Accessibility Statement
This accessibility statement applies to the Greater Manchester Personal Assistant website, available at greatermanchesterpa.org.uk. This website is run by Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership.
We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website.
For example, this means you should be able to:
- Change colours, contrast levels and fonts
- Zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
- Modify the line height or spacing of text
- Navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
- Navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
- Listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver).
We have also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.
This website was launched on 19th October 2020 and is designed to be compliant with the international standard Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG) – Level AA.
How Accessible is this Website?
We are aware that there are some parts of this website that are not fully accessible:-
- This website uses JavaScript to deliver certain features. Please make sure you have JavaScript turned on within your browser to deliver full features
- Accessibility Widget in banner landmark may not correctly reflow. Horizontal slider shows at 150%.
- Hamburger menu when shown in mobile devices doesn’t have accessible name. Please say “Toggle navigation” when using voice recognition technology to access website
- Images may not have alternative text describing them.
- External links do not describe purpose of link within link text. Please see Purpose of Links section (below).
- Colour contrast of web links is too low on default style sheet. Works in High Contrast alternative.
- Most older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software.
- Live video streams do not have captions.
Using this Website
Accessible Features
This website uses a widget that contains several Accessible features that can be used by users with specific requirements. The widget is available on the top right-hand side of the header menu.
These features include:
Contrast & Font Size
Changing the contrast and font sizes of text can increase legibility for some users.
This website has two colour contrast settings, firstly, the “default colour scheme” which provides a suitable level of contrast for most users and satisfies the accessibility standards. However, if a user feels the colour contrast is too low in areas the website also contains a “high contrast scheme” which satisfies all accessibility standards for colour contrast.
A user can change the contrast settings by clicking on the icons at the top right of screen. For a user using voice recognition please say, “Switch to colour theme” and “Switch to high contrast theme” respectively for the same result.
To increase the font size, click on the icons at the top right of the screen. For a user using voice recognition please say, “Switch to normal font size”, “Switch to big font size” and “Switch to biggest font size” respectively for the same result. The user can also use the browser’s own zoom facility.
Further information on accessibility options
AbilityNet (opens in a new tab) has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
Accessible Alternatives
Efforts have been made to create accessible alternatives for content that does not meet standards where possible.
Where appropriate we may be able to deliver content to users in accordance with their needs.
Please see “Make a request for Accessible Content” section for further details.
Make a request for Accessible Content
If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille; Please emails us at: gmhscp.pcca@nhs.net or call 0203 978 3357.
For more information please see the 'Contact us and Complaints Procedure' section.
Purpose of Links
Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership will use links to navigate to content on the website. External links will open in a new window.
Where possible the action of an external link will be described by extra description within the link text, so all users can understand the link’s purpose. However, in certain areas of the website adding this extra description will become a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations.
We have provided the following definition for external links: -
External Links will be used for any content that has known limitations with assistive technologies OR navigates a user away from secure platforms. In summary, this means the following items are considered External links –
- Non-HTML Documentation (See “Issues with PDFs and other documents”)
- Redirection away from secure platforms
- External websites that are not part of Greater Manchester.
Contact us and Complaints Procedure
We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we are not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact us.
If you need information on this website in a different format, please emails us at: gmhscp.pcca@nhs.net or call 0203 978 3357.
Write to us at Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership , 4th Floor, 3 Piccadilly Place, London Road, Manchester, M1 3BN (please note all staff often work remotely, therefore please email or call where possible).
Technical Information about this Website’s Accessibility
Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG) AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below. (See Non- Accessible Content section).
Enforcement Procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) (opens in new window) responsible for enforcing the accessibility regulations. If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, please contact the Equality Advisory and Support Services (EASS) (opens in new window)
Non-Accessible Content
Non-compliance with the Accessibility Regulations
While reviewing this website it has come to our attention that there are areas that fail to meet WCAG 2.1:
JavaScript Issues
The website makes use of JavaScript to deliver certain pieces of functionality such as the Accessibility Widget and Progressive Disclosure menus.
We would advise all users of this website to use a JavaScript enabled browser.
Issues with Link Text
It has been discovered that some links do not make sense when read on its own. For example, “click here” or “read more”.
We will analyse our links in accordance with the Purpose of Links section.
We are reviewing content on a regular basis and will make the necessary changes when we discover them.
Issues with Images
All our images contain some form of alternative text. It has been discovered that some images may not have alternative text that informs the user about an image. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 Information and Relationships.
We are reviewing content on a regular basis and will make the necessary changes when we discover them.
Issues with Voice recognition
It has been discovered that menus of the website when displayed on smartphones or tablets are inaccessible to users who use voice recognition software.
The menus displayed do not have an adequate labelling mechanism. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.5.3 Label in Name.
Our website provider is working on a fix which we expect to be in place by November 2020.
Issues with Colour Contrast
It has been discovered that the colour contrast of text in certain areas of the website is too low. The area is the links in the footer of the website. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.3 Colour Contrast (Minimum) for the default colour theme.
Using the high contrast alternative style is successful.
Our website provider is working on a fix which we expect to be in place by November 2020.
Disproportionate Burden
There are no issues that are considered a disproportionate burden.
Content that is not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
Web Content that is not subject to the standards referenced in this policy statement are as follows:
- Content that is archived.
- Content on intranets and extranets published before 23/09/2019
- Non-HTML Documentation (PDFs, Microsoft Office files) that were published before 23/09/2018.
- Non-HTML Documentation (PDFs, Microsoft Office files) that are not essential to the services Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership provides.
- Live Audio and Video
- Pre-recorded Audio and Video published before 23/09/2020
- Online Maps and mapping services
- Third Party Content that is not under direct control of Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership or main website provider – Google Translate, Social Media links
Issues with PDFs and other documents
Many of our older PDFs and Word documents do not meet accessibility standards - for example, they may not be marked up to be accessible for a screen reader.
The accessibility regulations don’t require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 (opens in new window) if they’re not essential to providing our services.
Issues with video and audio
Live video streams have captions auto added by YouTube, not all videos are currently checked for the accuracy of their captioning. We do not plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations (opens in new window).
Policy Review
This statement was reviewed on 15th October 2022. Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership will review this policy every year on or before the 22nd September.