Reasonable Adjustments 

What are reasonable adjustments?  

If you find aspects of recruitment that are difficult for you, perhaps because of a disability, mental or physical health condition, or otherwise face barriers in recruitment, we are keen to put reasonable adjustments in place to support you.  

We are committed to removing barriers from our recruitment processes to ensure candidates have the best possible recruitment experience with the House of Commons.   

What we do as a Disability Confident employer to help you during recruitment? 

As a Disability Confident Leader, we have made a commitment to making appropriate arrangements or adjustments to create a full and equal participation in our selection process.  

We also offer a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled candidates if you meet the minimum requirement for all the criteria outlined in the Person Specification in the Job Description.  

Can I ask for reasonable adjustments?  

As an inclusive employer, we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments if you need support with your application, taking a test/assessment or interviewing.  

Examples of reasonable adjustments requests 

Some examples of support that we can offer include: 

• changing the time, location or format of interviews
• changing an interview from face-to-face to virtual 
• providing interview questions in written format 
• providing interview questions in advance of the interview 
• a sign language interpreter 
• a supported test session  
• additional time in timed tests, interviews or other assessment activities 
• advice about assistive technology 

This is not an exhaustive list, and we will consider any reasonable adjustments that you might need.  

How do I request reasonable adjustments? 

When applying or being assessed for one of our roles you will be asked if you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.  

Please tick the reasonable adjustments box on the application form if you would like that to be considered at the initial stage of the recruitment process. One of our team will follow up with you and speak to you confidentially about your needs.  

You can also give us a call or email us at any time, and we can speak to you about the support we can potentially provide. 

You can email recruitment@parliament.uk and you can call us on 020 7219 6011.  

Examples of reasonable adjustments that we have put in place for candidates 

Example A  

A candidate with a neurodivergent condition was asked to complete a test as part of the assessment and selection process. Prior to the test, the candidate requested that they were provided with additional time to complete the test. We provided additional time for the candidate to complete the test to ensure they were not at a disadvantage during this stage of the process.  

Example B 

A candidate with a hearing impairment was invited to interview with the House of Commons. Prior to the interview, they requested that a British Sign Language Interpreter was present. We provided a BSL interpreter who was present and assisted where necessary during the interview.   

Example C  

A candidate with a neurodivergent condition requested to see the interview questions prior to the interview. We provided the questions prior to the interview and also provided the questions in a written format during the interview. 

Example D 

A candidate with accessibility issues who was invited to interview requested assistance on the day. We changed the location of the interview and provided support to the candidate to ensure they had a smooth experience when physically attending the interview.