This accessibility statement applies to the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) Support website.
This website is run by the NHS Business Services Authority. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:
- zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
- navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
- listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including latest version of ChromeVox).
We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
How accessible this website is
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible, as:
- there is content which requires use of a mouse
- forms do not have labels or instructions
- buttons and links do not have clear or unique text
- some links are not necessary
- images do not have unique names
- there are pages with colours which do not contrast sufficiently
- images do not have alternative text
- headings and tables are not ordered correctly
- older pdf documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software
- you may not be able to navigate the website using speech recognition software
- skip links are missing on some pages
How to request content in an accessible format
If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille, you can contact us by:
Email: nhsbsa.accessibility@nhs.net
We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 5 working days.
This inbox is only for accessibility queries. This inbox is not for technical queries or IT problems. If you have a query that is not about accessibility, go to the ‘Contact us’ section of this page.
Reporting accessibility problems with this website
We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems that aren’t listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, you can contact us by:
Email: nhsbsa.accessibility@nhs.net
This inbox is only for accessibility queries. This inbox is not for technical queries or IT problems. If you have a query that is not about accessibility, go to the ‘Contact us’ section of this page.
Enforcement procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’).
If you are not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
Contact us
For all queries not accessibility related, you can contact us by:
Email: esr.communications@nhs.net
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
The NHS Business Services Authority is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Compliance status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.
Non-accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations
It may not be possible to navigate the website without using a mouse. This fails WCAG success criterion 2.1.1 (Keyboard).
Forms do not have labels, so people using a screen reader cannot access the information. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 3.3.2 (Label or Instruction).
Buttons and links on some pages do not have clear or unique text, so people using a screen reader cannot access the information. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.4 (Link Purpose (In Context)) and 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value).
Links are not necessary, which makes the content confusing to people using a screen reader. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.4 (Link Purpose (In Context)).
Content does not have unique names, so people using a screen reader cannot access the information. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.1 (Parsing).
Pages do not use colours which contrast sufficiently. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.3 (Contrast (Minimum)).
Images do not have alternative text. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (Non Text Content).
Headings and table headings are not ordered correctly. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.10 (Section Heading).
It may not be possible to navigate the website using speech recognition software. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value) & 4.1.3 (Status Messages).
Skip links are missing on some pages. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.1 (Bypass Blocks)
We plan to fix all the accessibility issues by March 2022.
Disproportionate burden
Not applicable
Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
PDFs and other documents
Some of our PDFs and Word documents are essential to providing our services. For example, we have PDFs with information on how users can access our services, and forms published as Word documents. By March 2022, we plan to either fix these or replace them with accessible HTML pages.
The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services. For example, we do not plan to fix Quick Start Guide to e-Learning in ESR.
Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.
Live video
Not applicable.
What we’re doing to improve accessibility
We’re committed to making sure this website is compliant to WCAG 2.1 ‘AA’ standard.
Our accessibility compliance statement will be reviewed every 6 months. Every new released website will be designed, built and tested to meet ‘AA’ standards by default.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 20 September 2020. It was last reviewed on 30 September 2021.
This website was last tested on 20 September 2020. The test was carried out by the NHS ESR Central Team.
We tested all of the website screens to meet ‘AA’ WCAG 2.1 standards, using manual and automated tests.
We run each webpage through automated Wave, Lighthouse and Axe accessibility tools then manually test with screen readers (ChromeVox) and standards checklists.
These checklists contain standards that have been compiled using WCAG, NHS service manual and GDS guidance.