NHS employers urged to harness the talents of people with learning disabilities

Employers in the NHS are being urged to boost job opportunities for people with learning disabilities as a support programme is launched in England.

Practical tips for how health service organisations can improve recruitment and retention of people with learning disabilities are available on the NHS Employers' website. Measures include devising job advertisements that are easy to read.

Good practice case studies are also posted on the site. These include a supported internship programme at Salford Royal Hospital, Salford City Council and Salford City College in which successful applicants rotate between a number of roles to find the work that most suits them.

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said: ‘We want to expand the number of NHS employers who harness the talents, expertise and experience of people with learning disabilities.’

NHS England and NHS Employers are developing a network of NHS organisations committed to making progress on employing people with learning disabilities.

For more information click here.