Can flexible job design improve employment outcomes for people with fluctuating disabilities?

The FlexPlus Project based at Kings College London will explore how flexible job design could enable businesses to employ more people with fluctuating long-term health conditions. 

Catherine Hale, one of the researchers on this multi-disciplinary project will run this online session which will cover 

The FlexPlus Project 

• Explain more about the Flex Project
• Expand on what a FlexPlus Job looks like 
• Identify how to become involved in the Flex Project.

 The evidence base – Astriid

• Explore survey findings on the barriers to work reported by people with long term conditions and what factors would bring them closer to a job
• case study showing the need for FlexPlus jobs
• Experience of job matching team – the difficulties in adapting hiring processes to meet our candidate’s needs.

Background on long term conditions - Chronic Illness Inclusion

• A new approach to long term conditions and disability through lived experience. Beyond the medical model of ‘work and health’.
• Core features of energy limiting conditions: fluctuation, energy impairment, cognitive fatigue, payback.

Catherine Hale founded Chronic Illness Inclusion a Disabled People’s Organisation, whose mission to change policies and perceptions around energy limiting conditions (ELCs) and chronic pain. She is a disability research and co-production consultant and has created a free resource for Astriid aimed at employees and their managers called  "What are energy limiting conditions?"