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Press Release
14 May 2007
Disability Award for Department for International Development
Reassurance for people with disabilities who want to work in DFID
The
Department for International Development (DFID) has been awarded the Jobcentre
Plus disability symbol in recognition of its commitment to people with
disabilities.
The award acknowledges DFID’s effective policy towards the recruitment,
retention and career development of employees with disabilities.
Richard Montgomery Head of Corporate Human Resource Department, accepted the award on behalf of DFID. He said:
“We are delighted to receive this award today. The Department for International Development is fully committed to providing employment opportunities for all. Candidates applying for employment with us are judged on their skills and abilities - disability or health issues need not be a barrier. This is reflected in our recently published Disability Equality Scheme. We would encourage other employers to adopt the same principles.”
Presenting the award on behalf of Jobcentre Plus, David Collie, district
manager for Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire, said:
“This is a great achievement for the Department for International Development. It is important that potential employees are given an equal chance in the workplace and have the opportunity to prove their ability and skills regardless of their circumstances. Organisations are now starting to recognise the benefits of employing a diverse workforce and we hope that this award to DFID will help to show other employers that they too can adopt these high standards.”
The presentation took place on 26 April at DFID’s Abercrombie House office in East Kilbride. It was attended by staff from DFID and the Department of Work and Pensions.
Notes for editors
i) The disability ‘Two-Ticks Scheme’ places a commitment on employers to adopt a positive approach towards the employment of disabled people. The five criteria for being awarded the symbol are:
1. to interview all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the job vacancy and consider them on their disabilities
2. to ensure there is a mechanism in place to discuss, at any time, but at least once a year, with disabled employees what both parties can do to ensure they can develop and use their abilities
3. to make every effort when employees become disabled to make sure they stay in employment
4. to take action to ensure that all employees develop the appropriate level of disability awareness needed to make these commitments work
5. to review these commitments annually and plan ways to improve on them.
ii) The disability symbol has also been awarded to a number of other government departments, including: Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Department for Education and Skills, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Transport, Department of Health, Department for Trade and Industry and the Foreign Office.
iii) DFID's Disability Equality Scheme is about helping to achieve better outcomes for disabled people. The scheme and its action plan set out where DFID is in the area of disability equality and where the department wants to be. It looks at how to close the gaps in results and experiences for disabled people compared with non-disabled people.
For information please contact:
For media enquiries: Nicolette Stoddart, Department for International Development on 020 7023 1792 or 020 7023 0600, e-mail pressoffice@dfid.gov.uk or call our Public Enquiries Point on 0845 300 4100.
For further information on the disability symbol please contact Brendan Kelly, Jobcentre Plus, on 01698 483614, e-mail Brendan.Kelly@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk
