Elected Member Briefing Note 2024, No. 029
About this Briefing Note
Report by: Pauline Johnstone, Corporate HR Manager
EMBN Number: 029-24
Date: 3 April 2024
Subject: Supporting Neurodiversity in Perth and Kinross Council
Responsible Officer: Pat Nicoll, Senior HR Officer, People & Culture
Details
Purpose
This briefing note provides information on action that the Council is taking to being a more inclusive employer, specifically around neurodiversity. Having a more diverse workforce can lead to increased productivity and creativity whilst also enhancing our reputation as an employer and enabling our people to flourish at work.
Briefing Information
Grant funding received through the Scottish Government Workplace Equality Fund has facilitated partnership working between Perth Autism Support and Perth and Kinross Council to review and improve our recruitment and retention of neurodiverse individuals as we aspire to be a more inclusive employer.
The funding enabled a number of interactive learning sessions to be delivered to managers to raise awareness and improve understanding, provided information on supporting neurodiverse colleagues and share some lived experiences. Topics covered included:
Introduction to Neurodiversity
Effective Recruitment of Neurodiverse People
Reasonable Adjustments and In Work Support for Neurodiversity
The learning sessions helped us identify areas within our recruitment and selection practices that are in the process of being enhanced, such as the information contained in our job adverts, providing more information about selection processes and the interview, all of which will benefit all candidates.
Additionally, a staff group for neurodiverse employees has been formed which will now integrate with our existing Staff Disability Network and will be key in supporting us on our continuing journey of being a more inclusive employer.
A range of resources already exist to support neurodiverse employees and their managers, however, a manager's toolkit and online learning are being developed along with exploring the introduction of an employee passport - a tool that an employee can use to share relevant information with their manager e.g. what makes time at work easier allowing them to give their best at work.
Last year, our Corporate HR Manager, along with other Scottish organisations leading the way in integrating and harnessing the potential of neurodivergent employees and creating neuroinclusive workplaces, shared details of our ongoing project with Perth Autism Support, at the Holyrood Insights Conference - Neurodiversity in the Workplace.
A People & Culture Strategy is being developed and will be submitted to Finance & Resources Committee in June. This strategy will encompass the learning from this work.
This briefing is being shared as the project comes to an end and coincides with World Autism Acceptance Week which runs from 2 to 8 April 2024.
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