Support policy for police officers with SpLDs(Specific Learning Difficulties) needs
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.025918
I note you seek access to the following information:
I am looking for some information regarding your support policy for police officers with SPLD needs.
If an officer was to question if they could potentially have dyslexia, dyspraxia, etc, are the MET required to provide free support for SPLD screening as this would impact their performance within their job.
I would appreciate it if you could provide me with information regarding this and contact information to the department who would support MET Police Officers with SPLD support.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
SPLD covers a wide range of neuro-diverse conditions, which makes it difficult to give too detailed an answer to your request.
The Met will consider appropriate workplace adjustments for all officers and staff with neurodiverse conditions, e.g. dyslexia, where there is evidence the condition is impacting on their ability to fulfil their role or their career aspirations.
In order to be able to provide the correct support and workplace adjustment, the Met will require a full diagnostic assessment/assessment report to better understand the condition to be able to make the appropriate adjustments. This assessment is designed to highlight the areas where specific support is needed, so that the Met can tailor adjustments to specific needs.
In the first instance, officers and staff are advised to complete the initial assessment tool (available to them on the Disability Staff Association website) which will indicate how likely it is that they are i.e. dyslexic. Where it is likely that they are i.e. dyslexic, they will need to speak with their line manager to organise for a full diagnostic assessment to be prepared.
The Met may pay for the cost of an assessment where there is evidence that an individual has a neurodiverse condition and there is a need to identify workplace adjustments. This is considered on a case by case basis. It is important, in the first instance, that support needs are discussed with an individual’s line manager to better understand:
• why they feel they need further support and any information associated with neurodiverse conditions (including dyslexia)
• the impact that the individual and their line manager feel it is having on their work, with examples (where appropriate)
• identify any suitable adjustments that can be implemented locally that the individual believes may assist them
We can advise that if an individual has any condition outside of Dyslexia, they would need to book a GP appointment to be seen by a specialist and formally assessed. There is currently no screening tool online that gives official diagnosis for conditions outside of Dyslexia.
The MPS Disability Support Association provides advice and support to Met Officers and Staff. The DSA has 30 staff support networks which include Autism, Dyslexia, and Dyspraxia and soon they will be launching the ADHD support network. They are currently working to provide more streamline support for neuro typical individuals in terms of career progression, work place capability assessments, reasonable adjustments, procurement of support tools, as well as raising awareness that neuro typical individuals are equally an important part of the organisation.
They can be contacted via email – [email protected]