Job Purpose
Deliver service excellence within priority areas of the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda across the University, aligned to our values and enabling our strategic ambitions through promotion of an inclusive working environment where all staff can develop and contribute to their full potential. Develop and implement an excellent service for Disabled colleagues providing specialist advice and guidance for managers, business partners and colleagues.
This role will act as first point of contact for colleagues and managers seeking information, guidance, advice and support on disability in the workplace. The role will work in partnership with POD teams, Occupational Health and the Disability Champion. The post holder will implement operational processes for delivering employee disability service and provide central adjustments support service for Disabled colleagues. They will advise, support and inform policy development, and promote understanding of disability equality across the University.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. Act as first point of contact for staff seeking information about disability in the workplace. Ensure that staff with a disability and their managers have appropriate support and advice. This includes support for recruiting managers and prospective employees during the recruitment process.
2. Conduct high quality needs assessment including review of colleague’s support needs, identification of appropriate support strategies, arranging demonstration and trial of equipment/software and ensuring clear communication and management of follow up actions.
3. Work with Disabled colleagues, their managers and People and Organisational Business Partners to put in place reasonable adjustments and support referrals, as required, for specialist assessments with internal or external services, such as Occupational Health, Estates and Commercial Services and Access to Work.
4. Write accurate and detailed needs assessment reports, tailored to the individual and their specific needs, providing rationale for recommendations and obtaining quotes as needed.
5. Responsible for deploying resources and managing devolved budget for procurement of any required equipment and/or service resulting from the needs assessment/Access to Work report, including claiming back Access to Work funding.
6. Provide expert advice, guidance and training to colleagues, managers and other stakeholders in relation to a wide range of disabilities, including physical disabilities, mental health conditions, social and communication disabilities and specific learning disabilities.
7. Perform detailed manipulation and analysis of data relating to Disabled colleagues to inform continuous improvement. Advise on or establish systems to monitor services and practices as required.
8. Contribute to the development of policy, practice and guidance relating to disability, equality, diversity and inclusion, including any external accreditation and/or benchmarking.
9. Maintain up to date knowledge of relevant legal developments and best practice, across the HE sector.
10. Organise and support engagement work by the University to raise awareness of disability inclusion for colleagues and students.
11. Contribute to wider equality, diversity and inclusion work in the University and undertake other projects and responsibilities, as allocated from time to time.
Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential:
A1 Scottish Credit & Qualification Framework Level 8 (HND, SVQ4) or equivalent and experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s) OR Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills through personal development and progression in a similar role(s).
A2 Understanding of and commitment to promoting equality and inclusion for people with disabilities.
A3 Knowledge of Access to Work.
A4 Knowledge of relevant legislation relating to disability, equality and GDPR. A5 Knowledge of implementing reasonable adjustments in a workplace, including Access to Work.
Desirable:
B1 Membership of appropriate professional organisation (e.g CIPD, NADP).
B2 Knowledge of Higher Education or Further Education sector.
Skills
Essential:
C1 Ability to work sensitively with Disabled colleagues in assessing their needs in relation to fulfilling their job role.
C2 Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write clearly in a range of documents. This includes making adjustment recommendations for individuals and drafting guidance and policy.
C3 Demonstrable skills in liaison and influencing colleagues at all levels, including the ability to reach agreement with all relevant stakeholders on individual cases, policies and processes.
C4 Self motivated and ability to work autonomously whilst also contributing to a team. C5 Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to gain understanding of the needs of Disabled colleagues, their job requirements and employment context, in order to identify reasonable adjustments.
C6 Excellent time management skills and ability to adhere to strict deadlines.
C7 IT literacy in Microsoft Office and the experience of working with online databases and records system.
C8 Ability to work flexibly to meet service needs.
Experience
Essential:
E1 3 years’ experience developing and delivering equality initiatives/ projects (or equivalent) including working with people with a disability, providing advice and identifying reasonable adjustments, or equivalent.
E2 Experience of working with stakeholders to ensure the implementation of support for disabled people.
E3 Experience of working with external agencies operating in the field of disability.
Desirable:
E4 Experience of promoting staff engagement and promoting culture change.
E5 Experience of delivering disability awareness training.
Terms and Conditions
Salary will be Grade 6, £33,232 - £36,924 per annum pro rata.
This post is part-time (30 hours per week), and open ended (permanent).
As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.
3 A flexible approach to working.
4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.
We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.
We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.
We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.
