Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Part One of the National Disability Strategy, published July 2021, what recent steps her Department has taken to (a) encourage and support workplace disability networks, (b) achieve and maintain the highest level of Disability Confident accreditation, (c) ensure responsive and timely support to meet workplace adjustment needs and (d) develop and embed flexible working.

a) ABLE is the Home Office’s disability related staff support network. Encouragement and support are provided through the Diversity & Inclusion Team, part of Human Resources. Recently this encouragement and support includes:

• Financial support, to make purchases in support of activities, such as British Sign Language Interpreters and Speech-To-Text Services.
• Facility time, to undertake activities and lead the network.
• Support from within the Diversity & Inclusion Team, in areas such as communications, business planning, and briefing and engaging senior leaders.
• Membership of Purple Space, a networking and professional development hub for disabled employees, network and resource group leaders.

ABLE form part of the Disability Champions Board and are empowered to represent and act as the voice for disabled colleagues across the Home Office. They play a key role as a critical friend offering constructive challenge to the department.

Recently Senior Officials supported ABLE as part of UK Disability History Month 2021 and International Day of People with Disabilities 2021. Our Permanent Secretary, 2^nd Permanent Secretary and our SCS level Home Office Disability Champion where amongst those who spoke with passion about this important topic.

b) The Home Office is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader Employer, the highest level of Disability Confident accreditation. This renewal accreditation was confirmed in March 2021. Our accreditation is valid for 3 years and recognises our work to date to create an empowering culture for colleagues with disabilities and/or long-term health conditions.

c) The Home Office’s Workplace Adjustments Guidance was updated in July 2021. The process for obtaining Workplace Adjustments includes internal online purchasing processes which allow digital hardware, digital software, furniture, and equipment to be purchased swiftly. The Workplace Adjustments Team form part of the Diversity & Inclusion Team within Human Resources, providing support and guidance to line managers and job holders, helping ensure compliance with the Equality Act.

d) We have recently updated our flexible working policy and publicised it to employees in support of the launch of our hybrid working approach. We provide guidance to managers on the use of workplace adjustments, which may include the use of flexible working arrangements where this best meets the needs of a disabled employee.