WARRINGTON Disability Partnership (WDP) has become the first Level 3 Disability Confident employer in the town and is now looking to help other businesses become “disability confident.”
Achieving Level 3 of the Department of Work and Pensions standard means that WDP is recognised as a Disability Confident Leader, acting as a champion within its local and business communities. WDP is the first Warrington based business or organisation to gain this status.
Dave Thompson, Chief Executive at WDP said: “WDP is committed to being an Equal Opportunities organisation and we strive to create an inclusive and diverse workplace. More than 85% of our staff have a disability or long-term health condition and we see the benefits of peer support for our staff, volunteers and service users on a daily basis. We’re proud to be a member of the Disability Confident Scheme and to be recognised as a Disability Confident Employer Level 3. WDP is committed to challenging attitudes towards disability, and to removing barriers to disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.”
WDP demonstrated its commitment to being a Disability Confident Leader by working in partnership with senior management at Warrington Job Centre to launch the ‘Warrington Disability Confident Employer Network’. With more than 30 members already this network supports business to gain Disability Confident status and WDP has mentored a large number of businesses and organisations to achieve Level 2 status as a ‘Disability Confident Employer, including Warrington Borough Council.
WDP’s aim is to assist more local businesses to sign-up as being committed to working towards becoming a Disability Confident Employer by offering bespoke Disability Confident Training and Mentoring Support. It is important that, by example, we show how recruitment practices and core training offers can be improved through continuous review. We will help businesses develop flexible working policies and set minimum criteria for interviewing candidates and providing feedback to all who aren’t successful.
As a Disability Confident Leader, WDP will help employers recruit and retain great people and draw from the widest possible pool of talent, secure high-quality staff who are skilled, loyal and hard-working and improve employee morale and commitment by demonstrating that all employees are treated fairly.
Dave added, “We are currently delivering training and support to some of Warrington’s largest employers including United Utilities, Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, North West Boroughs NHS Foundation Trust and Spire Healthcare. We would welcome enquiries from other employers.
To find out more about how WDP can support your business to become ‘Disability Confident’ email : [email protected]
