Infographic

Understanding disability infographic

Access our infographic to understand what a disability is and learn how organisations and managers can support disability in the workplace.

15 November 2023

Taking action on barriers that disabled staff may experience

Organisations are encouraged to share this infographic internally and run an awareness campaign, prompting staff to record their disability on ESR and to have an open conversation with their manager.

- Decision making
  Establish a disabled staff network and engage with disabled staff and trade unions. Involve them in decision-making and the development of your WDES action plan.
- Employment and recruitment
  Explore with disabled staff what actions your organisation can take to tackle any inequalities in employment and recruitment.
- Career development
  Introduce a developmental/talent management programme for disabled staff.
- Policies and practice
  Review policies such as absence management and reasonable adjustments to identify any gaps and make improvements. Consider introducing a health passport.
- Attitudes
  Develop actions the organisation can take to address disablism and promote an inclusive culture that has zero tolerance of discrimination.
- Transport
  Use and promote the Access to Work scheme, which provides funding for disabled staff, including transport costs for getting to and from work.
- Buildings and facilities
  Agree steps your organisation can take to improve access into and within its built environment. Consider inclusion from the outset of any new building developments.
- Information
  Run an internal campaign to raise awareness of what a disability is and encourage staff to record their disability on ESR. Use the results of your NHS Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) to take action to improve the experiences of disabled staff. Review the NHS Accessible Information Standard.
- Decision making
  Engage with staff. Encourage open conversations to understand their challenges. Involve them in decisions that will have an impact on their working lives.
- Employment and recruitment
  Understand the benefits of employing disabled staff, your responsibilities as a manager and how to recruit and support staff.
- Career development
  Explore what opportunities are available for staff to progress in their career and support them on their journey.
- Policies and practice
  Improve understanding of organisational policies around absence management, reasonable adjustments and health passports so you can support staff.
- Attitudes
  Proactively address any behaviour that might adversely impact or affect someone who identifies as disabled, or differently abled.
- Transport
  Discuss any needs with staff and explore opportunities with HR to resolve issues - ask about the Access to Work scheme.
- Buildings and facilities
  Initiate a regular item at team meetings to discuss any reasonable adjustments or adaptations that people might need to help them in their roles.
- Information
  Educate yourself on what it is like to have a disability and what you can do to support your staff, both existing and prospective. Encourage staff to record their disability on ESR.

Download a printable version of this infographic.

All NHS organisations are required to demonstrate how they are addressing workforce disability issues by publishing their annual Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) report and action plan.

Access further information on supporting staff with disabilities in the workplace, including guidance on making reasonable adjustments.

Understanding disability infographic

Taking action on barriers that disabled staff may experience

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