Disability Support Network – Calibre Awards Story - July 2024

Meeting: Public Meeting

Date: 10 July 2024

Report Title: Disability Support Network – Calibre Awards story

Agenda Item: PUB24/07/5.1

Author: Dean Nock – EOC Retention, Health and Wellbeing Lead

Lead director: Dr Hein Scheffer – Director of Strategy, Culture and Education

Purpose: Information Noting

Link to CQC domain:

• Effective
• Well-led

Link to Strategic Objective:

• Be an exceptional place to work, volunteer and learn

Link to Strategic Risk:

• SR1a: If we do not ensure our people are safe and their wellbeing prioritised, there is a risk that we will be unable to attract, retain and keep all our people safe and well.
• SR1b: If we do not ensure our leaders are developed and equipped, there is a risk that we will not be able to change our culture, and value, support, develop and grow our people.

Equality Impact Assessment: No negative impact identified.

Previously considered by: People Committee on 12 March 2024

Recommendation: The Board is asked to note the areas of improvement within the Trust in employing and supporting neuro-divergent staff.

Purpose: To hear from Dean Nock, as he presents his Calibre Award presentation and suggests notable areas of improvement within the Trust as well as innovative ways to appoint more people with neuro-diversity in the future.

Executive summary: Dean Nock, a Calibre Award winner living with dyslexia and mental health issues, attended People Committee on 12 March 2024. He explained some of the barriers that people face when applying for roles at EEAST. The Trust has increased the number of employees with disabilities from 5.7% to 12.9% of the staff population. Dean commented that reasonable adjustments were not enough; managers must give neuro-diversity support when appointing into roles. With this support, we have seen an increase in appointments.

Linked into the work undertaken by Justin Honey-Jones, another Calibre Award winner, EEAST is the first Trust in the UK to have achieved the bronze British Dyslexia Association award and are on track in obtaining silver and then gold. Since being on Calibre, Dean has been promoted into a new role (EOC Retention, Health and Wellbeing Lead) and started an apprenticeship in Healthcare Management degree in April 2024.

Introduction / Background: On 12 October 2023, members of team EEAST came together at the Waterfront Hotel, Wyboston Lakes Resort to celebrate colleagues who have identified with a disability with EEAST and have completed the Calibre Programme. Family, friends and colleagues gathered to applaud the Calibre graduates as they received their certificates.

The event was organised to recognise and celebrate those who have completed the Calibre Leadership Programme, a unique course for people working in the NHS, higher education and the wider public sector. The talent development and leadership programme is designed for those who identify as neuro-diverse or disabled, or who have a long-term physical or mental health condition.

The programme has been developed and is delivered by Dr Ossie Stuart, an international disability consultant and academic. The Calibre programme has been designed to transform how disabled staff think about themselves and their disability, and to show them how to take control of the discussion in a constructive way. Dr Ossie Stuart took the floor to talk about the importance of the Calibre programme for the students and their organisations alike.

Organised by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team and the Communications and Engagement team, the day was filled with important discussions and further aspirations to make EEAST an inclusive workplace for all It was a celebration of our colleagues whose accomplishment will shape their future and impact EEAST positively, a commitment shared by the attendees.

Summary: Employing more neuro-divergent staff within the Trust is significantly improving, but more activity is required to better understand the continued impact this has on the employment of staff as well as staff progression within the organisation.