing the HIA report to ensure it meets the terms of reference.
• Finally, Step 6: Monitoring impacts involves monitoring the recommendations from the HIA and whether they have been followed and/or monitoring impacts on health determinants which have resulted from the development.

* IMPORTANT: For the CHIA process 'Identification of impacts' is covered by Step 1 'Screening workshop'. However, this does not preclude additional workshops being undertaken if considered necessary in the commissioned HIA. 

Step 1: Plan and run screening workshop 

• Project manager and senior responsible officer (SRO) meet to consider if, and when, to undertake the CHIA process (see Section 2.1).
• Use Sections 2.2 - 2.8 to plan and prepare the workshop:
  • Identifying your participants
  • Agree practicalities of where, when and who will do what
  • Prepare materials to send to participants in advance 
• Run the screening workshop
• Ensure a note-taker keeps a good record of the discussion. 
• Write up a summary of key potential impacts using the 'Workshop Report Template (Word doc, 33 KB)(opens new window)'
• Share the draft report with workshop attendees. 
• Project team meet to discuss findings, decide whether a HIA is required and, if so, how this can be commissioned.
• The project team complete 'CHIA Screening Workshop Follow Up Meeting Template (Word doc, 26 KB)(opens new window)' and use this to inform Step 2: Scoping.  
• The SRO should approve the final decision about whether a HIA should be commissioned or is not required (for example, if identified potential impacts will be covered by other impact assessments).

IMPORTANT: If a full HIA is required then include steps 2 to 6. If other impact assessments will capture all potential health impacts, then move to step 5.

Step 2: Scoping

• Use the workshop report and follow up meeting template to define the scope / set the terms of reference for the HIA.
• Complete the 'HIA Commissioning Template (Word doc, 52 KB)(opens new window)' to commission the HIA.
• Project's Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) signs off on the commissioning document.

Steps 3 and 4 should be included in any commissioned HIA

Step 5: Review HIA and other Impact Assessment reports

IMPORTANT: this step is relevant to all projects, including those that haven't gone to a full HIA.

• If a full HIA is commissioned, then review the commissioned HIA final report to decide if it meets the terms of reference. The HIA appraisal template (Word doc, 25 KB)(opens new window) can be used to assist with this process.
• Revisit any other impact assessments to check they have picked up the relevant impacts identified by the screening workshop.
• Agree an action plan to implement any changes needed based on the recommendations in the HIA report and/or other impact assessments.
• Project manager or SRO signs off the HIA report and action plan once agreed.

Step 6: Monitoring

• This step is only relevant where a commissioned HIA has been undertaken. Health impacts covered by other impact assessments should be included in monitoring plans for the relevant assessment.
• Use the action plan to monitor whether recommendations are implemented.
• Where relevant, identify data for monitoring impacts of HIA decisions on health determinants. These indicators should then be included in any project monitoring plan.