CES Definition

Clinician Enabling Support (CES): Definition and Purpose

1. What is CES?

Clinician Enabling Support (CES) is a form of workplace support designed to remove disability-related barriers for clinicians with neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and Dyslexia. It involves the provision of dedicated Band 4–5 support staff to assist with specific tasks that are disproportionately difficult due to disability but essential to safe clinical practice.

CES is not routine administrative support. It is:

- Separate from standard secretarial/clerical functions, which all clinicians receive.

- Targeted at disability-related needs, in line with the Equality Act 2010 duty to make reasonable adjustments.

- Clinically enabling, because it frees doctors to focus on direct patient care and training rather than being disproportionately burdened by paperwork.

2. Why is CES Needed?

- NHS studies show doctors already spend the majority of their time on non-patient tasks (e.g. 73% for residents – TACT study, 2024).

- For clinicians with ADHD, executive dysfunction and time management difficulties mean routine admin takes longer and creates greater stress.

- Without CES, this places such clinicians at a substantial disadvantage compared to their peers.

3. What Does CES Do?

CES staff can:

- Draft and prepare clinical correspondence, reports, and referrals.

- Manage scheduling, documentation, revalidation, and training portfolio requirements.

- Support task prioritisation and follow-up, especially where ADHD causes organisational barriers.

- Act as a disability-specific support worker (a category recognised by Access to Work).

4. How is CES Different from Admin?

- Standard admin support = routine, generic tasks provided to all consultants, trainees, or GP practices (secretaries, receptionists, clerks).

- CES = additional, protected support linked specifically to the disability-related disadvantage caused by ADHD (or other conditions).

- CES therefore sits in the category of a reasonable adjustment, not general resourcing.

5. Funding

- Cost-effective even without external funding (CES reallocates consultant,GP/trainee hours to patient care).

- Access to Work may part/fully-fund/ CES as a 'support worker' role, further reducing employer costs.

- For trainees, CES can also be supported through the Education & Training tariff already paid for by the NHS.

6. Benefits of CES

- For clinicians: reduces stress, supports health, improves training success.

- For patients: increases patient-facing time, reduces delays and errors.

- For employers: cost-effective, improves retention, reduces locum costs, fulfils Equality Act obligations.