KGV organisations sign up to disability charter

ALL non-profit organisations based at KGV have taken steps to help disabled people prepare for work by signing up to the Guernsey Employment Trust’s employer disability charter.

Elaine Strappini, the Guernsey Employment Trust’s employment manager, holding a certificate to show that a business or organisation has signed up to its employer disability charter. Behind her are representatives of non-profit organisations which have done so. Left to right: Dr Simon Sebire, Health Improvement Commission CEO, Joni Nettleship, Guernsey Community Foundation, Mark Latter, Guernsey Cricket CEO, Orla-Marie Manning, services director at Headway Guernsey, and Debbie Hunter, KGV general manager. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 31396404)

Signing up to the charter is free and voluntary and sees employers commit to helping disabled people prepare for work by offering mock interviews, work experience, job tasters and actively encouraging job applications from disabled people by offering a guaranteed interview to disabled applicants who meet their minimum criteria.

KGV is home to the Guernsey Community Foundation, the Guernsey Health Improvement Commission, Headway Guernsey, Guernsey Cricket and KGV’s administration office, which have all said how excited they were to be part of this charter.

‘It helps us to be an inclusive workplace, supporting existing staff and guiding our recruitment processes,’ said Health Improvement Commission chief executive officer Simon Sebire.

For Headway Guernsey, the charter is especially pertinent, due to its work with islanders who have suffered from brain injuries.

‘For many of our members a return to their workplace following a serious brain injury is not always possible but a modified work environment can often be possible,’ said Headway Guernsey executive director Philippa Stahelin.

‘As well as being associated with GET’s ambitions, we talk regularly to employers about how adapting work practices can encourage valued staff to return to give real value to an organisation.’

The charter was set up in 2017 and nearly 70 local businesses have signed up, giving opportunities to hundreds of disabled islanders.

‘It is exciting to have these charities on board and we are looking forward to working with them to help identify opportunities for our job seekers. This month we are proud to be celebrating our 600th paid placement,’ said GET’s employment manager Elaine Strappini.

GET also asks employers to commit to taking steps towards helping disabled people maintain work by encouraging all managers and supervisors to complete free online disability awareness training and consider making reasonable adjustments in the workplace.