Fire service recognised for its approach to disability inclusion

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) has been commended for its inclusive and accessible recruitment process as it confirmed that it has maintained its status as a Level Three ‘Leader’ in the Disability Confident scheme.

The Disability Confident Scheme includes over 20,000-member organisations from across the country and, as a Leader, RBFRS ranks amongst the top 600 organisations in the scheme. It joined the Disability Confident scheme in 2018 and first became a Disability Confident Leader, the highest level of the scheme for the first time in 2021. 

To become a Disability Confident Leader, organisations must demonstrate how they have pioneered disability inclusion. Examples of this include RBFRS participation in the Leonard Cheshire’s Change100 scheme, aimed at providing opportunities for university students with disabilities. RBFRS was the first fire and rescue service to sign up for the scheme in 2017 and has supported the programme every year since. 

RBFRS has also made progress in improving neurodiversity awareness across the organisation with the production of its neurodiversity handbook which provides staff with an insight into several of the most common types of neurodiversity and guidance on how to support neurodiverse people. 

“The many and varied ways in which they are seeking to attract more disabled candidates demonstrates genuine commitment, and a great deal of thought has gone into creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.” 

Diane Lightfoot, CEO of Business Disability Forum.

RBFRS says that it continues to work with partner organisations and national networks to share further learning about disability inclusion. This partnership work has guided reform to its internal policies and procedures, which has helped reduce the institutional barriers faced by people with disabilities.  

“I am delighted that the service has once again been recognised as a Disability Confident Leader. This latest accreditation stands as testament to the hard work undertaken by our staff to make our service as inclusive as possible. 

“As we look ahead, it is important that we continue to build on the work that has gone into securing our status as a Leader. We must continue to find and dismantle potential organisational barriers and ensure that our service best represents all our communities.” 

Nikki Richards, Deputy Chief Executive, RBFRS.

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