08.10.15
NHS England launches ‘pledge’ to employ more staff with learning disabilities
NHS England and NHS Employers are encouraging local NHS organisations, from hospital trusts to national bodies, to sign up to a new ‘pledge’ to employ more staff with learning disabilities.
The pledge was launched and opened for signatures at a workshop event held in Bristol for employers yesterday (7 October).
It is divided into three steps to which employers should pledge individually:
- Commitment: Organisations are asked to confirm their Two Ticks accreditation (given by Jobcentre Plus to employers who commit to taking positive action to encourage applications from people with disabilities) and pledge their further commitment to employing more people with learning disabilities.
- Ready: By pledging to step two, employers need to have created an action plan to employ more people with learning disabilities.
- Success: By pledging to step three, employers need to confirm that they are employing more people with learning disabilities, and to sharing their success stories. Source: NHS England
The NHS Learning Disability Employment Programme, also a joint effort between NHS England and NHS Employers, was launched in June during the Learning Disability Week.
It put forward a ‘national network’ to provide advice, ideas and impetus to all NHS organisations seeking to make their workforce more representative of the communities they serve, as well as accelerate employment.
More than 50 major employers registered their interest so far, a number NHS England hopes will rise with the new pledge system.
The pledge is backed by guidance launched in September that outlines how to open up “meaningful jobs” to staff with learning disabilities. It also underlines the benefits of doing so to employers – including savings associated with reduced employee turnover, accessing a bigger talent pool and nurturing an inclusive and accessible organisation.
Yesterday’s event in Bristol will be followed by a similar one in Manchester on 25 November and another in London on 9 December.
The pledge comes on the same day as new NICE guidance to improve the “fragmented” management and quality of care towards those with learning disabilities.
It is based on research showing that services for people with learning disabilities and ‘behaviour that challenges’ were “fragmented and at times ineffective and unresponsive to family needs, sometimes to the point of being abusive”.
The new quality standard includes eight statements set to tackle the insufficient support and care for them within healthcare organisations.
These include recommendations that people with learning disabilities should have an annual health assessment from their GP, as well as an initial assessment to identify possible triggers and mental factors.
They should also have a designated person responsible for coordinating a behaviour support plan, and should steer clear from anti-psychotic medication unless it is part of a treatment that includes psychosocial intervention.