The Prison Service is a Disability Symbol user. This was introduced by the Employment Service as a way in which employers can demonstrate that they are serious about achieving equality of opportunity for people with disabilities. A review of the Prison Service membership of the GIS is currently underway.
Any employer who becomes a symbol user must make five specific commitments to all people with disabilities. The commitments are monitored by Jobcentre Plus.
These commitments are:
- "to interview all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy and consider them on their abilities";
- "to ask disabled employees at least once a year what you can do to make sure they can develop and use their abilities at work";
- "to make every effort when employees become disabled to make sure that they stay in employment";
- "to take action to ensure that key employees develop the awareness of disability needed to make the commitment work";
- "each year, to review the commitments and what has been achieved, plan ways to improve on them and let all employees know about progress and future plans".
Why did the Prison Service Become a Symbol User?
Using the symbol helps us to demonstrate that the Prison Service is serious about ensuring employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Job applicants and existing staff will be judged on the basis of their abilities rather than on stereotypical assumptions.
By encouraging people with disabilities to apply for posts in the Service we hope to achieve a more representative proportion of people with disabilities in the work force.
By ensuring that people with disabilities are given opportunities for development we can make sure that disabled staff have the same opportunities as non-disabled staff to make the best use of their abilities.
By making every effort to retain staff with disabilities we can make sure that we do not lose valuable experience and expertise unnecessarily.
For information and advice about how GIS Work see chapter 6 of PSO 8010.
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