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Support for disabled employees - employee guidance:

2.Reasonable adjustments

On this page:

    Introduction

    You can request changes or modifications to the workplace or to your work environment to remove the barriers that may make it challenging for you to achieve your full potential at work.

    The creation of an inclusive and accessible workplace provides everyone with the opportunity to thrive at work.

    Speak to your manager

    You should speak to your manager about the support or any adjustments that could be put it place to enable you to work more effectively in your role. A helpful way to begin is to complete a health adjustment passport to guide your discussion.

    Health adjustment passport

    The health adjustment passport is an optional tool provided by Access to Work. It helps you and your manager identify what changes might be helpful and whether funding support from Access to Work might be needed.

    The form helps you to think about:

    • how your condition or impairment affects your day-to-day work
    • any specialist IT software that maybe useful, such as JAWS
    • specialist equipment, such as screen readers, adapted keyboards or joysticks
    • changes to your workplace
    • support to get to and from work
    • communication support you may require.
    Find out more about the health adjustment passport on the GOV.UK website

    If you move to a new role or have a new manager, sharing your completed passport can be a helpful starting point but you’ll still need to have a fresh conversation, as adjustments may vary depending on the role.

    Making reasonable adjustments

    As part of considering reasonable adjustments and before applying for Access to Work, a good starting point is to complete the display screen equipment assessment to check your workspace. If you include the nature of your condition, the occupational health and safety team may be able to help you and your manager to identify reasonable adjustments that can be made.

    Don’t use display screen equipment?

    If you do not use display screen equipment, your manager can complete a health needs assessment and seek support from the occupational health and safety team.

    Reasonable adjustments might include:

    • flexible working hours or a phased return to work
    • changes to duties or ways of working
    • support using accessibility tools in Microsoft 365 or Teams
    • mentoring or buddying support
    • changes to your workspace or equipment.

    You can explore the:

    Please note:

    You don’t need a formal diagnosis to be considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010. If you’re experiencing barriers at work due to a physical or mental health condition, or neurodivergence, you can still request adjustments.

    Waiting for a diagnosis or treatment shouldn’t delay getting the support you need.

    Your manager will consider how reasonable each adjustment is based on the impact and feasibility. They’ll also let you know whether an adjustment is temporary to support recovery or more permanent.

    Adjustments shouldn’t change the core nature of your role or permanently remove essential tasks.

    Review adjustments made

    Once adjustments are in place, it’s a good idea to meet with your manager after a few weeks to check how things are going. If more support is needed, you can explore applying for Access to Work together.

    Unable to make adjustments

    Sometimes, a specific request may not be possible. If that happens, your manager will explain why and work with you to explore other options.

    If cost is a barrier, you may be able to apply for a grant through Access to Work. This is a government scheme that helps fund support for disabled people at work.

    Understanding neurodivergent conditions

    Understanding neurodivergent conditions means recognising that brains think, learn and process differently. Building awareness helps us to:

    • create inclusive environments
    • make adjustments
    • reduce stigma
    • value diverse perspectives so everyone has opportunities to thrive.

    The guides below provide an overview of ADHD, autism and dyslexia, outline potential routes to diagnosis and some ideas about adjustments that can help in the workplace.

    Download the guidance documents

    If you are using a mobile phone or tablet and do not have the Microsoft 365 app installed, the word version of this document may not display correctly. We recommend that you download the PDF version instead.

    Health needs assessments

    If you have a long-term health condition or a fit note that says you’re fit for work with adjustments, your manager may complete a health needs assessment to help identify the right support.

    There are two types of assessment your manager may complete:

    • individual health and wellbeing assessment
    • employee health needs support plan.
    Find out more about the health needs assessments
    Book an interpretation service

    Commercial team plan

    Our commercial team plan provides a useful at a glance overview of our vision, purpose, principles and priorities.

    Commercial toolkit

    Our toolkit has been designed to enhance the commercial offerings the council is delivering alongside the commercial framework. It will be an ever evolving document with information to help you with best practice, strategies, models, and commercial principles that can align with corporate values.

    The toolkit features tips, templates and tools in one place to guide you through the commercial review and business planning processes. It includes support and guidance related to:

    • business cases and planning
    • finance including fees and charges
    • marketing and communications
    • new ideas
    • risk management
    • stakeholders
    • training.

    Business cases

    Business cases help us as a council to make informed decisions, especially when it comes to commercial activities like generating income, trading services, or working with partners. They give us a clear and structured framework to work within. We use business cases to:

    • Evaluate viability: Assess whether a commercial proposal makes sense financially, legally, and practically.
    • Justify investment: Present clear evidence to senior decision-makers or elected members on why resources should be allocated.
    • Support strategic goals: Align commercial initiatives with council priorities, such as benefits to the community and budget sustainability.
    • Manage risk: Identify and mitigate potential risks, such as financial, reputational and legal associated with commercial ventures.
    • Monitor performance: Set clear goals and objectives so we can measure the success of projects over time.

    We typically follow a clear process when developing business cases to make sure everything is transparent, accountable, and properly governed.

    Download the template and guidance below to get started writing a business case.

    Business plans

    If your service generates over £50,000 in income you are required to have a commercial business plan.

    The documents below include everything that should be covered in a business plan and how to self-evaluate traded services.

    Pricing

    Our pricing guide and policy documents are important tools that help the council’s commercial services run in a way that’s financially sound, competitive, and meets our public sector responsibilities.

    The main benefits are:

    • Informed decision-making: Provides a clear structure for setting prices based on costs, market conditions, and value to customers.
    • Cost recovery and profitability: It helps make sure all costs (including overheads) are recovered, and identifies opportunities where income could be generated.
    • Transparency and consistency: Promotes clear, justifiable pricing decisions across services, supports governance and accountability.
    • Competitiveness: Helps services benchmark against private sector or other public providers to increase market position.
    • Flexibility for different customers: Encourages tailored pricing strategies, such as tiered pricing or volume discounts.
    • Risk management: Aids in understanding of how pricing affects demand and income, helping services grow in a sustainable way.

    A strong pricing guide helps us find the right balance between being commercially successful and delivering public value.

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    Employee confidential helpline

    0330 380 0658

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    Use code 107574 to access the online resources.

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