Posted: Friday, 4th May 2012
GUIDANCE aimed at improving support for disabled staff and their line managers has been launched by the Organisation Development, Training & Diversity team.
The online guidance sets out clearly what support is available to disabled staff at the recruitment stage and right the way through their working life at MMU. A checklist for line managers provides clear guidelines on how to support staff who have a disability.
The guides cover a range of important issues and explain how to make applications for funding through Access to Work, how to go about making reasonable adjustments, give good practice tips on inclusive communication and language and give an explanation of relevant University policies.
Presented as an interactive on-line resource the guidance is split into the three main target groups: disabled candidates applying for jobs at MMU, current disabled staff and a checklist for line managers.
Encourage jobseekers
Mona Patel, equality & diversity officer said: “This is another fantastic step in the right direction. The comprehensive resource will provide a focal point for practical information on disability and hopefully encourage more disabled people to apply for jobs at MMU, as well as instil confidence in our disabled staff and demystify processes for their managers.”
The University’s Disabled Staff Forum and Diversity Champions collaborated with the team to develop the guides. Their input was invaluable in deciding what information to include and how it should be presented. In addition, they helped to identify which aspects of support need further development.
Amanda Wadsworth MBE, the North West Disability Champion from Jobcentre Plus, said: “It is evident that MMU is a disability-confident organisation, committed to the robust implementation of inclusive best practice with a pro-active approach to the engagement of disabled people; and are communicating effectively to promote this agenda”.
Find the new guidance at http://www.mmu.ac.uk/humanresources/equalities/disability/