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Information for new staff or if you recently acquired a disability
- New staff
- Recently acquired disability / medical condition
- Follow-up
- Complaints procedure
- Feedback / consultation
New staff
College is committed to supporting staff with disabilities as is outlined in the Code of Practice. All new staff face many challenges, and if additional issues such as availing of supports are required this increases the challenge. College policy and procedures are in place to support new staff members wherever possible in this transition period.
The period of induction is important for all new staff, but particularly for staff with a disability. A good induction training programme will benefit all staff, but some staff may require additional training.
For the new staff member:
You are advised to discuss your requirements with your manager as early as possible, if they have not already been discussed in the recruitment process.
Your manager should be supportive of any disclosures of disability and accommodation requests, and will work closely with you to ensure the necessary adjustments are implemented. You may also consult the Director of the College Disability Service or with the College Employee Assistance Programme or other contacts listed in Who can I talk to? for guidance and advice.
The College now has standard procedures which will facilitate the needs assessment and accommodation request process, as described above. For full details please consult the Code of Practice.
You may also wish to discuss how to manage any disability issues and disclosure within the workplace. This may be a sensitive issue and is mainly a personal decision depending on the nature of your condition and your role.
For the manager:
- Where possible discuss adjustments in advance of the employment start date and ensure any accommodations required are in place when the employee starts.
- Arrange for a needs assessment with the Disability Service and follow procedures for reasonable accommodation as outlined previously.
- Discuss with your new employee how they wish their disability requirements, if any, to be communicated to colleagues.
- Consider any necessary modifications in work practices that may facilitate performance and communication with colleagues.
- Ensure the new member of staff is facilitated in participating in all aspects of office life.
- Consider any training needs and the benefits of increasing disability awareness amongst your staff.
See the Code sections 3, 4 and 6.
Recently acquired disability / medical condition
At any stage in our lives we may acquire a disability or medical condition and it is the College's aim to support staff who may acquire a disability or medical condition in remaining in their position and progressing their career.
The same procedures of needs assessment and provision of reasonable accommodations apply to new staff, current staff and those with an acquired disability.
See the Code of Practice sections 3, 6 and 9 for further reference.
Follow-up
The manager will ensure that any reasonable accommodations and/or adjustments are implemented in a timely manner. These should be reviewed regularly.
The Disability Service will review adjustments on an annual basis.
Complaints procedure
Within the code of practice, there is a complaints procedure. There is also a procedure under the Disability Act, 2005.
The Equality Committee is responsible for monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of this policy, and any suggestions regarding the contents of the policy should be addressed to this body.
If you have a concern that this policy is not being appropriately implemented you should raise this through the line management structure, in accordance with the College grievance procedures. For particular grievance procedures please contact the Staff Office www.tcd.ie/staff_office/ .
Grievances regarding access to services and information provided by a Public Body under the Disability Act 2005 should be addressed to the Access Officer (Mr Declan Treanor, ext 3475, dtreanor@tcd.ie), or the Inquiry Officer (Ms Monica Alcock, ext 2197, monica.alcock@tcd.ie) who have been appointed to investigate staff complaints. Please refer to the procedures outlined in here.
See section 13 of the Code.
Feedback / consultation
College seeks to consult and involve all staff, including managers and staff with disabilities in the development of this policy and its implementation. The Code of Practice will be reviewed annually by the Disability Service Director in consultation with managers and staff with disabilities and an action plan devised. Overall responsibility lies with the Equality Committee.
The Equality Officer and Disability Services Director will be happy to receive suggestions regarding the content of the Code or relating to how the College may better support staff with disabilities.
See the Code of Practice section 12 for further reference.
