Northants-based housing association Greatwell Homes has progressed to level two of the government’s Disability Confident scheme.

The scheme was created to encourage employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people.

To achieve the level two ‘employer’ status, Greatwell Homes strengthened its recruitment and workplace practices to be inclusive and accessible for all candidates and colleagues, as well as embedding reasonable adjustments into their everyday approach.

Julie Robinson, executive director at Greatwell Homes, said: “Our Live Happy strategy is about being an employer of choice and strengthening our culture as a great, inclusive place to work that promotes diversity, treats people fairly and creates opportunities to grow. Moving to level two of the Disability Confident scheme reflects this commitment as we’ve been able to demonstrate clear, practical actions through a full self-assessment confirming our inclusive processes and ongoing improvement efforts.

“Our work doesn’t stop there. We will continue to review and enhance our inclusive practices, as well as building awareness and confidence across the organisation through training and resources. We will celebrate and share stories that highlight the impact of disability inclusion whenever we can and will also prepare for our future goal of achieving level three of this scheme and becoming a Disability Confident Leader.”