Amanda Wadsworth has been a passionate and dedicated career Civil Servant for over thirty-six years. She has worked for a number of key government departments including the Department of Transport, Department of the Environment and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in a variety of different job-roles ranging from operational management delivery, government procurement, learning and development. For the past eight years, she has held national disability-related strategy/policy roles.
As the policy lead for Autism and Neurodiversity across DWP, Amanda worked strategically with other government departments and key stakeholders. She chaired the Hidden Impairment National Group (HING) with the aim of improving provision and services for people with Autism and Neurodiverse conditions; delivering a range of toolkits and resources to upskill staff/managers.
As a government official, Amanda supports the work of the Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work. She has been instrumental in the development and implementation of the governments Disability Confident scheme, which supports employers of all size and sector to effectively attract, recruit and retain disabled people in the workplace. Amanda works closely with MPs (cross party) and with the DWP’s Professional Adviser and Business Leaders Group(s). Amanda was a Parent Governor and Chair for 10-years at Cheadle Catholic Infant school. She is also proud to be a Mental Health First Aid England Instructor.
Throughout her career, her contribution has received significant recognition, as follows:
- 2006 – Inaugural Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Awards: Winner for Innovation category (Design and development of Recruitment That Works: Disability Provision)
- 2007- Whitehall and Westminster World Awards: Winner for Excellent Customer Service (Design and development of the Employ-Ability Programme for disadvantaged groups)
- 2008 – Awarded: Member of the British Empire (MBE) by the Queen for Services to the Public Sector.