Breakdown of Scottish Government staff disability statistics: FOI release

Information requested

Do you have a disability staff network?
If so:
- How long has it been running?
- The grade of the chair and deputy chair
- Does the network use storytelling as part of it's communication strategy?

The number of members of staff who have provided information about their disability to HR broken down by :
- Year since 2010
- Grade / Seniority
- Location

Sickness absence as a result of disability or mental health issue logged by the department broken down by:
- Year since 2010
- Grade / Seniority
- Location

Return to work rates following disability or mental health related sickness logged by the department broken down by:
- Year since 2010
- Grade / Seniority
- Location

Costs (i.e. sick leave payments, salary loss, costs of replacements, adjustment costs, occupation health referrals etc) relating to disability and mental health related illness broken down by:
- Year since 2010
- Grade / Seniority
- Location

Response

(a) Do you have a disability staff network?

The Scottish Government has a Disabled Staff Network that brings together disabled staff from across Scottish Government, including from its agencies and non-ministerial government departments

(b) How long has it been running?

It has been running for over 20 years but there is no record of its beginning.

(c) The grade of the chair and deputy chair?

The Chair of Scottish Government’s Disabled Staff Network is B-grade. The Network operates through a Committee structure and does not have a deputy chair. Staff Diversity networks are supported by a champion at Senior Civil Service level and an ally from the executive team.

(d) Does the network use storytelling as part of it's communication strategy?

The network uses storytelling to support its engagement with senior leaders and other Scottish Government staff. Our internal communications uses storytelling including storytelling by disabled colleagues at all grades to raise awareness and increase understanding. Senior leadership voices are a key feature either through sharing their own lived experience or as strong allies to protected characteristics. Our Permanent Secretary speaks extensively on diversity and inclusion topics in her public engagements and as a regular feature of her monthly vlog to staff.

(e) The number of members of staff who have provided information about their disability to HR broken down by :
- Year since 2010
- Grade / Seniority
- Location

See tables in attached Excel sheet

(f) Sickness absence as a result of disability or mental health issue logged by the department broken down by:
- Year since 2010
- Grade / Seniority
- Location

See tables in attached Excel sheet

(g) Return to work rates following disability or mental health related sickness logged by the department broken down by:
- Year since 2010
- Grade / Seniority
- Location

This information has had to be redacted for disclosure control in accordance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and as such cannot be provided.

(h) Costs (i.e. sick leave payments, salary loss, costs of replacements, adjustment costs, occupation health referrals etc) relating to disability and mental health related illness broken down by:
- Year since 2010
- Grade / Seniority
- Location

We do not hold or calculate this information.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI - 202100214955 - Information Released - Annex

File type

6 page PDF

File size

270.3 kB