Progress note for Disability Equality Scheme: December 2007
Our Disability Equality Scheme and action plans were produced in 2006. The scheme sets out the ways in which we intend to remove the barriers faced by disabled people in order to create a working environment which promotes inclusiveness and equality.
By involving disabled people in the production of our scheme we identified six core strategic priorities for the next three years:
- Accessibility and the built environment
- Employment
- Involving disabled people
- Communication
- Training
- Corporate Service Delivery
A working group has been set up to monitor progress on the Disability Equality Scheme. The working group meets quarterly and includes members:
Janet Angus, Director on financial audit
Richard Copeman, Audit Manager on financial audit
Ken Foreman, Audit Principal on value for money audit
Noveed Ahmed, Audit Principal on financial audit
Stephen Luxford, Senior Executive Officer on business development area
Daisy Hodgson, Analyst on value for money audit
Matt Cole, Executive Officer on international technical co-operation
Jill Morris, Diversity Manager
The key areas the scheme has focussed on this year were accessibility and employment. Highlights from this year include:
- Obtained the Disability Two ticks accreditation
- Introduced the process of Equality Impact Assessments for each of our corporate services functions
- Met with representatives from the Workspace project to agree priorities and to look at disability issues in the refurbishment
- Met with representatives from Facilities and ITRC to discuss move to new building during refurbishment and the priorities for staff with disabilities
- Ran an advert in Able magazine and case study of a trainee’s experience at the NAO
- Held the second internship for three disabled undergraduates in July 2007 for eight weeks. All three interns expressed an interest in applying to the NAO graduate scheme upon graduation.
- Monitored disability recruitment, promotion and leavers information. In 2006-2007, 2.6 per cent of graduate new entrants had a declared disability down from 7 per cent in 2005-2006. Three per cent of non- graduate posts were filled with an applicant declaring a disability, up from 1 per cent in 2005-2006. Overall, seven disabled applicants joined the NAO in 2006-07.
The action plan outlines in further detail the progress made against the Disability Equality Scheme for 2007.
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