UK Disability Month: Accredited in Support of You
UK Disability Month: Accredited in Support of You
Awards and Accreditations are more than just a tick box to NCH&C, they are a symbol that show we understand our responsibility to support and represent our community. They show we are listening to staff and that we will go the extra mile to complete and improve the processes that impact an improved staff experience.
As Norfolk grows in its diversity and our staff become more confident in sharing diversity data such as your diverse abilities, the trust continues to put initiatives in place to support you.
In 2022 the trust became a member of The Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion, otherwise known as enei, a not-for-profit membership organisation that is further enabling the trust to become the most inclusive organisation it can be for its people, including for those that identify as disabled, neurodivergent or as a carer.
NCH&C along with all NHS trusts across England participate in the National NHS Staff Survey annually which ranks us on staff experience across a variety of metrics such as Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES). In a similar way, enei encourages its members to particate in the annual Talent for Inclusion and Diversity Evaluation (TiDE) assessment. NCH&C completed the TiDE assessment recently, to measure what we have achieved in the past year since becoming an enei member. We proudly received a Silver TiDE award achieving 82% overall for trust practices across nine specific areas which included: Workforce, Leadership and Accountability, Strategic Development and Planning, Recruitment and Attraction, Communication and Staff Engagement, Learning and Development, Procurement, and other practices. The assessment also benchmarked us against other employers across all sectors. This process was robust, and the trust couldn’t have been more delighted to attend and celebrate at the virtual awards ceremony held in October, represented by Mercy Kaggwa, EDI Advisor and former CEO, Stephen Colman.
All NCH&C staff have access to enei resources by registering on the enei website using your NHS work email address.
Alongside enei, the trust is also affiliated with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower organisation which provides the trust with resources that support staff who live with hidden and *non-visible disabilities and long-term health conditions to feel seen in the disability community.
During Inclusion Week 2022, and in summer 2023, the trust achieved the Carers Friendly Tick Award for Employers and Health respectively, taking our understanding about what disability looks like further in support those how carry out unpaid carer work that would otherwise impact the NHS by a further £160 billion annually. Our expert healthcare professionals continue to need our support by raising awareness, and robust polices, such as the trust Staff Carers Policy which includes carers leave.
The trust has been a Disability Confident Leader for three years and is currently going through the process of revalidation. A process that allows us to see what more we have implemented and achieved to ensure that we continue to deserve the status of “Leader”.
Disability looks different from one person to the next: whether neurodiverse, living with mental health unwellness, a long-term health condition or anything else. We are working to ensure that staff can access the support that you need to be successful in your role.
*The term ‘invisible’ disability is deemed a microaggression and those with hidden disabilities unseen. To find out more about inclusive terminology read the We Care Inclusive Terminology Glossary on the We Care website.