Partnership with West Midlands Police

Shaw Trust is working in partnership with West Midlands Police to provide employment opportunities for disabled and disadvantaged people and in work support for West Midlands Police staff who develop a disability or ill health.

Shaw Trust has a member of staff permanently seconded to the force as Disability Partnership Manager and West Midlands Police has seconded a Police Officer as Disability Advisor, and their Diversity Officer to the programme.

At West Midlands Police, over 140 people have already participated in the Workstep employment programme which offers a one year contract in employment opportunities covering all areas of the police force’s work. Sixty per cent have gone on to permanent work with West Midlands Police, 30% are still active on the programme and the remainder have got work elsewhere or are receiving further training. A total of 110 have been and are being supported on a specialist retention programme designed to suit the force.

The partnership also promotes disability awareness within the force, including providing tailored courses for teams working with people with disabilities, funded through the Access to Work scheme.

The flagship partnership has been running since 2003 and is a resounding suc-cess. North Wales Police has followed its lead and other police forces and large organisations are looking to follow suit.

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