The University achieves Disability Confident Leader Accreditation!
The University achieves Disability Confident Leader accreditation!
We are delighted to announce that the University has been recognised as a Disability Confident Leader (Level 3) for the three-year period 2025 - 2028, building on our previous accreditation as a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer.
Disability Confident is a government initiative which aims to enable employers to engage proactively with their disability inclusion strategy to improve the recruitment and retention of colleagues with disabilities, long-term health/mental health conditions and neurodivergent conditions. The scheme has three levels of commitment, each requiring additional commitment and evidence of action planning.
On Wednesday 4th June, our DCL External Verifier scrutinised our Disability Confident Action Plan and met with panel members representing schools and services across the organisation. The outcome confirmed that the University is delivering against all of the core actions as a Disability Confident Employer: providing an inclusive recruitment process; supporting disabled colleagues in the workplace (including those with long-term health conditions); and taking action to record and report on disability, mental health, and wellbeing in the workplace.
In becoming a Disability Confident Leader, the University is committing to evolving and sharing best practice and acting as a champion for Disability Confident within our local and business communities. This means that we will be encouraging and supporting other businesses in our supply chain(s) and networks to become Disability Confident, committing to leading the way in getting every business to become Disability Confident.
Our external verifier commented: 'I am really impressed with the way that disability inclusion is embedded across the various business areas, and to hear first-hand the positive effect that this has on people within your organisation.'
This achievement reflects the collaborative efforts of colleagues across the University and our ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive, accessible environment, continually developing and refining our facilities, services and practices to achieve this.
Looking ahead, as a Disability Confident Leader, the University will:
- Regularly review and update our DCL Action Plan with key stakeholders across the organisation during the reporting period June 2025-May 2028.
- Publish an annual report detailing our 'Voluntary Reporting on Disability, Mental Health and Wellbeing'
Vice Chancellor Professor Bob Cryan CBE commented that:
‘Achieving Disability Confident Leader status is a fantastic recognition of the University’s inclusive culture and the outstanding work of colleagues across our community. This accreditation highlights our commitment to evaluating and evolving our practice to ensure we remove as many barriers as possible for disabled colleagues who choose to bring their skills and knowledge to our organisation.’
Our first action will be to roll out the Health Adjustments Passport which has been in development with a pilot project taking place in 2024. Training on the process will be available in the coming months and more information can be found here: An Introduction to the Health Adjustments Passport (HAP).
If you would like to learn more about the Disability Confident Action Plan and/or join the University DCL Steering Group, please get in touch with the EDI Team. Information is also available on the EDI Disability webpage.