Disability inclusion resources for Desk-Free Workers 

The role of our Consultancy Service

We recognise that, from time to time, our Members and Partners might need specialist support to become disability-smart. Our consultancy work is uniquely tailored to your organisation’s needs and ambitions and takes a whole organisation approach to disability based on the principles of our world-leading Disability Smart Framework (previously Disability Standard).  

Our best-practice consultancy service is based on more than 25 years’ experience of working with a broad range of public and private sector organisations, meaning we are well-equipped to provide authoritative and practical results.  

Our team of specialists has unrivalled experience in the fields of disability, diversity and equality and a proven track record of delivering disability-smart solutions. 

Our approach

• We adopt a best practice and experience-based methodology centred around the social model of disability. Experience shows that a best practice approach minimises legal risk while allowing a flexibility which is not restricted by varying jurisdictions.
• We work with Members and Partners in a co-operative and supportive manner to build on what they have already achieved. For us, it is important that we transfer our knowledge and experience to our clients to help develop a self-sustaining approach for the future. 
• All our advice and support is practical and realistic, and takes into account the organisation’s context and priorities. 

Disability-smart support projects

Recent projects have included providing support in the following areas:  

• Adopting a ‘business as usual’ approach to managing disability.  
• Identifying and removing barriers in all areas of employment such as recruitment, workplace adjustments and staff development. 
• Research to understand organisational performance, employee and customer needs.  
• Developing and maintaining a barrier-free customer journey.  
• Training in ensuring great customer care and attracting disabled customers.  
• Auditing websites and the built environment. 

This is only an illustrative list and, uniquely, we provide a one-stop shop solution to businesses in their journey to becoming a disability-smart organisation. 

Contact the Consultancy Service

You can contact the Consultancy Service by email to find out how we can help support your disability-smart journey.  

Research has shown that, along with line manager support, making workplace adjustments is a critical factor in the retention and development of disabled employees. Furthermore, having a best practice approach to making workplace adjustments that focuses on helping people be their best at work and providing adjustments in a straight-forward and reliable way contributes to a culture of inclusion that benefits all employees, not just those with disabilities.

BDF has a proven consultancy approach that helps organisations understand what a best practice approach entails and supports them on their journey to achieving it.

Approach

• Assess the organisations current approach to making workplace adjustments in comparison with a model of best practice.
• Identify current areas of good practice and any gaps that require further development.
• Summarise findings and practical recommendations for the organisation to take forward in an action plan.

Activities

• Meetings with key stakeholders in IT, Facilities, HR, etc. to understand current roles, responsibilities and practices in relation to making workplace adjustments.
• Review existing assets, e.g. policies, process flows, guidance, training etc.
• Conduct focus groups with disabled employees and line managers to understand their experiences.
• Draft a new workplace adjustments policy or suggest amendments to an existing policy.
• Draft a new high-level end-to-end process.
• Provide guidance on end-to-end roles and responsibilities.
• Create a summary report of findings with recommendations and present to key stakeholders.

A typical review with the activities outlined above would require around 7-10 consultancy days.

More information

For more information or to discuss how to set up a redundancy support package for your organisation contact Rick Williams, Head of Consultancy at rickw@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk 
or call +44 (0)7788 448 428.

If you require this content in a different format, contact enquiries@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk.