August 19, 2024
Charlotte Flatman, the learning and development head for SVC Solutions, shares her insights into the impact the new Disability Confident Guide will have in the workplace.
For too long, some employers have shied away from recruiting people with disabilities due to concerns over having to make adaptations to the workplace or adjustments to the day-to-day routine.
But in doing so, they are failing to tap into the vast wealth of talent being offered by thousands of people with disabilities.
Now new guidance has been published to help managers to recruit and support people with a disability or health condition in the workplace.
The new Disability Confident Guide has been published by the Department of Works and Pensions in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
The Disability Confident Scheme aims to help employers make the most of the opportunities created by employing and developing disabled people. It is voluntary and has been developed by employers, disabled people representatives and the government.
The new guide demonstrates to managers how they can support more people to progress whatever their disability and across all professions. It also covers a range of topics including legal responsibilities, making adjustments, recruiting and retaining disabled talent.
Some of the guidance includes advertising jobs on channels which specifically reach disabled people. It also details how reasonable adjustments can easily be made in the workplace, including facilitating flexible working and one-to-one mentoring support.
Peter Cheese, Chief Executive of CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, said: “Too often, people with disabilities or long-term health conditions face prejudice or cannot access the support they need to help them reach their potential or remain in work. That is a loss of significant workforce capacity and skills.
“That’s why Disability Confident and the CIPD have worked in partnership to update this guide, which aims to support managers and anyone who leads another individual or team, in the recruitment, management and development of people with disabilities and long-term health conditions.”
Kate Headley, Executive Director at the Clear Company, said: “As a founder partner of the Disability Confident Scheme, I am delighted to have supported the development of this revised guidance which I believe can resolve the nervousness managers have about employing disabled people. As a Government Disability and Access Ambassador and the Chair of Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative, I am aware of the support managers seek.
“This guidance does not ask them to become experts; instead, it provides an opportunity for us all to confidently, successfully employ disabled people who can and who want to work.”
At SVC we are experts on training, HR and recruitment, and can help to give guidance on successfully recruiting, managing and developing disabled people and a range of associated projects. For more information, contact us here or by calling 01206 262117.
