Inclusive Employment helps two graduates thrive in IT roles at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Colchester Hospital, part of the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), recently welcomed two new IT team members through an innovative Inclusive Employment programme.
Mark St John-Green, ICT Support Manager for ESNEFT, was first introduced to the idea when the Trust’s HR department connected him with Emma Young, the Inclusive Employment Engagement Lead at ECL.
The ECL inclusive employment service specialises in helping individuals with learning disabilities and autism find meaningful employment. Emma proposed two highly qualified candidates, William and Matthew, who needed an opportunity to prove their autism did not limit their ability to excel in IT roles.
Before speaking with Emma, Mark was unaware that such a service existed. However, after reviewing William and Matthew’s CVs, he was keen to explore the opportunity. Both candidates performed exceptionally well during their interviews, with the support of their ECL Inclusive Employment Consultants. “They were exactly what we required and the best candidates for the job,” remarked Mark.
Although ESNEFT originally had budget approval for one full-time IT role on a fixed-term contract, it became evident that a job-share arrangement would better suit both candidates. A schedule was designed where William works on Mondays to Wednesdays, and Matthew works on Wednesdays to Fridays, overlapping mid-week to ensure smooth handovers.
The two men have adapted well despite starting at a particularly challenging time. “We were unusually busy merging the two desktop domains of the Colchester and Ipswich hospitals,” Mark commented. “The department was open round-the-clock, and there were a lot of people in the office. We couldn’t provide them with an ideal onboarding experience, and they probably felt like spare parts at first. I’m grateful they had their ECL Inclusive Employment Consultants with them—they’ve been brilliant.”
“I initially thought they would only be around for the first day, but they continued accompanying them to work until they felt comfortable working independently before gradually reducing their support to weekly check-ins. Now, they have ECL Sustainment Officers assigned to them should they or we need further support or guidance, but so far, we haven’t needed it.”
James Spencer, their line manager, plays a key role in their success. With personal experience of autism in his own family, James is a strong advocate for equal opportunities. He has made minor but effective adjustments to support their needs, such as ensuring one of the men, who finds interaction with unfamiliar people difficult, does not have to answer the support desk doorbell alone and providing a colleague to accompany him to new locations. In return, he brings immense value to the team, happily assisting with tasks that are less popular with other team members, like loading stock when extra hands are needed.
The impact of William and Matthew has been remarkable. ESNEFT is undergoing the largest digital transformation in its history, requiring thousands of new devices to be built and replaced.
They have excelled in this role, handling the repetitive but crucial task of setting up new equipment with incredible efficiency. Their work has freed up senior engineers, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.
William and Matthew are storming through building all the new kit. It’s a critical but repetitive job, yet they thrive on the routine, which is a huge benefit to the team.
Their colleagues in the IT department are equally impressed. They appreciate the dedication and productivity that William and Matthew bring and are more than happy to be on hand to answer any questions and provide help when needed.
As a result of their contribution and commitment, Mark was able to present a compelling case and successfully secured funding to make their positions permanent.
William and Matthew’s success story highlights the value of Inclusive Employment, not just in entry-level roles but across all sectors. Many highly skilled individuals, including graduates with autism, simply need small adjustments to unlock their potential. Employers who embrace inclusive hiring gain incredibly productive and dedicated employees. ESNEFT’s experience demonstrates that with the right support, neurodiversity is an asset to any workplace.
