The University’s approach to supporting staff with health conditions or impairments (.pdf) sets out how we support prospective, new and existing staff with health conditions or impairments, both physical and mental.
People and Culture developed this document in collaboration with members of the Essex Access Forum, staff with health conditions or impairments themselves and staff who have caring responsibilities for someone with a health condition or impairment.
It is a resource for prospective, new and existing staff with health conditions or impairments, for those with management responsibilities for staff with health conditions or impairments and for colleagues of staff with health conditions or impairments. This resource can help you find out more about:
- Applying for an interview and the interview process
- Disability Confident Scheme
- Disclosing a health condition or impairment
- Reasonable adjustments
- Managing staff with health conditions or impairments
- Support and networks
- Resources and information
The way in which the University supports staff with health conditions or impairments is based on five key principles:
- Creating inclusive environments: we will create environments that normalise health conditions or impairments and reduce the need for staff with a health condition or impairment to ask for specific adjustments
- Going beyond legislative requirements: where workplace adjustments are required, we will consider the needs of all staff with health conditions or impairments regardless of whether they come under the Equality Act 2010 definition of disability or have a diagnosis
- Respecting confidentiality: An individual’s health condition or impairment, and the implications if it impacts on the way in which they engage with work, will be shared on a need-to-know basis and in line with the person’s wishes
- Knowledge building: we will build knowledge amongst our community of how to realise the potential of people with a health condition or impairment and avoid making assumptions through training and awareness-raising activities
- Offering maximum flexibility: we will be as flexible as possible in facilitating continued engagement with work for staff with health conditions or impairments, including those that are progressive and/or can fluctuate