Nottinghamshire Police operates under the Disability Confident scheme, which is a commitment to employ and support disabled people.

James Holland, who is visually impaired, tells Able Magazine about the support he’s received to help him succeed in the workplace…

Tell us about your role and how it contributes to the organisation?
As a registered blind switchboard operator who has been employed by Nottinghamshire Police since 2006, my role is to be the first point of contact for the organisation. My main responsibility is to answer a high volume of 101 calls as well as the overspill of 999 calls. The role also requires me to respond to the yellow emergency phones which are located outside of police stations and assist my colleagues with any internal enquiries.

What adjustments, support, or attitudes in the workplace have made the biggest positive difference for you?
When I joined 20 years ago, Nottinghamshire Police had not previously employed anyone who was registered as blind, and although the process took time, the organisation went to great lengths to ensure the correct equipment and support were in place.

Things have come a long way since then but when I was onboarded, Nottinghamshire Police ensured that I had all the specialist equipment needed to do my role effectively and made reasonable adjustments where necessary to support me. This included working with a company called Blazie who scripted and readapted all my equipment in the control room. I now have regular check-ins with Blazie to ensure that I have access to everything I need to do my job, and they often come in to script new updates for me which currently includes the new intranet – our internal communications system.

How does your team and wider departments support you?
My team is always ready to support me when I need additional assistance due to my disability. There are times, such as when I need to do mandatory e-learning, when my supervisor will step in to offer support due to the considerable amount of reading it requires.

Colleagues from different departments also ensure that I continuously have accessibility to the site, and I am informed of any changes so that the necessary changes can be readjusted. I feel that my disability has helped to educate Nottinghamshire Police and adds a greater depth of diversity to our workplace. People don’t always understand the challenges that come with having a disability, so I am always keen to educate people from time to time so that they can better understand how to address and communicate with me.

What do you enjoy most about working for Nottinghamshire Police?
The thing I enjoy most is being able to help members of the public when they are upset, distressed or confused. If I am able to help solve someone’s problem, I find that incredibly satisfying and it reminds me that I can communicate effectively, stay calm in someone’s time of need, and make a meaningful difference in their life.

What advice would you give to disabled people thinking of joining Nottinghamshire Police?
Whilst it can sometimes be frustrating waiting for everything to be put in place, it is important to communicate exactly what you need to be able to do the job effectively so that Nottinghamshire Police can ensure they do everything they can to support you into the organisation. It has been a pleasure to work here for the last 20 years, and I hope that by sharing my experience, I will encourage other disabled people to seek employment here.

For further information about opportunities with Nottinghamshire Police, visit: www.nottinghamshire.police.uk