Report attached.

Report Title: Havering Employment Charter for Autistic People and People with Learning Disabilities

Presented by: Councillor Gillian Ford; Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing

Cabinet

2.1       Agreed to support the addition of the of the employment charter into the Council’s Human Resources recruitment and selection policy within the conditions of the Disability Confident scheme.

Overview & Scrutiny Recommendations:

At its meeting on 6 November 2025, the People Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee discussed and made some recommendations re the report being considered by Cabinet on the Havering Learning Disability and Employment Charter.

The specific recommendations in this area are as shown below and Cabinet was asked to respond to these at the Cabinet meeting.

If agreed, Cabinet is also asked to approve that a final version of the Charter, incorporating these changes, be published as soon as is practicable, on the Council’s website alongside the agenda papers for this Cabinet meeting.

1.         That Cabinet considers and responds to the following recommendations made by the People Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee in relation to the report on the Havering Learning Disability and Autism Employment Charter due to be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 12 November 2025.

•           Section 5.1.1: The term ‘positive discrimination’ be amended to ‘positive action’, aligning with the Equality Act 2010.

•           Sections 5.1.3 and 5.1.4: These sections be amended as follows:

o          5.1.3 will now focus on ensuring training and support to enable people with learning disabilities and autistic people to develop skills for career progression.

o          5.1.4 will now refer to reviewing the effectiveness of supported employment services, rather than continuous assessment.

2.         That Cabinet notes that these refinements strengthen the Charter, ensure compliance with equality legislation, and reinforce the Council’s commitment to fairness, accessibility, and impact.

3.         Should the above proposed amendments be accepted by Cabinet, that the final version of the Havering Learning Disability and Autism Employment Charter be published for clarity on the Council’s website page for this meeting of Cabinet.

Cabinet agreed to all of the above recommendations and agreed that  the updated document is attached below as confirmation.

The London Borough of Havering Employment Charter – Employment of People with Learning Disabilities and Autistic People

1.0       Introduction

1.1.      Inequalities and inequity in employment can be associated with inequalities and inequity in other areas of life including health, social mobility, and education. People with learning disabilities and autistic people are more likely to be experience life inequalities and be unemployed relative to both the general population and even people with other kinds of disability.

1.2.      To help reduce inequalities in employment outcomes for people with learning disabilities and autistic people, the London Borough of Havering will adopt the following charter to increase the number of people with learning disabilities and autistic people employed locally.

1.3.      This charter forms part of the borough’s wider employment strategy, the local autism strategy, and our commitment to the Disability Confident Employer scheme.

2.0       Vision

2.1.      To promote employment opportunities and personal  ...  view the full decision text for item 11.