Bank of Ireland has launched its Neuroinclusion Strategy including a suite of policies and process improvements to support neurodivergent colleagues and candidates in three key areas: Understanding, Infrastructure and Culture. In line with its ambition to be one the best places to work, Bank of Ireland aims to become one of the most neuroinclusive organisations on the island of Ireland.
Within the strategy, Bank of Ireland is undertaking a number of initiatives to support neuroinclusion for colleagues and customers, including:
- Providing all colleagues with a foundational level understanding of neurodiversity and empowering them to educate themselves with available resources.
- Providing neuroinclusion training for customer-facing colleagues so needs of neurodivergent customers are served consistently well.
- Revised and improved processes on attraction, recruitment, onboarding, accommodations and career development.
- Assessment of colleague and customer physical environments and adaptation for neuroinclusion.
- Introducing an Inclusion Passport for colleagues to encourage communication of needs.
Matt Elliott, Chief People Officer, Bank of Ireland, said: “How we better support neurodivergent people in education, the workplace and wider society requires a joined-up effort and focused action.
“We want to create an inclusive workplace where all people applying for a role or coming to work for us feel welcome, supported, and valued. We are taking some practical steps and making improvements to our colleagues’ and managers’ understanding, our physical and operational infrastructure and our culture to make our organisation one of the most neuroinclusive on the island of Ireland.
“Talent is everywhere. People don’t all look, sound, or think the same way. In making Bank of Ireland a more inclusive place to work, we are also building a company that is better equipped to serve all of our customers and to make a positive contribution to wider society”.
Bank of Ireland has partnered with the globally recognised organisation auticon, a specialist technology consulting business and social enterprise, that helps companies become a destination for neurodivergent talent. Working with auticon and using ñima – a data-analysis tool (developed by neurodivergent developers) that assesses an organisation’s neuroinclusion maturity – Bank of Ireland has conducted an in-depth assessment of its policies, practices and employee experience. The findings from this wide-ranging assessment helped to inform the actions the Bank is taking to become a more neuroinclusive workplace.
Global CEO of auticon, Kurt Schöffer, said: “Over the last 15 years, we have seen, through auticon’s proven global success, that creating a neuroinclusive working environment isn’t just good for the individual, it’s good for everyone. Expanding our offering across the island of Ireland presents a huge, and exciting opportunity to bring widespread understanding of the exceptional skills and talents that neurodivergent people have to offer, along with working with organisations to create workplaces where they can thrive. Everyone stands to benefit. Our Neuroinclusion Services are crucial to facilitating this and we are so delighted to be partnering with Bank of Ireland – an organisation that shares our passion, for showcasing the strengths of neurodivergent talent.”
Leading social enterprise, NOW Group, who support people with learning difficulties and autism into employment, were one of a number of organisations invited to the launch of Bank of Ireland’s Neuroinclusion Strategy.
Jessica Conlon, Regional Manager at NOW Group said: “Neurodiversity is as prevalent in the boardroom, in offices and workplaces, as it is in our schools, homes and communities – that’s a fact we at NOW Group are determined to raise awareness of, to ensure those who are neurodivergent feel seen and supported wherever they are.
“NOW Group works with people with learning difficulties, autism and other neurodiverse conditions to help them secure and sustain jobs with a future, so we are delighted to see businesses with the influence and prestige that Bank of Ireland has putting significant work and commitment into their Neuroinclusion Strategy. We look forward to working together to enhance support for neurodivergent employees and customers in the near future.”
Bank of Ireland’s Neuroinclusion Strategy initiatives include:
Understanding – To build awareness and understanding on neurodiversity and neuroinclusion by:
- Providing all colleagues with a foundational level understanding of neurodiversity and empowering them to educate themselves with available resources.
- Training People Managers to have confident conversations about neurodiversity and understand where to access support.
- Providing neuroinclusion training for customer-facing colleagues so needs of neurodivergent customers are served consistently well.
Infrastructure – To develop operational infrastructure for Neuroinclusion through:
- Language guides, support avenues, resources and diagnosis support.
- Revised and improved processes on attraction, recruitment, onboarding, accommodations and career development.
- Assessment of colleague and customer physical environments and adaptation for neuroinclusion.
Culture – To create an environment that values neurodiversity by:
- Changing perceptions, reducing stigma and valuing the strengths of neurodiversity.
- Embedding an ethos that everyone is different by introducing an Inclusion Passport to encourage communication of needs.
- Actively including neurodivergent voices in decision-making
Sources:
Source 1: Neurodiversity at work: a biopsychosocial model and the impact on working adults. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7732033/
Source 2: Access to employment: A comparison of autistic, neurodivergent and neurotypical adults’ experiences of hiring processes in the United Kingdom. Autism, 27(6), 1746-1763. Quoted in Buckland Review: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-buckland-review-of-autism-employment-report-and-recommendations/the-buckland-review-of-autism-employment-report-and-recommendations
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