Page 16 - WMPF Federation AUG-SEPT 2019_Neat

New policy

Reasonable Adjustment

Passports: supporting a

diverse workforce

he Force’s Reasonable Adjustment
Passport (RAP) has been re-launched as
T part of its first Workplace Adjustment
Policy.
The policy outlines the adjustments that
can be made for officers and staff with
disabilities or long-term conditions as well as
those with caring responsibilities and sets
out clearly the responsibilities of the Force,
line managers and the individuals involved.
It aims to provide awareness and
information about what a reasonable
adjustment is and sets out how to request
adjustment with flow charts illustrating the
process.
EnAble Disability and Carers’ Community
(EDCC), a Force staff association, is on a
mission to make Pictured are (left to right) Mick Braycotton (EnAble), Chief Constable Dave Thompson, Lillie
sure all staff are Abbot (EnAble chair), Zoe Miller, HR manager at Jaguar Land Rover, Gary Haywood (EnAble), Lee
aware of the new Bennet (EnAble), Trudy Gittins (EnAble) and Anthony Burnett, the Force’s head of diversity and
policy and the RAP inclusion. as the Force was awarded the highest level of Disability Confident status, ‘Leader’.
to make it easier for have long-term conditions not covered by the returning to work, a declaration, emergency
all those who have Equality Act such as the menopause.” contacts and a manager’s supplementary
agreed reasonable adjustments in place. The passport, which is a living document section.
“The passport provides a mechanism for and should be reviewed regularly, is part of While changes can be made to the RAP
staff to request a reasonable adjustment and the Force’s commitment to provide support, following a review, expert advice from third
also serves as a living record of any advice, guidance and signposting to officers parties, such as occupational health advisers,
adjustments that have been agreed between and staff and aims to increase staff Access to Work or IT specialists will be sought
them and their line manager,” explains Trudy confidence in the workplace which, in turn, before these will be agreed and put in place.
Gittins, investigative team training supervisor results in increased job satisfaction, better EnAble is hearing many positive stories
from Organisational Learning and quality of service, public confidence and a from staff who have an RAP in place, with
Development, deputy chair of EnAble and a stronger community. many of the adjustments put in place having
West Midlands Police Federation workplace The passport has six parts covering the no cost at all to the Force.
representative. employee’s wellness at work, absence, “It can be as simple as flexing a shift or
“They can then take the passport with
them if they move around the Force or
change line manager, guaranteeing ‘Normal day-to-day activities’ is
continuity of any arrangements. It removes Disability facts defined as something you do regularly in a
the need for further explanation or re- People are disabled under the provisions of normal day. This includes things like using
negotiation of adjustments in the future. the Equality Act 2010 if they have a a computer, working set times or
Staff also have the opportunity to review and physical or mental impairment that has a interacting with people.
reassess their needs on a yearly basis or ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect
sooner if the needs arises, with their line on their ability to do normal day-to-day Carers’ facts
manager, ensuring their needs are being met. activities. If you’re looking after someone who is
“For line managers, it ensures they are ‘Substantial’ is more than minor or elderly or disabled, the law will protect you
providing the support that is legally required trivial, for example, it takes much longer against direct discrimination or
and puts a process in place for increasing than it usually would to complete a daily harassment because of your caring
support and understanding of staff, reducing task like getting dressed responsibilities. This is because you’re
the likelihood of mental illness, improving ‘Long-term’ means 12 months or more, counted as being ‘associated’ with
staff retention, general productivity and job perhaps a breathing condition that someone who is protected by the law
satisfaction. The RAP also covers carers’ develops as a result of a lung infection because of their age or disability
needs within the organisation and staff who

16 federation August/September 2019 www.polfed.org/westmids