Civil Service Diversity and Equality team wins Disability Confident Award

28 May 2014 11:14 AM

Civil Service team wins Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative (RIDI) prize for their work promoting the Disability Confident Campaign. 

The RIDI awards celebrate disability confident employers who are removing barriers, increasing understanding and ensuring disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their career aspirations.

At the May 14 ceremony the Diversity and Inclusion team won the Disability Confident Campaign award, for their work promoting the campaign across the Civil Service.

The campaign judges were looking for:

• evidence of how organisations have supported the disability confidence campaign
• confirmation of their pledge to the government as part of that campaign
• progress against achievement of that pledge

The Civil Service employs around 448,000 people, of which 8.6% have a declared disability. The diversity team led many cross-departmental initiatives which provide practical support to all employees. Examples include:

• new learning products including disability awareness and unconscious bias
• disability guidance for managers
• testing a disability passport to help disabled members of staff move between departments
• developing a positive action pathway programme helping disabled employees realise their full potential
• supporting online learning with face-to-face workshops
• creating modules to help managers understand and support colleagues with hidden disabilities

Mike Penning, Minister for Disabled People said:

I’m really pleased that we’ve had this chance to recognise the effort employers and their talent providers are making to improve opportunities for disabled people. It’s clear there is still some way to go, but I’d like to offer my personal congratulations to the winners for their actions in getting more disabled people into work.

Debbie Alder, HR Director General said:

I am delighted that the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Team has been recognised externally for their fantastic work in support of the Disability Confident Campaign.

Please support the campaign; share the Disability Confident campaign material with your employer contacts and encourage them to take a look at the Employer Portal to use the information and guidance it contains