Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) 

Find out how NHS Essex uses the Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) to improve inclusion, accessibility and staff experience.

The Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) is a national NHS programme that helps NHS Essex understand and improve the workplace experiences of disabled staff.

WDES compares the experiences of disabled and non-disabled staff across a range of measures. This helps NHS organisations identify inequalities and take action to improve fairness, accessibility and inclusion.

What WDES measures

WDES uses ten indicators to assess workplace equality. These measures look at areas such as:

  • recruitment and selection
  • career progression and promotion
  • access to training and development
  • representation in senior roles
  • workplace culture and inclusion
  • staff experience, including bullying, harassment and discrimination

This information helps NHS Essex understand the experiences of disabled staff and identify where improvements are needed.

How NHS Essex uses WDES data

We use findings from WDES to:

  • identify inequalities and gaps
  • develop and publish actions to reduce inequalities
  • improve workplace accessibility and adjustments
  • support retention and career development
  • create a safe, inclusive and supportive workplace

Why the Workforce Disability Equality Standard matters

This national framework helps NHS Essex ensure disabled staff are treated fairly and have equal opportunities. It supports our commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Creating an inclusive workplace helps staff feel valued and supported. This also helps us deliver better services for patients and communities across Essex.

How WDES supports improvement

WDES helps NHS Essex monitor progress and understand whether actions are improving staff experience. We review this information alongside staff feedback and workforce data to identify priorities and strengthen inclusion across our organisation.

Our WDES report

We publish our WDES data each year to show our progress and identify areas for improvement.

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You can read more about WDES on the NHS England website.

You can read more about WDES on the NHS England website