Making reasonable adjustments to support disabled staff in their roles

Whilst it is important to consider the legal context, putting in place some simple adjustments can have a positive impact on the wellbeing, experience and performance of the workforce.

Workplace adjustments can make an organisation a more attractive place to work and can contribute to the development of inclusive working environments and cultures by: 

• Helping disabled staff to feel more valued and supported in their work and in working towards their career aspirations.
• Improving employee engagement and staff experience, which in turn will increase staff retention.
• Providing higher levels of productivity and reducing levels of sickness absence.
• Reducing levels of harassment, bullying and abuse (disabled staff experience greater levels compared to non-disabled staff).
• Increasing understanding amongst senior leaders, managers and colleagues about disability equality and inclusion in the workplace, which in turn, will help improve patient care and outcomes.

• How effective the change will be in removing, reducing or preventing the disadvantage (what someone may otherwise experience if the adjustment was not to be made).
• The practicality of making the adjustment.
• The cost of the adjustment.
• The employer’s resources and size.
• The availability of financial support.

As no two employers are the same, what may be reasonable for one employer, may not be for another. Regardless of these differences, the ultimate aim is to remove or reduce any substantial disadvantage that a disabled person may experience in recruitment or within the workplace.

The cost should be factored into decisions as to whether an adjustment is reasonable or not. Most reasonable adjustments cost less than £100, whilst many will cost nothing at all, and simply require a change to a process or a policy.

Where costs are higher, assistance is available through the Access to Work scheme, which reimburses the costs of equipment, adaptations or support worker services. Organisations should familiarise themselves with the scheme and the benefits it can bring to both the employee and the organisation.

Organisations should ensure they provide clear guidance and have a comprehensive and practical reasonable adjustments policy which outlines processes, the support available and the role of different functions such as HR, occupational health and IT.

Many organisations have policies in place, some specific to reasonable adjustments and some linked to absence or wellbeing policies, see the following examples: 

• Lincolnshire Community Health – Special Leave Policy (pdf) 
• Trades Union Congress – Reasonable adjustments model disability passport policy (pdf) and model workplace policy (pdf)

Employers may want to consider introducing a disability or health passport which allows individuals to easily record information about their condition, any reasonable adjustments they may have in place and any difficulties they face.

The passport helps to ensure there is a clear record and can be used with new line managers to explain what is needed in the workplace to help them carry out their role.

It's also worthwhile using the support that your local occupational health team can offer to help improve staff wellbeing within your organisation.

We have produced a suite of videos detailing individual stories of NHS staff who have received workplace support that has enabled them to thrive in their roles: 

• Paul Belk - a payroll officer at Northumbria Healthcare and a wheelchair user with a neurological condition.
• Haseeb Ahmad - a diversity and inclusion lead at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and has a visual impairment.
• Naomi Harris - an occupational therapist at East London Healthcare Foundation Trust and has dyslexia.
• Emma Wood – a deputy CEO and director of people at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and has a hidden disability.

In addition:

• Guys and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust highlight in a video how they have supported Tamara, a nurse who has dyslexia.
• Patients Voices share digital stories from staff which highlight how reasonable adjustments have made a difference to their working lives.

NHS Employers resources       

• A Health Passport which allows individuals to easily record information about their condition, any reasonable adjustments they may have in place and any difficulties they face. 
• 30 second guide to reasonable adjustments from the NHS Employers ‘Everything You Need To Know About Sickness Absence’ guide.
• Employers guide to supported employment produced by the National Development Team for Inclusion. 
• A Learning Disability Employment Programme webinar which provides practical support to those involved in the recruitment and retention of staff with disabilities.

Webinar recordings

• Managing reasonable adjustments in the workplace
• Managing disability related absence
• Improving disability declaration rates
• The role of senior leaders in supporting workforce disability
• Recruiting and retaining staff with disabilities - manager responsibilities
• Developing WDES annual reports and action plans

Other organisations that can provide support

• ACAS provides helpful information on reasonable adjustments.
• Access to Work offer employers assistance by reimbursing the cost of equipment, adaptations or support worker services.
• The Equality and Human Rights Commission provide an explanation of what a reasonable adjustment is in a video, along with practical examples and a guide to employment workplace adjustments.
• The Government has provided guidance on reasonable adjustments for workers with disabilities or health conditions.
• Disability Confident share examples of where reasonable adjustments have supported Disabled staff in work.
• Remploy provide a wealth of guidance around supporting disability in the workplace.
• Disability Rights UK  provide  lots of practical guidance, including a summary of the Access to Work scheme.