Placement related disability disclosure, careers support and project outline

1. Placement related disability disclosure, careers support and project outline • Ruth Holland Senior Careers Adviser with thanks to: Margaret Burke, Senior Disability Adviser (Deaf Students) m.burke@shu.ac.uk x4778

2. Seminar objectives: Share ideas on good practice and explore issues, invite case study sharing Raise awareness of aims of Margaret Burke's current placement/disability disclosure project Provide information to about Careers and Employment Service support for disabled students Summarise/signpost to 'Access to Work' funding

3. Suggested hypothesis: Disabled students are not getting, staying in and succeeding in placements as much as their none-disabled peers. University staff need therefore to positively encourage and support them to proactively plan and negotiate appropriate support so that placements are more likely to be a positive learning experience and enhancement to their employability.

4. Do you agree - if so how might this be implemented in your area? • "Ideally, individual Placement Learning Statements should be drawn up for each disabled student listing the potential effects of their disability on placement and the reasonable adjustments suggested for the student to then discuss and agree with their employer/ • placement mentor."

5. Margaret Burke's current Placement Project Aims: Encourage early disclosure and, through discussion, enable reasonable adjustments in the placement workplace to be implemented thus helping to prevent discrimination and ensuring that any negative impacts of disability on placement are eliminated as far as possible. x5 Target actions: 1. Faculties to deliver all inclusive presentations about disability and disclosure to make all students aware of the support that is available and hopefully target students who have not yet disclosed to think about the possible impacts of their disability on placement

6. Margaret Burke's Project targets... • 2. Information about Access to Work given specifically to disabled students • 3. Disability Disclosure documents to be available for all students in all Faculties. ACES, SBS, D&S and non-health sections of HWB may use the same booklet (see latest D&S version). HWB health areas have their own specialist version. • 4. All students with LCs to be invited to a meeting with their placement SSOs or Dis Co-ord (HWB Health) to discuss how their disability might affect them on placement and to decide upon any reasonable adjustments that might be required. • 5. DSS will produce disability awareness leaflets for employers which can be used as a discussion aid during these meetings and for the students to give to their employers should they wish.

7. What can/should all our students expect (if an inclusive model) as part of placement preparation? • Invitation/prompts to disclose any type or level of disability at any point variety during their university journey. • Information on disclosure process and AtW funding if applicable • Easily accessible support e.g. interview arranged for compiling Placement Learning Agreement (or similar) • 1:1 support throughout placement search and recruitment process • Access to free resource materials to share with employers on Equality Act, reasonable adjustments, AtW etc.

8. Examples of 'reasonable adjustments' • doing things another way e.g. allowing someone with • social anxiety disorder to have their own desk instead of hot-desking • making physical changes e.g. installing a ramp for a wheelchair user or an audio-visual fire alarm for a deaf person • letting a disabled person work somewhere elsee.g. on the ground floor for a wheelchair user • changing their equipment e.g. providing a special keyboard if they have arthritis • allowing employees who become disabled to make a phased return to worke.g. working flexible hours or part-time • offering employees training opportunities, recreation and refreshment facilities

9. Access to Work • https://www.gov.uk/ • access-to-work/overview • a Government funded grant to: • help employ and retain disabled staff • offer advice • help with the additional costs of employing a disabled person • for PAID PLACEMENTS (can be part-time) ONLY

10. AtW contact details (self referral process) Operational Support UnitHarrow Jobcentre Plus, Mail Handling Site A Wolverhampton WV98 1JE Email: atwosu.london@dwp.gsi.gov.ukTelephone: 0345 268 8489 Textphone: 0345 608 8753

11. 2011 Government commissioned Liz Sayceindependent review of employment support for disabled people. She highlighted the effectiveness of Access to Work (AtW) but found a lack of awareness about the programme, particularly amongst smaller employers and people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities. Recommended DWP: “transform [AtW] from Government’s best-kept secret to a recognised passport to successful employment”. Source:http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/inquiries/parliament-2010/access-to-work/

12. Specialist Careers and Employment Support for disabled students • Ruth Holland offers individual appointments Mon & Weds 11-11.45am in Careers Centre. • 2 booklets (see copies) on our support and on Disclosure • Workshops - book via shuspace> Employability tab • Agcasvideo 'Get That Job' • http://catalogue.shu.ac.uk/record=b1785797~S11a • Film aiming to support the transition of disabled students and graduates • into employment. Features disabled graduates, employers and • an adviser addressing a range of topics.

13. Thank you - contact/comments to: Ruth Holland Senior Careers Adviser – Health and Wellbeing Faculty Link Careers and Employment Service 0114 225 2731 R.Holland@shu.ac.uk LinkedIN www.shu.careers. http://Twitter.com/Shu_GradJobs • Margaret Burke • Senior Disability Adviser (Deaf Students) • m.burke@shu.ac.uk • 0114 225 4778