Supporting care-experienced individuals during National Inclusion Week
National Inclusion Week aims to give organisations the opportunity to celebrate inclusion and place focus on their inclusion and diversity agendas. This includes considering the needs of care-experienced individuals.
The theme for this year’s National Inclusion Week, which takes place from 23–29 September, is ‘Impact Matters’. This is focused on how employers can use data to inform strategy and measure the impact of their efforts, as well as prioritising the most impactful work in a time of limited budgets.
Go Higher West Yorkshire (GHWY) actively works to promote the value of inclusion. We recently collaborated on Yorkshire Universities’ Inclusive Recruitment Guide, providing a case study on John Lewis Partnership’s Building Happier Futures scheme. This offers work experience to care-experienced applicants, further promoting an inclusive approach to recruiting.
We also produce a collaborative Care Leaver Covenant. The document demonstrates the ongoing commitment to care-experienced people shown by our 13 Higher Education (HE) members. Updated annually, it brings together all the support, information, and top tips offered by our members in a single, easy to navigate document.
Spectra, the same delivery agent behind the Covenant, runs a similar scheme for employers. The Care Leaver Friendly Employer Charter is an opportunity for employers to commit to supporting care-experienced applicants in terms of recruitment, tracking and development. It includes commitments such as guaranteed interviews for applicants who meet the role criteria and committing to a compassionate and empathetic approach to workplace support. Each of the aspects of the Charter supports care-experienced applicants in securing roles and developing within them.
You can find out more about the Charter and the Covenant using the My Covenant. Should your employer wish to sign up to the charter, they can do so here.
There are many benefits to a diverse workforce, such as quicker uptake on new opportunities and employees who better represent the customer base. Inclusion is the first step towards achieving these benefits while offering fair opportunities to individuals from all backgrounds. Get involved with National Inclusion Week and show how your organisation’s ‘Impact Matters’.
Dominic House, GHWY Care to Go Higher Delivery Officer
