Diversity

Jobcentre Plus offers a wide range of services to support employers seeking to recruit and retain people with disabilities and to assist people with disabilities to return to and remain in work.

Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs) in our Jobcentres can offer help with finding work and advise customers and employers about a range of specialised support available for disabled people. They can also provide information to employers about how to become a Disability Symbol user.

The Disability Symbol is a recognition given by Jobcentre Plus to employers agreeing to meet five commitments regarding the recruitment, employment, retention and career development of disabled people.

If you are reviewing your approach to employing disabled people or trying to create a more diverse workforce, becoming a disability symbol user may help. You will be making it clear to disabled people that you welcome applications from them and are positive about their abilities, and to your existing employees that you value their contribution and will treat them fairly should they become disabled.

Access to Work - can help employers with the extra costs of employing staff with a disability or health condition. For example, it might pay towards the cost of equipment they need at work, adapting premises to meet their needs, or a support worker.

Workstep - enables people with more complex employment barriers to work effectively with the right support alongside non disabled colleagues.

The Job Introduction Scheme (JIS) can offer a weekly grant of £75 to employers recruiting a disabled person, to help them with the cost of wages or other employment costs for the first few weeks of their employment.

New Deal for Disabled People is a voluntary initiative that operates in some areas of the UK. It aims to support people on disability or health related benefits to move into and retain paid work.

For more information about any of these programmes, please contact a DEA through your local Jobcentre.

In addition, you could consider other changes to working practice that might encourage other groups of people to apply, such as Flexible Working. Business Link provides advice about recruiting a diverse workforce and the things you might need to consider.

Get to know your responsibilities and the rights of your employees such as the right to Maternity/Paternity leave. See http://www.berr.gov.uk/ for more information on these and other issues.

Employ ability - is all about giving disabled people the chance to use their skills, abilities and talent in the workplace.

Links to other sites with Diversity information.