Purpose

Cabinet will be asked to approve the adoption of the
Havering Learning Disability Employment Charter

Decision

Report Title: Havering Employment Charter
for Autistic People and People with Learning Disabilities
 
Presented by: Councillor Gillian Ford;
Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Adults and
Wellbeing
 
Cabinet
 
2.1       Agreed to
support the addition of the of the employment charter into the
Council’s Human Resources recruitment and selection policy
within the conditions of the Disability Confident scheme.
 
Overview &
Scrutiny Recommendations:
 
At its meeting on 6 November 2025, the People
Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee discussed and made some
recommendations re the report being considered by Cabinet on the
Havering Learning Disability and Employment Charter.
 
The specific recommendations in this area are
as shown below and Cabinet was asked to respond to these at the
Cabinet meeting.
 
If agreed, Cabinet is also asked to approve
that a final version of the Charter, incorporating these changes,
be published as soon as is practicable, on the Council’s
website alongside the agenda papers for this Cabinet meeting.
 
1.         That
Cabinet considers and responds to the following recommendations
made by the People Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee in relation
to the report on the Havering Learning Disability and Autism
Employment Charter due to be considered by Cabinet at its meeting
on 12 November 2025.
 
•          
Section 5.1.1: The term ‘positive discrimination’ be
amended to ‘positive action’, aligning with the
Equality Act 2010.
•          
Sections 5.1.3 and 5.1.4: These sections be amended as follows:
o         
5.1.3 will now focus on ensuring training and support to enable
people with learning disabilities and autistic people to develop
skills for career progression.
o         
5.1.4 will now refer to reviewing the effectiveness of supported
employment services, rather than continuous assessment.
 
2.         That
Cabinet notes that these refinements strengthen the Charter, ensure
compliance with equality legislation, and reinforce the
Council’s commitment to fairness, accessibility, and
impact.
 
3.         Should
the above proposed amendments be accepted by Cabinet, that the
final version of the Havering Learning Disability and Autism
Employment Charter be published for clarity on the Council’s
website page for this meeting of Cabinet.
Cabinet agreed to
all of the above recommendations and agreed that  the updated document is attached below as
confirmation.
 
The
London Borough of Havering Employment Charter – Employment of
People with Learning Disabilities and Autistic People
 
1.0       Introduction
1.1.      Inequalities and inequity
in employment can be associated with inequalities and inequity in
other areas of life including health, social mobility, and
education. People with learning disabilities and autistic people
are more likely to be experience life inequalities and be
unemployed relative to both the general population and even people
with other kinds of disability.
 
1.2.      To help reduce
inequalities in employment outcomes for people with learning
disabilities and autistic people, the London Borough of Havering
will adopt the following charter to increase the number of people
with learning disabilities and autistic people employed
locally.
 
1.3.      This charter forms part of
the borough’s wider employment strategy, the local autism
strategy, and our commitment to the Disability Confident Employer
scheme.
 
2.0       Vision
2.1.      To promote employment
opportunities and personal and career development for people with
learning disabilities and autistic people within Havering to reduce
inequalities by enabling equal employment opportunities for
meaningful and sustainable employment.
 
3.0       Mission
3.1.      To increase the number of
individuals with learning disabilities and autism employed directly
by the London Borough of Havering and to support them in achieving
their employment goals through appropriate personalised development
once employed.
 
4.0       Key Principles for
Employment Opportunities
4.1.      To enable the local
authority to achieve its vision the charter sets out six key
principles that the local authority will adopt to make recruitment,
and employment opportunities more inclusive for people with
learning disabilities and autistic people.
 
4.1.1.  Meaningful Competitive Employment: Ensure that the
local authority provides job opportunities that provide competitive
living wages and enable people to meaningfully develop their career
paths.
4.1.2.  Disability Confident Employer: Empower hiring
managers to be confident in the recruitment and support of
individuals with learning disabilities and autistic people.
4.1.3.  Person-Centred Approach: Tailor employment
opportunities to meet the unique needs, preferences, and goals of
each person.
4.1.4.  Inclusion: Promote inclusive workplaces where
people with disabilities work alongside their non-disabled
peers.
4.1.5.  Empowerment: Empower people with disabilities to
make informed choices about their employment and career paths.
4.1.6.  Continuous Improvement: Commit to ongoing
evaluation and improvement of the recruitment and employment
practices within Havering local authority.
 
5.0       Objectives of the
Employment Charter for People with Learning Disabilities and
Autistic People
5.1.      The objectives associated
with adoption of the employment charter for people with learning
disabilities and autistic people are:
5.1.1.  To Increase Employment Opportunities within
Havering Local Authority for People with Learning Disabilities and
Autistic People: Develop a positive action approach to job
opportunities and expand job opportunities available for people
with learning disabilities and autistic people within the local
authority. This objective will apply to all employment
opportunities within Havering local authority including all paid
employment, internships, graduate schemes, apprenticeships, and
work experience opportunities.
5.1.2.  To Further Development the Local Authority Towards
Maintaining its Position as a Disability Confident Employer:
Develop managerial training to further develop inclusive workplace
environment where employees can be confident in interviewing,
recruitment of and support of individuals with learning
disabilities and autistic people.
5.1.3.  To Enhance Skills and Competencies of People with
Learning Disabilities and Autistic People Employed by the Local
Authority: Ensure that the council’s approach to training and
support enables people with learning disabilities and autistic
people to develop the skills needed for carer development.
5.1.4.  To Monitor and Evaluate the Success of the
Interventions that are Aimed at Supporting the Implementation of
the Employment Charter and Employment Principles: Review of the
effectiveness of the supported employment services and make
necessary adjustments to improve outcomes in the recruitment of
people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
6.0       Key Actions to
Support the Employment Charters Approach to Employment
Opportunities
 
6.1.      The following actions
should be undertaken to implement this charter as part of the
approach to making Havering local authority a more inclusive
workplace:
6.1.1.  Workforce Engagement: Engage with the workforce to
promote the benefits of hiring individuals with learning
disabilities and autistic people and provide training on inclusive
practices.
6.1.2.  Selective Recruitment Focus: Automatically make
people with learning disabilities and autistic people who meet the
minimum criteria eligible for interviews when applying for job
opportunities advertised across the local authority.
6.1.3.  Inclusive Recruitment Practices: HR should support
all hiring managers with adopting more flexible recruitment
approaches across recruitment exercises to reduce disadvantages
inherent in traditional interview and recruitment processes.
6.1.4.  Individualized Employment Plans: Adopt inclusivity
focused personalised employment plans that outline the individual's
goals, strengths, and support needs.
6.1.5.  Job Matching and Placement: Further support
matching individuals with suitable job opportunities that align
with their skills and interests.
6.1.6.  On-the-Job Support: Provide ongoing person-centred
support and coaching to help individuals succeed in their
employment.
6.1.7.  Community Partnerships: Collaborate with internal
community organisations within Havering local authority to create a
network of support for individuals with learning disabilities and
autistic people in the workplace.