Freedom of Information Request: 0355 2019/20

I wish to make a Freedom of Information application to ascertain the availability and nature of dyslexia support services, specifically for staff members who have a formal or suspected diagnosis, within your NHS organisation.  As a large employer I am sure you will be aware that dyslexia affects approximately 1 in 10 members of the general population.  Dyslexia is a recognised disability however many adults do not have a formal diagnosis or actively hide this.  However, individuals with dyslexia are often very high performing members of the team as a result of the coping mechanisms they have put in place over the years.

My questions are as follows: Please note that this response is for QEHB only, The Trust does not hold this information for Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull Hospitals.

1. Do you have a record of those staff who have disclosed that they are dyslexic?  If yes, can you please supply total numbers and numbers based on their grade. ESR does not record to this level of detail

• Do you have a support group, for employees, within your organisation who have dyslexia? UHB have a Neurodiversity staff network available to all staff

• If yes, please provide the Terms of Reference (formal or informal) for this group. This is a new group that has only met once, TOR yet to be agreed

• Do you have a senior member of staff who leads such an initiative?  If yes, what is this individual’s substantive job title? Currently led by the Inclusion Team, but as with all our staff networks within UHB they are run by and for the staff members and we will be looking for a staff member to chair the group over the coming meetings

• What mechanisms do you have in place to support staff with a degree of dyslexia? They can speak to Occupational Health, Inclusion Team, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Access to Work. The Clinical Education department have a link educator who advises about dyslexia

1. Is your organisation running any activities, in line with those suggested by the British Dyslexia Association, during Dyslexia Awareness week (7 to 13 October 2019)?  (Please see https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/support-us/awareness-events/dyslexia-awareness-week/daw-2019) No

• If yes, please describe what is planned / what your organisation undertook. Not Applicable

• Do you have a senior member of staff, who has disclosed that they are personally dyslexic, who acts as an ambassador for this staff group?  If yes, at what level do they function in their substantive role? No

As I am looking to set up a similar support group within my organisation, I would be most grateful if you could supply the name and contact details of the senior staff member who leads and/or the ambassador who supports the service in order that I can discuss the challenges and benefits of this initiative.  However, being mindful that this may not be possible I would appreciate if my details could be provided to them.