The Disability Condent Scheme Presentation 1 Department for

The Disability Confident Scheme Presentation 1 Department for Work and Pensions

Disability • The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate against employees (including workers) because of a mental or physical disability. • Under the Equality Act 2010 a person is disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantially adverse and long-term effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. • In the workplace such activities are taken to include things like using a telephone or computer, interacting with colleagues, following instructions, driving and carrying everyday objects. • The Equality Act 2010 provides disabled people with protection from discrimination in a range of areas, including employment. 2 Department for Work and Pensions

The Disability Confident scheme was launched in November 2016. The scheme takes organisations on a journey through 3 levels DC Committed, DC Employer and DC Leader. The aims for Disability Confident are to: engage and encourage employers to become more confident so they employ and retain disabled people challenge misconceptions and increase understanding of disability and the benefits of employing or retaining disabled people increase the number of employers taking action to be Disability Confident make a substantial contribution towards getting 1 million more disabled people into work over by 2027. Over 9, 000 employers have signed up to date. 3 Department for Work and Pensions

Disability Confident - The case for action 4

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How someone can claim Your employee can apply for Access to Work if they need help and support to get them back to work. The quickest and easiest way to apply is online at www. gov. uk/access-to-work 6 Department for Work and Pensions

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Realising the potential of disabled people. • Employers are failing to recognise the talents disabled people bring. • Disabled people are a hugely diverse group of people, with many amazing skills and experience. • Employers that look at disabled people in terms of having valuable skills (employing people who think differently) and qualities that their organisations need, and focus on accessing diverse talent as a core business activity could get that competitive edge that’s key in business and have a positive impact this can have on the business and potentially on their bottom line. Missing out on the spending power of disabled people • The spending power of disabled people and their families is estimated at £ 249 billion a year. This figure is often referred to as the Purple Pound. As the population ages and the number of disabled people increase this figure will only increase. 8 Department for Work and Pensions

What’s in it for business. • Recruiting from the widest possible pool of talent is good for business. Employing disabled people is not an act of charity, it’s a reflection of a business that values difference and strives to be inclusive of everyone. • Reflecting your customer base Good business reflects their consumer base in their workforce. 17. 5% of the UK adult population have a disability so why would business choose to ignore them and not want to tap into the pool of talent? • Reduced staff turnover • The costs to business of not holding on to staff can be considerable. For example loss of productivity up to and after the employee leaves, administration costs associated with them leaving (returning working items PC, Phone etc. exit interviews, closure of IT accounts, removal from pay system). Producing job adverts, advertising vacancies, interview processes and planning for and providing the necessary induction and training to do the job. 9 Department for Work and Pensions

Level 1 Starting your Disability Confident journey Sign-up through Gov. UK 5 Actions and at least one activity that will make a difference. Badge and certificate for 1 year 10 Department for Work and Pensions

Level 2 What happens next? Employer selfassessment two themes: • Getting the right people for your business • Keeping and developing your people. • Offering at least one activity that will make a difference. 11 When you have completed level 2, you will need to follow this link to Gov. UK to confirm that you: • • • have undertaken and successfully completed the Disability Confident selfassessment are taking all of the core actions to be a Disability Confident employer are offering at least one activity to get the right people for your business and at least one activity to keep and develop your people. Badge and certificate for 2 years Department for Work and Pensions

Level 3 • Acting as a champion within your local and Outside challenge of your self-assessment and demonstration of your Leadership activity. business community • Engaging your supply chain and your networks • showing disabled people that you are serious about leading the way • about helping other businesses to become Disability Confident. 12 Badge and certificate for 3 years Department for Work and Pensions

To support you on your journey there is a range of online information, guidance and resources available through www. gov. uk/disability-confident Search for Disability Confident. Information and guidance Videos Case studies Promotional materials 13 Department for Work and Pensions