What is EFD NI?

2. What is EFD NI? • A not-for-profit organisation • Formed, managed and funded by employers • Member employers commit to good disability practice • Almost 80 members from the public, private and voluntary sectors • Covers approximately 20% of the workforce

3. How is EFD NI managed? • President - John West, Head of Business Improvement, Ulster Bank Group • Board of Directors meet quarterly • Chaired by Alan McCully, Personnel Manager, Translink • Board develops action plans, reviews progress and responds to member employers’ needs • Takes advice from disability organisations, business groups and legal profession

4. EFD NI Services • A tailored one-to-one service for member employers and employees, e.g. • Member has employee with dyslexia • EFD NI: • liaised with British Dyslexia Association • contacted employers with similar experience • identified appropriate professional for assessment • provided details of DEL programmes

5. EFD NI Services • On-line Jobs Bulletin Board • Disability Mediation Service • Member-only area of our website • training materials • on-line disability awareness briefing • fact sheets • Monthly Disability Discrimination Act case law update • Member Network Meetings

6. EFD NI Services • Disability awareness training materials for members, e.g. • “Enabled” video and guide • Presentation Material • DDA Case Studies • Disability awareness training sessions for members, e.g. • CCMS training for all Head Teachers and Boards of Governors Chairs • NI Policing Board Briefings for volunteers

7. EFD NI Services • Partnership initiatives, e.g. • DDA Case Law Seminar • Sensory Impairment Awareness Training • Recruitment and Retention Seminar • RNID research with employers • World of Work Event, e.g. Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and Mencap • Action Mental Health Seminar

8. EFD NI Services • Keeps members up-to-date on disability policies and services • Sign-posts to disability services providers • Facilitates partnership working between members • Facilitates sharing of information and resources amongst members • Obtains discounts for members on publications and services

9. Member Examples:Recruitment Good Practice • Ballymena Borough Council - linked with schools, colleges and disability training providers to offer meaningful, relevant work placements to suit a wide range of interests and abilities • BBC - annual programme for disabled people to give experience in media industry • Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards – ring fenced Clerical Officer Post, contacted The Cedar Foundation, explored placement of a suitably qualified person, facilitated disability awareness training, at end of placement permanent post offered

10. Member Examples:Retention Good Practice • DETI - surveyed staff to invite requests for adjustments, obtain feedback from disabled employees, invite suggestions for good disability practice, identify barriers • Translink - employee developed hearing impairment, Health and Safety guidelines excluded him from job on railway tracks, liaised with employee and agreed transfer to ticket kiosk job • CCMS - due to disability secondary school teacher allowed to start work at 10.30 a.m., substitute teacher employed to teach earlier classes 

11. Member Examples:Staff Disability Awareness NI Policing Board - provided disability awareness training to all employees: • Senior Personnel - In-depth Legislative Obligations and Case Law • General Staff and Volunteers - Legislative Briefing and Disability Awareness Training DETI - series of factsheets, e.g. Mental Health and employment

12. Member Examples:Involving Staff with Disabilities Department of Agriculture and Rural Development - Disabled Employee Network to facilitate: • Discussion of disability issues • Undertaking initiatives • Supported by DARD • Managed by staff with disabilities