FOI 0142-2023/24 - Neurodiversity Support for Officers

Request: 

Q1. Do you a generic policy documents for supporting officers with Neurodiversity conditions?

Q2. If yes to Q1 can I have a copy of the document / documents?

Q3. Do you have any specific policy documents for offering support for the following conditions: Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, attention deficit hyperactive disorder and autistic spectrum disorder?

Q4. If yes to Q3 can I have copies of any of the policies?

Q5. Does your force have any specific support organisations or groups for officers with neuro diversity conditions?

Q6. Does you force have any routine screening for new recruits in terms of identifying any neurodiversity conditions to assist in supporting them through training?

Q7. Under the police constable degree apprenticeship what additional support is provided to police officers in terms of balancing:  Managing a degree while still being expected to undertake the role of a police constable for officers with neurodiversity conditions. 

Q8. Does your force have a specific portfolio holder or named individual overseeing support for officers with neurodiversity conditions as part of their job role. 

Response: 

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police.

 Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you.

Q1. North Yorkshire Police do not currently have a generic policy to support neurodivergent staff, but do have an internal neurodiversity network that provides advice and guidance for officers and staff where needed.

Q2. N/A

Q3. North Yorkshire Police do not currently have a specific policy to support staff in relation to Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and Autistic Spectrum Disorder, but do have an internal neurodiversity network that provides advice and guidance for officers and staff where needed.

Q4. N/A

Q5. We have a Neurodiversity Network with individual leads for Autism, Dyslexia, ADHD, Tourettes,  and membership of the National Police Autism Association (NPAA).

Q6. We rely on trainers recognising or the individual to self declare, but we have 14 trained assessors, including Talent and Diversity Team.

Q7. If the Apprentice has informed the organisation, a Dyslexia Assessment is carried out by one of the in force workplace needs assessors. This information is then shared with the Apprentices supervisor and the reasonable adjustments are discussed with the Apprentice and implemented. This can include a number of different measures, but is tailored to the individual. This can and often does include, additional time/study days, removal from front line duties/response and placed in the protected environment of the Professionsal Development Unit. This is captured in a support plan which highlights the needs of the individual and what support measures have been or will be put in place to support them.

We also work closely with our Educational provider and their disability support team. We utilise joint support plans to ensure that the Apprentice is getting the correct level of support from both Organisations in order to achieve the Apprenticeship.

Q8. No, this is left to the Neurodiversity Network and Talent and Diversity Team.

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data.  It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.