Disability Advisory Group Chair
Could you help us to build the trust and confidence between Surrey Police and our Disabled communities in Surrey?
We are looking for a chairperson to lead, structure and facilitate our Disability Advisory Group meetings. As the Chair of this group, you will have the opportunity to help advise on issues of disability and how they impact local disabled communities and their relationship with the Police.
The Disability Advisory Group meetings will meet quarterly on a weekday evening.
The location of the first meeting in summer 2024 will be at Surrey Police Headquarters, Guildford. Future meetings may be held at different locations and/or online to ensure maximum accessibility for group members.
An online option will always be available. All meetings will be inclusive and accessible for all.
Chief Constables' MessageWe really welcome your interest in joining our Police Force. It is a privilege to lead the teams in Surrey Police and Sussex Police who continuously work selflessly and tirelessly in order to keep people in our counties safe.
We are looking for talented and inspirational people who put the needs of the public at the heart of everything that they do and who want to make a difference. If you feel you are that person then we want to hear from you.
We wish you all the very best with your application.
Chief Constable Tim De Meyer & Chief Constable Jo Shiner
The Role & Key ResponsibilitiesThe Disability Advisory Group (DAG) will provide a valuable link between disabled communities and Surrey Police. It will comprise of Surrey residents who represent and reflect the diversity of our local communities.
As the chairperson you will foster an environment where members feel comfortable expressing their opinions, without fear of interruption or judgement.
The Chairperson will also be involved in the process of recruiting new members to the Disability Advisory Group, supporting the group's growth and development.
The purpose of the Disability Advisory Group is to advance equality of opportunity, foster good relations, inspire confidence, and enhance knowledge between the police and diverse communities. It will provide an opportunity to give constructive criticism to what the police do. The group will act as a critical friend providing independent and meaningful advice.
The chair of the Disability Advisory Group will be independent from Surrey Police. They will be prepared to voice their opinion and support the Force on matters relating to disability. We seek a chair who is not afraid to challenge and hold us to account on how we conduct ourselves as a Force, supporting us to operate as an anti-discriminatory organisation.
The key responsibility of the chairperson will be to preside over meetings, ensuring that discussions progress smoothly with full participation from all members.
As the official spokesperson, the chairperson may be called upon to represent the Disability Advisory Group views and positions as needed. They will maintain regular liaison with Surrey Police, serving as the primary point of contact.
Skills & ExperienceThe chairperson should be someone who treats everyone equally, handles sensitive topics carefully, and can smoothly manage conversations to keep the group working well together.
They will play a key role in connecting Surrey Police with the Disability Advisory Group and should have a good understanding the issues that people with disabilities face, particularly in relation to policing.
For this role, we're seeking a volunteer who may not have done this before but has the right set of skills. They should be a natural leader, proactive, good at listening, and able to communicate with people clearly and effectively.
They also need to understand the importance of keeping information confidential and have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
Why Volunteer With Us?Volunteering as a Surrey Police Disability Advisory Group Chair will provide the opportunity to:
- Build experience and gain skills as a team leader and chair.
- Gain an understanding of police practices and priorities.
- Provide support to lead changes on police practices and priorities at Surrey Police
- Contribute to realising Surrey Police’s vision of delivering safe, satisfied, and confident communities.
- Understand how Surrey Police operate and help develop their activity around disability.
- Help to build relationships and trust between diverse community groups and Surrey Police.
We are only as good as our people. It's really important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we'll grow from the variety of thinking, approach and skills that diversity brings; all of which help us to deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all.
We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and Disability Confident, a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.
We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status or religious belief, we would love to hear from you.
Please use the following links to find out more on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Surrey Police and Sussex Police
Further InformationThe role profile contains more information about becoming a Disability Advisory Group Chair. If you have any questions about the role please contact the Inclusion Team at inclusion@surrey.police.uk for further information or if you have any questions.
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