The Disability Confident scheme is an employer recognition initiative set up by the UK Government that recognises employers who are committed to recruiting, retaining, and supporting disabled staff members. This will help them attract the best talent in the market, which in turn will help them grow their business.
In seeking out staff members with disabilities, employers need to ensure that they have a clear disability policy in place that will outline the types of disabilities and accommodations that the organisation is willing to make.
The Disability Confident scheme will aid in this and will require employers to carry out an audit of their recruitment process, identify any areas where improvement could be made.
Here, we highlight the key benefits of being a Disability Confident employer and show you how to sign up to become one.
Benefits of becoming Disability Confident
To maintain your workforce in a healthy state, your organisation needs to take steps towards making the workplace accessibility friendly. This helps people who are disabled both during and after their time with your company and you’ll have happier employees, which makes for a successful company overall.
When you choose to be Disability Confident, others will take note of how your company is adding value to the workplace. You’ll also have an impact in spreading a positive attitude and encouraging diversity in hiring practices.
Some of the other benefits of becoming a Disability Confident employer are:
- Save time and money due to reduced staff turnover
- Recruit high-quality staff
- Improve employee morale and commitment
- Encourage other employers to think about disability in a different, more positive light
How does the Disability Confident Scheme work?
There are three levels designed to support employers on becoming Disability Confident. They are:
Disability Confident Committed (Level 1)
The first step of becoming Disability Confident is agreeing to commitments and to highlight at least one action that you already do or will complete within your organisation to make a difference for disabled employees.
Disability Confident Employer (Level 2)
Level 2 requires a self-assessment form which helps organisations identify any changes or alterations that need to be made to become more inclusive and accessible.
Disability Confident Leader (Level 3)
Achieving the third and final level of the scheme allows you to champion accessibility and inclusion. Sign Solutions holds Disability Confident Leader status.
All employers join the free scheme at level 1 before progressing through the levels.
What is Deaf Gain & how can it benefit your business?
The concept of Deaf Gain aims to highlight the benefits of being Deaf, not just for the Deaf person but for the hearing world around them too. Deaf Gain encourages hearing people to look at deaf individuals and the deaf community from a new, more positive perspective and to identify the benefits being Deaf can bring to the table.
The Disability Confident scheme helps elevate the message of Deaf Gain because it’s all about helping employers challenge negative attitudes towards people with disabilities. If more and more organisations can strive to be Disability Confident, there will be an increased rate of businesses employing disabled people, improved working environments and an overall better experience for disabled people as employees.
Encouraging an organisational culture that embraces the Disability Confident scheme is a positive thing. It will help you recognise the benefits that Deaf employees can bring to the business, which will help you lay the right foundations for future success.
You can make a start in creating a more diverse and inclusive work environment with Sign Solutions to support you, ensuring your recruitment, training, and employment processes are as accessible and inclusive as possible.
To find out more about our Attract, Recruit and Retain support services, give us a call on 0121 447 9620, email bookings@signsolutions.uk.com, or contact us via a BSL video interpreter.
