Disability Confident status a first
North Lanarkshire Council has become the first local authority in Scotland to achieve Disability Confident Leader status.
The council achieved the prestigious recognition for actively looking to attract and recruit disabled people and providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process.
Minister for Disabled People, Work and Health, Penny Mordaunt, said: “It’s great that North Lanarkshire Council have signed up to be Disability Confident. Being Disability Confident means breaking down the barriers which for too long have held disabled people back, and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to succeed in life.
“Over the last three years nearly 600,000 disabled people have entered work, but there is more to do to halve the disability employment gap.”
Disability Confident is the new standard which replaces the Double Tick initiative and aims to help employers successfully employ and retain disabled people and those with health conditions.
Pauline McCafferty, Learning & Development Manager with North Lanarkshire Council explained:“We offer a variety of work trials, work placements and apprenticeships and offer suitable development opportunities for disabled employees. We have had the self-assessment externally challenged to validate our commitment.”