Britain’s Got Neuro Talent!
Britain’s Got Neuro Talent! The treasure box of untapped skills sitting right under recruiters’ noses!
It is no joke job hunting when, despite your skills, you have a neurological condition that throws in extra physical or mental hurdles along the way.
But it is ironic, as the UK continues to struggle with its “vast” [1] labour shortages, that much of the raw talent among our 16.5 million-strong neuro community (1 in 6 of us [2]) remains hidden – in plain sight of recruiters!
So, in the 12 days to Christmas, we are showcasing some of these disability talent toppers and the workplace inclusivity strategies underway to make employers sit up and take notice.
Yes, it’s time to reveal some of the super-skilled work stars lighting the way for the neuro community in our all-inclusive Krysalis Christmas Show 2022 – Britain’s Got Neuro Talent!
Neurodiversity can empower the workplace and encourage creativity, new ideas and fresh perspectives. As well as their individual strengths, neurodivergent employees often possess highly desirable skills... 
The Brain Injury Charity []
Let’s set the neuro talent stage first by having a quick catch-up on what’s been happening in the world of work for people with disabilities in recent years.
It’s a mixed scene, muddied in parts by the global crises that have impacted everyone, including the covid pandemic and spiralling energy and living costs.
And, of course, they are the types of crises that are making the financial, health and well-being benefits of good work all the more desirable.
So, what are the latest facts and figures saying about the recruitment of people with ability challenges compared to those without?
And when talent is spotted in people with disabilities, how can employers ensure the UK’s workspaces are ideal places for them to perform at their best?
Well, there is still a long way to go before all employers cement accessibility, inclusivity and diversity into the foundations of their business, according to the data collated here.
But since we could all do with some glad tidings amid the crises this Christmas, let’s illuminate the good news on the disability work front over the past decade:
- The number of people with disabilities in employment has increased by 1.9 million since 2013 [4], including 1.3 million since 2017 [5]
- Workers with disabilities (including neuro conditions) now number around one-in-seven of workers [5]
- The Government has pledged to invest £1.3 billion in employment support for people with disabilities over the next three years [4]
- Although it is still wide at around 28 per cent, the disability employment gap has narrowed by over 5 percentage points since 2014 [4]
- The employment rate for people with disabilities is now at 54 per cent compared to 82 per cent for people without disabilities [4]
- Around 11 million paid workers are now covered by the Disability Confident scheme after their employers signed up to ensure inclusive workplaces [4]
- Employees feel more comfortable sharing their disability status and workplace adjustment needs with employers [5]
- Employer and Government support for workers with disabilities has improved with evidence of the “breaking down of barriers” [5]
Accessible staging
Not only is good work better for people’s health, but it is also an important indication of how an illness, injury or disability is affecting the person’s everyday life.
RCOT
There is still lots to be done to close the disability employment gap once and for all, so who is putting the right props in place for Britain’s neuro talent to shine on the work stage?
Well, the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) has been busy collaborating with Public Health England to create Health and Work Champions (HWCs) among the UK’s OT workforce [7].
These HWCs are training other healthcare professionals (HCPs) to ‘ask the work question’ as part of their daily consultations with working-age patients.
With the Allied Health Professions Federation, Royal College of Nursing and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, RCOT has also created a best practice guide for all HCPs supporting patients into work.
Their recommendations include the following:
- Highlighting the relationship between good work and good health
- Recognising the value of the early intervention
- Using motivational interviewing techniques
- Advising on adjustments at work during clinical consultations
And there is further advice for HCPs working with older adults, young people, and people with mental health and/or musculoskeletal conditions.
Charity work champs
Through our training support, we equip learners with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to remove barriers for disabled people and work in inclusive ways.
Leonard Cheshire [8]
Among the many good folks waiting in the wings to support people with disabilities on to the work stage and in all other areas of life are the specialist charities, including:
Leonard Cheshire – with its 6,000 staff and 6,500 volunteers, Leonard Cheshire is helping over 30,000 people in the UK and 15 countries in Africa and Asia to ‘live, learn and work as independently as they choose whatever their ability’.
They also guide employers, managers, and recruitment teams to ensure everyone within a business knows how best to ensure all things work-related are inclusive.
Research suggests that a positive public reaction to a company employing people with a disability can help to improve profits.
Mencap [9]
Mencap – supporting people with learning disabilities, Mencap can provide tailored support throughout the employment process and beyond.
And they have ample advice for employers, too, including compelling evidence around the benefits of employing people with learning disabilities for both the employee and the business [10].
Scope – in England and Wales, people with disabilities aged 16 or over and looking for paid work can access Scope’s free online and telephone ‘Support to Work’ programme [11].
The charity’s specialist employment advisers provide advice and encouragement at every step along the job-hunting path and for 26 weeks after starting in a new role.
Job hunters can access vacancies through the charity’s dedicated jobs board, linking them with organisations committed to employing more people with disabilities.
And there is extra guidance around managing other challenges linked to working with a disability, including the Government’s Access to Work grant scheme, which pays for aids such as sign language interpreters and specialist equipment [12].
A neurodiverse workplace is one which is full of the many strengths people with neurological conditions have. It should be free from prejudice, discrimination and stigma.
The Brain Charity [3]
The Brain Charity – companies seeking to access the wide talent pool within the neuro community can dive in with support from The Brain Charity’s workplace neurodiversity training [3].
Training includes advice around:
- Identifying ideal roles for neurodivergent staff
- Limiting potential barriers
- Developing neurodiversity-friendly policies
- Supporting employees with degenerative neurological conditions
The charity also highlights some of the common attributes among people with neuro conditions, including:
- Reliability and conscientiousness
- High levels of concentration and excellent memory
- Strong technical abilities in specialist areas
- Creativity and high levels of intellect
Britain’s Got Neuro Talent!
Meet the neuro stars!
References
References
- Labour shortages hold Britain back, CBI to tell Sunak | News | The Times
- The Neurological Alliance: neuro-numbers-2019.pdf (neural.org.uk)
- Workplace neurodiversity training from The Brain Charity - The Brain Charity
- One-in-seven workers in Britain have a disability | Disability Rights UK
- Government hits goal to see a million more disabled people in work - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Occupational Therapy: Bridging the Disability Employment Gap - RCOT
- Healthcare professionals issue consensus statement on the importance of health and wellbeing in work - RCOT
- Working | Leonard Cheshire
- Employing people with a learning disability | Mencap
- Education, Skills and Work | Mencap
- Support to Work | Disability charity Scope UK
- Access to Work grant scheme | Disability charity Scope UK
Join us back here soon when we welcome to the stage the leading lights in our 2022 Britain’s Got Neuro Talent line-up...
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David Wozny - Brain Injury - I Needed To Be Needed
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John McDonald - John McDonald – Disability Specialist (eagleswingsconsultancy.co.uk)
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Anne Ricketts - Who we are - Global Brain Injury Awareness (globalbia.org)
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Tim Richens - Tim Richens | Regain the brain
brain injury and neurological rehabilitation you are very welcome… come on in and join us!
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We are passionate about neurological rehabilitation; our neuro OT blog has been designed to help us share our collective wisdom to influence, educate and spark moments of discussion and reflection.
If you are interested in, or have been affected by brain injury, if you are passionate about occupational therapy, brain injury and neurological rehabilitation you are very welcome… come on in and join us!
