Disability Equality Scheme
The College is committed to fulfilling its public duties in relation to Disabilities. The College has a Disability at Work Policy and Disability Equality Scheme.
The Disability Equality Scheme was developed with the involvement of disabled staff, students and members of the public to ensure that the needs of disabled people are at the heart of all actions being outlined. This allows the College to take forward initiatives which will make a positive difference to the lives of both our disabled staff and students and for anyone intending to study or work at the College. The Scheme demonstrates our commitment to Disability Equality and promoting equality through awareness raising for all College users, staff training initiatives, making reasonable adjustments as well as challenging discrimination.
Job Centre Plus Disability Symbol
The College was awarded the Disability Symbol by Job Centre Plus on 10th May 2005. This symbol demonstrates the efforts the College is making to meet the following 5 commitments to:
- Interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy and consider them based on their abilities.
- Ensure there is a mechanism in place to discuss, at any time (but at least once a year), with employees with disabilities, what both parties can do to make sure employees can develop and use their abilities.
- Make every effort when employees become disabled to ensure that they stay in employment.
- Take action to ensure all employees develop the appropriate level of disability awareness needed to make the symbol commitments work.
- Review these commitments each year to see what has been achieved, plan ways to improve them and let employees know about progress and future plans.
Working with GCIL
The College has begun to work closely with Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (GCIL). GCIL is a user-controlled organisation committed to promoting inclusive living by assisting disabled people to challenge barriers and make informed choices:
“We strongly believe disability is caused by the barriers that people with impairments meet in everyday life. This belief is central to everything that we do. We are a community business run by disabled people, working for and with disabled people. We are a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. A Board of Directors, drawn from members, manages GCIL. We are genuinely user-led; three quarters of our staff and directors are disabled people.
We provide a variety of services that directly support disabled people in Glasgow. This work is based on the principle that the user chooses the support they want rather than having to take what is offered to them. This can include: information, advice and assistance for people managing their own support arrangements using direct payments; training for personal assistants and their employers; housing information, advice and advocacy; and employment and training opportunities for disabled people.
In addition to Glasgow Metropolitan College, we work closely with a variety of other organisations – public, voluntary, and private – providing information, advice, training and consultancy. We also provide accessible and barrier free premises, fully equipped and serviced for conferences, meetings and training sessions.
GCIL Employment Link Services is a new initiative for Glasgow. We are experts in meeting the recruitment and employment needs of both employers and disabled job seekers across all levels of employment and across all sectors.
Our professional team takes great care in really getting to know the needs and requirements of each and every one of our employers and our job seeking candidates.” For more information, please visit the GCIL web-site, http://www.gcil.org.uk/.
Further Information
If you have any enquiries regarding equalities and diversity, please contact Graeme Brewster, Equalities and Development Manager.
Email: graeme.brewster@glasgowmet.ac.uk
Phone: 0141 566 1587.