Why is Disability Confidence Important for your Business?
As a recognised Disability Confident Leader, we are proud to play a vital role in advancing disability inclusion across workplaces. Our status enables us to act as an external validator, offering organisations expert support to independently review and validate their Disability Confident self-assessments. Through this process, we help ensure that commitments to accessibility, inclusivity, and fair employment practices are not only met but meaningfully upheld, strengthening the integrity of the Disability Confident scheme and fostering real change
23% of working age adults in the UK have a disability or long-term health condition and Disability confidence is vital for businesses for several key reasons.
Those organisations that do employ a diverse workforce (including people with disabilities) enjoy greater creativity, better problem solving, ability to reach more customers, higher employee engagement and retention and ultimately profitability.
Organisations that set themselves up today as a disability confident employer will be in a great position to support employees of the future.
We believe that disability confidence (and a disability confident policy) has wider benefits for all. It’s about creating an inclusive work environment where everybody can thrive because you are in the business of removing barriers for employees. And it’s not just about people with disabilities today, it’s about your employees that could develop a disability in the future.
What is the Disability Confident Scheme?
Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with health conditions and has been developed by employers and disabled people’s representatives. The Disability Confident scheme has three levels that have been designed to support organisations:
This programme supports employers in recognising and welcoming the unique talents and perspectives that disabled individuals bring to the workplace.
Level One:
Disability Confident Committed
Level two:
Disability Confident Employer
Level Three:
Disability Confident
Leader
What are the aims of the Disability Confident Scheme?
Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with health conditions and has been developed by employers and disabled people’s representatives. The aims of the Disability Confident scheme are
- To engage and encourage employers to become more confident so they employ and retain disabled people.
- Increase understanding of disability and the benefits of employing or retaining disabled people
- Make a substantial contribution towards getting 1 million more disabled people into work by 2027.
What it takes to be a Disability Confident Leader:
Becoming a disability confident leader involves several key steps and commitments:
- Challenge: Have your self-assessment validated by an external party. This ensures that your practices and policies are effectively supporting disabled employees.
- Leadership: Demonstrate leadership by actively promoting disability confidence within your organisation and the wider community. This includes providing a narrative of your activities and initiatives that support disabled employees.
- Reporting: Commit to reporting on disability, mental health, and wellbeing in your workplace. This transparency helps track progress and identify areas for improvement.
- Inclusive Culture: Foster an inclusive culture where disabled employees feel valued and supported. This involves making reasonable adjustments and ensuring accessibility in all aspects of the workplace.
- Continuous Improvement: Regularly review and update your policies and practices to ensure they remain effective and inclusive. Engage with disabled employees to understand their needs and experiences.
How we can support you to become a Disability Confident Leader
At iDiversity Consulting, our Disability Confident validation process is designed to ensure that businesses are effectively supporting disabled employees and fostering an inclusive workplace. Here’s a brief overview of the process:
Self-Assessment:
You will start by completing a detailed self-assessment to evaluate your businesses current practices and identify areas for improvement. Prior to the validation process starting we are able to offer support and resources to help you on your journey.
Goal Setting:
Once you have submitted your self assessment form along with your supporting evidence, the evidence review will begin!
Evidence Review:
Throughout this process we examine the evidence provided in your self- assessment to ensure that your business is meeting all the core actions and effectively employing and supporting people with disabilities. We will be in regular contact with you to keep you up to date with how the validation in progressing.
Feedback & Improvement:
Based on the validation, you may be required to provide additional evidence or make further improvements to meet the Disability Confident standards. We will guide you through this, offering advice and support.
Certification:
Once the validation is successfully completed, the next step if for you to inform the Disability Confident Team of your Level 3 validation by completing the form on the Government website. You will also need to upload a short narrative or Leadership Statement at this point to complete your Disability Confident Leader validation.
