Havering Council’s New Charter Promises Real Opportunities for Autistic Residents.

Havering Council has approved a new employment charter designed to boost job opportunities for residents with autism and learning disabilities.

The charter aims to build a far more inclusive culture across the Council and will be driven by a new Learning Disabilities and Autism Employment Steering Group, which will now develop a full action plan.

Councillor Gillian Ford, Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said the change is urgently needed.

“People with autism and learning disabilities are far more likely to be unemployed than the rest of the population. In Havering, only 3.4% are in work, compared with the national average of 4.8%,” she said.

“This charter is a clear step towards turning this around. It will embed inclusive practices into how we recruit and retain staff, increasing the chances of people with autism and learning disabilities finding good employment within the Council and across the borough. We’ll also be encouraging local businesses to follow our lead.”

The new approach will be rolled out in phases and will include:

• Staff engagement and promoting the benefits of employing people with autism and learning disabilities
• Guaranteed interviews for candidates who meet the essential criteria
• More inclusive recruitment tasks to reduce disadvantage
• Personalised employment plans based on an individual’s support needs
• Matching people to roles that fit their strengths and interests
• On-the-job support, including coaching.

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