Recommendation - South Wales Police, July 2025

The IOPC recommends that South Wales Police review and where necessary amend their practice, guidance and policies surrounding the provision of timely reasonable adjustments for disabled employees. This learning recommendation has arisen following an IOPC investigation review, following a complaint investigation.

During the course of the investigation, an officer stated that they accessed old entries on the force system without a policing purpose. They wanted to review the templates used for that crime type. This helped them remember what they needed to do and made it simpler as they struggled to use the system due to being dyslexic. They did not have any supporting software to assist them in using police systems and completing day-to-day tasks.

It is hoped that by reviewing and amending practice, guidance and policies, that officers will be supported appropriately, and this may prevent a recurrence of similar behaviour by other officers.

Accepted

A Continuous Improvement exercise was finalised in 2024, identifying a number of improvements and recommendations with regards to the provision of reasonable adjustments.

The aim of the work was to enable South Wales Police to:

• Improve processes to ensure new appointments have the reasonable adjustments that they need in a timely manner.
• Improve processes to ensure that staff and officers have the reasonable adjustments they need as they move around the organisation.
• Improve processes for individuals obtaining reasonable adjustments while already in post, either as a result of a change in circumstance or through issues in obtaining assessments when they suspect they may need support e.g. dyslexia or autism assessment.
• Improve overarching support for Neurodivergent colleagues.
• Improve processes to ensure that equipment is reclaimed when staff and officers leave the organisation.
• Reduce the number of grievances where elements of failure to provide reasonable adjustments have been claimed.

Following an in-depth analysis of the issues at hand the following principles were proposed:

• Need to have clear ownership and governance via Human Resources and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Gold Board.
• Appointment of a Reasonable Adjustments Co-ordinator for the force.
• Implement the NPCC/COP recommendations with regards to reasonable adjustment.
• Development of a Reasonable Adjustments Passport/Toolkit.
• Standardisation of processes and forms related to reasonable adjustments, with a supporting policy.
• Creation of a Reasonable Adjustments panel with appeals process.
• Co-ordination of Neurodiversity Assessments and Assessors.
• Oversight of Recuperative and Adjusted Duties officers as directed by Strategic Resource Board.

The following progress has been made against the recommendations:

Resources

In January 2025 a Workforce Accessibility Team was created to implement the changes and drive improvement for the long term. This team comprises of an HR Business Partner, Sergeant and Workforce Accessibility Support Officer. The original recommendation of the appointing of a Reasonable Adjustments Coordinator has been incorporated into the HR Business Partner and Sergeant functions.

Governance

An appropriate governance structure within HR has been adopted with further work underway to understand how the work bridges into wider force governance systems.

Workforce Ability Passport/Toolkit

The Neurodiversity Toolkit, aimed at supporting staff and officers, was launched in March 2025.

With regards to the passport and following consultation with the relevant staff support networks/force departments, an interim process/passport has been agreed, due for roll out in September 2025. This is a temporary measure whilst the long-term plan for a Reasonable Adjustments Portal/APP is realised.

Standardisation of processes and forms

All Reasonable Adjustments Guidance is under review and will be launched alongside the new passport to ensure consistency and standardisation. It will also include all new starters and will ensure a closer working relationship with our Learning and Development Services colleagues to ensure all Reasonable Adjustments and relevant information is reviewed and shared at key times.

Co-ordination of Neurodiversity Assessments and Assessors

When adjustments are required for a neurodivergent condition, if necessary, a full assessment will be completed and appropriate software, coaching, etc will be arranged.  This process is now in place via an external provider, however going forward SWP is aiming to train 10 Level 4 Assessors.

Reasonable Adjustments Panel

This has been implemented. 

Oversight of Recuperative and Adjusted Duties officers

Recuperative and Adjusted Officers are now a standard agenda item in Organisational Resource Board and Strategic Resource Board – relevant data/detail is included as part of the pack for both meetings.

The detail contained in this response satisfied the recommendation and demonstrates the work undertaken by South Wales Police, far in advance of the recommendation being received, to better support neurodiverse colleagues and our ongoing commitment in this space.