Raise an issue with a Disability Confident employer
You can raise an issue about the service you get from a Disability Confident employer.
Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit, retain and develop disabled people and those with health conditions.
How to raise an issue
If you believe a Disability Confident employer is failing to comply with the Disability Confident criteria on how to recruit, retain and develop disabled people there are a number of steps you can take to resolve the issue.
The Disability Confident scheme does not include a Guaranteed Interview scheme. Disability Confident employers commit to offering an interview to a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that best meet the minimum criteria (sometimes shown as desirable skills) for the job, as defined by the employer. This does not mean that all disabled people are entitled to an interview.
We will only respond to issues about the Disability Confident scheme.
1. Raise the issue with the employer
You should first try to resolve the issue informally with the employer.
If you are not able to solve the issue informally you should complain through the employer’s formal complaints process.
You should give the employer the opportunity to fully respond to the complaint before taking other steps to resolve the issue.
2. Request support from a third party
If you are not able to resolve the issue with your employer, you can get support from a third party to help you. These can include:
You may also be able to get help and support from disability advocacy services in your area.
3. Raise the issue with Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Disability Confident team
If you are still not able to resolve your issue, you can contact the DWP Disability Confident policy team.
You need to give your consent for us to share your personal details and details of the issue with the employer.
Include any written evidence you have of your complaint with the employer including:
- details of your issue
- what actions you have taken to resolve the issue
- supporting written evidence from the employer
You can email or post your issue to us.
Email:
Post:
Disability Confident Policy Team
2nd Floor, Caxton House
6-12 Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9NA
We will only respond to issues about the Disability Confident scheme.
DWP does not provide a mediation service and cannot get involved in employers’ complaints process or offer advice about their HR recruitment and retention policies.
The Advisory Conciliation and Advisory Service (ACAS) may be able to help mediate a dispute. Further information can be found on their website.
What happens next
DWP will aim to respond to your initial contact within 10 working days. We will tell you when you can expect to receive a formal response or we may ask for further information.
We may then contact the employer to:
- seek their view on the issue(s) involved
- consider with the employer whether they are failing to comply with some or all of the Disability Confident criteria
- discuss an improvement plan and timetable for remedying the situation if they are failing to comply
DWP would expect the employer to be able to show that they are taking action to address the issue(s).
If there is clear evidence the employer is not applying the policies and practices of the Disability Confident scheme or is in breach of Equality Act 2010, DWP reserves the right to suspend the Disability Confident status of the employer, until the necessary remedial action has been taken.
Updates to this page
Published 3 June 2020Last updated 14 October 2021 + show all updates
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Guidance updated about how to raise an issue with a Disability Confident employer.
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Added Welsh version.
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First published.