Improving Working Lives

Our accreditation for the Improving Working Lives award is evidence we support a higher standard of working life for our people.

The Improving Working Lives (IWL) Standard is a blueprint by which NHS employers and staff can measure the management of human resources. After we achieved Practice Stage in 2003, we carried on making improvements, and this work was recognised at the end of 2006 when we were awarded Practice Plus status.

We continue to work on our strategy to improve the working lives of our staff, through our policies on training and development, equality and diversity, staff communication, flexible working, staff benefits and the promotion of a healthy workplace.

Click here for more information on IWL.

Positive about Disabled People

Our commitment to improving the lives of our workforce has also been recognised by the Employment Service, who have awarded us ‘Two Ticks’ status.

This award acknowledges our commitments regarding the employment, retention, training and career development of disabled people. These commitments ensure that all of our disabled people are supported and treated fairly at every stage of their selection and employment.

As a ‘Two Ticks’ employer, we pledge to take action on these five commitments:

• to interview all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy and consider them on their abilities
• to ensure there is a mechanism in place to discuss, at any time, but at least once a year, with disabled employees what we as an employer and they as employees can do to ensure professional development, using their abilities
• to make every effort when employees become disabled to make sure they stay in employment
• to take action to ensure that all employees develop the appropriate level of disability awareness needed to make these commitments work
• each year, to review the five commitments and what has been achieved, to plan ways to improve on them and let employees and the Employment Service know about progress and future plans

Click here for more information on the Positive About Disabled People Award

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