Our commitment to equality

People who face discrimination on any grounds can experience greater disadvantages in:

• recruitment
• selection
• training
• development
• promotion

So, we encourage a variety of employee groups. They represent people who identify themselves with a specific protected characteristic. The groups challenge and support us to promote change and equality of opportunity.

Our existing employee networks include the below:

• LGBTQI+ Employee Network
• Women’s Employee Network
• Disability Employee Network
• Ethnic Minority Employee Network
• Carers Employee Network
• Armed Forces Community Employee Network

The Disability Confident Scheme:

• helps employers commit to attracting, recruiting and retaining people with disabilities
• ensures that people with disabilities have the opportunities to fulfil their potential

The scheme has 3 levels and we have achieved Disability Confident Employer (Level 2).

We achieved this because we: 

• ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible 
• communicate and promote vacancies
• support employees to stay in work when they develop a disability or long-term health condition

We offer an interview to everyone who declares a disability and meets the essential criteria for the role.

We are keen to make our interviews accessible. Let us know on your job application if you have a disability and need any reasonable adjustments.

This could include offering: 

• more time to complete an exercise, assessment or respond to a question
• a virtual interview
• an accessible interview room 
• a British Sign Language Interpreter 

If we offer you a job, we will do what we can (within reason) to support you throughout your employment with us. We will help you to seek support and funding, if needed, from Access to Work.  

We welcome job applications from ex-military personnel because we know that your military training will have prepared you with the skills and attributes we are looking for. You are valuable to us because you have a great work ethic; you are vigilant and disciplined in your work and value teamwork and camaraderie.  

You have many transferrable skills that can be applied in the context of local government. Our recruitment process will guide you through your application, helping you to highlight the skills, aptitude and mindset that will meet the criteria of each job role.

Your willingness to learn, ability to assimilate information quickly, leadership qualities, and your ability to demonstrate our values, behaviours and principles, all make you a great candidate for us.

We are signatories of the Dorset Armed Forces Covenant. We are also Gold Employer Recognition Scheme holders.

We encourage applications from those with military connections including:

• reservists
• veterans
• spouses/partners

 We recognise and appreciate the value of your:

• transferable skills
• previous employment
• experiences in the Armed Forces sector

 They are great assets to put towards one of our varied and rewarding roles.

We signed up for Mindful Employer because we commit to:

• support our employees' wellbeing
• create a supportive and open culture where colleagues can talk about mental health

Employees can access mindfulness interventions and Talking Therapies as well as wellbeing advice. 

They include:

• generous maternity leave and pay 
• paternity leave 
• shared parental leave 
• adoption leave and pay
• neonatal care leave and pay

Unpaid care in your personal life is a crucial role. To support this we offer:

• a range of support
• time off
• flexible working arrangements

Approved foster carers and shared lives carers can request time off as paid leave. They can request this to help with some of the time commitment needed to carry out this important role. 

Any information you provide is confidential. It is not linked to your name, identity or application. We will use it for statistical purposes only. It helps us to make sure that:

• our recruitment processes uphold our commitment to equality of opportunity
• we meet our legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010

It cannot and will not impact your job application in any way.

Giving this information is voluntary. It is entirely confidential. If there’s something you don’t want to share  you can choose "prefer not to say". We use it to check the diversity of applicants and assess our recruitment practices. 

Support with reasonable adjustments during recruitment

We want everyone to feel confident and supported when applying for a role with us. If you face any barriers during the recruitment process, whether related to a disability, health condition, or other needs, we are here to help.

What are reasonable adjustments?

Reasonable adjustments are:

• changes we can make to our recruitment process to help remove barriers for you
• tailored to your individual needs
• designed to create a fair and supportive environment where you can do your best

You do not need a formal diagnosis to ask for an adjustment. Just let us know what you need, and we will work with you to find a helpful solution.

Examples of challenges and adjustments

Here are some examples of common challenges and the types of adjustments we can offer. We can:

• send interview questions in advance
• offer video or phone interviews
• provide written instructions alongside verbal ones
• allow extra time for tasks or assessments
• give regular short breaks
• use large print, audio or easy read materials
• allow assistive tech like screen readers
• provide quiet, accessible spaces
• accept communication by email instead of phone
• offer a support person or meet-and-greet on arrival

This list is not exhaustive. Everyone is different, and we will always listen to what works best for you.

What to do next

If you would like to request a reasonable adjustment, simply let us know at any stage of the process. You can mention it in your application, email us directly, or speak to the recruiting manager. We’ll treat all requests with care, confidentiality, and respect.

Contact us

If you have questions or would like to talk through what might help, we’re always happy to chat. Contact our recruitment team at recruitment@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and we will be in touch.

We are committed to making our recruitment process as inclusive as possible – because everyone deserves the chance to thrive.