DISABILITY AWARENESS

As part of its approach to equal opportunities, the Trust has become a Disability Symbol User.

The Disability Symbol is logo consisting of two ticks surrounded by the legend `Positive About Disabled People`.  The Trust will display this logo in advertisements, internal publications and letterheads to demonstrate the priority we place on helping staff and job applicants to perform to their full potential.  This is in line with the Trust's commitment to Investors in People and Planning Personal Performance.

To qualify, the Trust has made 5 promises:

1 to interview all applicants with a disability who meet the criteria for a job vacancy and consider them on their abilities (managers & Personnel to ensure during shortlisting);

2 to ask disabled employees at least once a year what we can do to make sure they can develop and use their abilities at work (managers to ensure during PPP)*;

3 to make every effort when employees become disabled to make sure they stay in employment (managers, Occupational Health and Personnel to ensure on a case by case basis);

4 to take action to ensure that key employees develop the awareness of disability needed to make the commitments work (through Team Briefing, Trust Facts, training and the Employment Law Bulletin);

5 each year to review these commitments and what has been achieved, plan ways to improve on them and let all employees know about progress and future plans (Equal Opportunities Steering Group to include in annual action plans).

The Disability Employment Adviser based at the local job centre provides support, advice and, in certain circumstances, financial grants for aids and adaptions.

* This benefit applies to all staff, not only those with a disability.

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