Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, with reference to Part One of the National Disability Strategy, published July 2021, what recent steps her Department has taken on (a) encouraging and supporting workplace disability networks, (b) achieving and maintaining the highest level of Disability Confident accreditation, (c) ensuring responsive and timely support to meet workplace adjustment needs and (d) developing and embedding flexible working.

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is supported by the Government Legal Department’s (GLD) Human Resource (HR) function and policies though a shared services agreement. GLD’s current D&I Strategy (2019-2022) and yearly D&I Delivery Plan has been the foundation for many supportive disability policies throughout the department. All of GLD’s Diversity Networks, including GLD's Disability and Wellness Network (DAWN), contribute to annual reviews of the strategy and delivery plan and have been active in supporting improvements in workplace adjustments and career development for all staff. An HR D&I lead also participates in DAWN’s regular committee meetings, and HR meets with all of the Diversity Network Champions and Chairs on a six-monthly basis.

GLD currently holds the Disability Confident Leader (Level 3) status, accredited in January 2018, and was upheld in January 2021 for three years, with a working group supporting the actions going forward.

GLD provides a range of guidance and tools on workplace adjustments accessible by all staff, including advice on how to determine when a workplace adjustment might be appropriate, steps to make a workplace adjustment, a workplace adjustment passport, best practice guidance, and manager awareness sessions. GLD also offer Occupational Health referrals, to offer advice in relation to workplace adjustments.

GLD, with support from the Flexible Working Network and Senior Champions, developed a flexible working policy which allows employees to consider flexible working arrangements, including annualised hours, compressed hours, flexi-time, home-working, job-sharing, part-time working, phased retirement, staggered hours and term-time working.