We are demonstrating this ongoing commitment through:
- Being a Disability Confident Employer – we undertake a range of initiatives and activities which enable people with disabilities to fully participate in the recruitment process and to support them at work.
- The Disabled Workers’ Group - the group helps employees feel empowered, and supported, as well as helping us to develop and implement good working practices that reflect the diversity of our staff and residents.
- Being a Mindful Employer – we strive to create a supportive and open culture, where employees and residents are able to talk about mental health.
- Leicestershire Equalities Challenge Group – a partnership of people and organisations across the county that have a strong interest in maximising the equality of outcomes in Leicestershire.
- Our zero-tolerance approach to discrimination.
- A corporate disability task and finish group – representatives from all council departments meet regularly to discuss the action plan and figure out next steps.
We're proud to be a Disability Confident employer, enabling people with disabilities to participate fully in the recruitment process and supporting them at work.
Person:Councillor Pam Posnett, Cabinet member for community and staff relations
We're continuing to listen to feedback from colleagues through our staff surveys, the Disabled Workers' Group, our departmental equalities groups and speak up champions about what barriers may exist for disabled people and how we might overcome them. Our action plan will help to remove these and support all employees to reach their potential.
Person:Janna Walker, lead champion for disability and assistant director for environment and transport
The Disabled Workers' Group contributes to council policies and practices that affect disabled staff and service users, helps empower employees, offers moral support and it is a safe space for staff to talk about issues confidentially.
Person:Anthony Stone, chair of the Disabled Workers’ Group
Our key areas of work:
- Secure senior leadership support
- Raise awareness of our work on disability internally and externally
- Ensure disabled staff are represented at all levels of the council
- Expand our training offer related to disability
- Develop strong relationships with community groups and organisations, and celebrate the contribution of these