Workplace Accessibility

Disability Confident is creating a movement of change, encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people.

Being Disability Confident is a unique opportunity to lead the way in your community, and you might just discover someone your business cannot do without.

It was developed by employers and disabled people’s representatives to make it rigorous but easily accessible, particularly for smaller businesses.

The Disability Confident scheme aims to help employers make the most of the opportunities provided by employing disabled people. It is voluntary and has been developed by employers and disabled people’s representatives.

Why you should become Disability Confident

By being Disability Confident, you’ll also be seen as leading the way in your business sector and beyond, helping to positively change attitudes, behaviours and cultures. Disability Confident helps businesses:

● draw from the widest possible pool of talent

● secure and retain high quality staff who are skilled, loyal and hard working

● save time and money on the costs of recruitment and training by reducing staff turnover

● keep valuable skills and experience

● reduce the levels and costs of sickness absences

● improve employee morale and commitment by demonstrating that they treat all employees fairly

The Disability Confident scheme has 3 levels that have been designed to support you on your Disability Confident journey. Employers must complete each level before moving on to the next.

Level 1: Disability Confident Committed

To be recognised as Disability Confident Committed, you must agree to the Disability Confident commitments and identify at least one action that you’ll carry out to make a difference for disabled people. The commitments are:

● inclusive and accessible recruitment

● communicating vacancies

● offering an interview to disabled people

● providing reasonable adjustments

● supporting existing employees The activities include (you must identify at least one):

● work experience

● work trials

● paid employment

● apprenticeships

● job shadowing

● traineeships

● internships

● student placements

● sector-based work academy placements Disability Confident Committed

Level 2: Disability Confident Employer

Once you’ve signed up for level 1 you can progress to level 2, a Disability Confident Employer, by self-assessing your organisation around 2 themes:

● getting the right people for your business

● keeping and developing your people

Disability Confident Employers are recognised as going the extra mile to make sure disabled people get a fair chance.

Level 3: Disability Confident Leader

By becoming a Disability Confident Leader, you’ll be acting as a champion within your local and business communities. To reach this level you’ll need to:

● have your self-assessment validated by someone outside of your business (not including DWP employees in jobcentres)

● provide a short narrative to show what you have done or will be doing to support your status as a Disability Confident Leader

● confirm you are employing disabled people

● report on disability, mental health and wellbeing, by referring to the Voluntary Reporting Framework

Companies can find out more about joining this scheme at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign

Anyone seeking employment and looking for an accessible workplace can view a list of companies signed up to the Disability Confident scheme at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-confident-employers-that-have-signed-up