Neurodiversity Support in our Workforce and in Together Services

To do this we strive to learn from the lived experiences of neurodivergent people in our workforce and those using our services and make adjustments to practices we use and environments we provide based on that knowledge we gain.

Within our workforce, this means ensuring people who are neurodivergent feel comfortable and supported in the environments they work in, and we do all we can to enable them to bring their whole self to work and accentuate their individual personality and strengths. In the context of Together’s values, this means seeing the whole person, behaving without prejudice or discrimination, being considerate of people’s preferred communication and working preferences and prioritising their wellbeing. We want everyone to feel they have a voice that is heard, feel safe and supported to be their authentic selves.

Our staff and volunteers regularly support people who are neurodivergent, and we are always striving to learn and understand more about the people we work alongside and what makes them who they are to inform the support we provide. In some instances, the mental distress a person has experienced that leads them to access our services, may have been contributed to or impacted by, the fact they are neurodivergent.

Our staff and volunteers have worked alongside people who have relayed how they have been considered disruptive previously, because common practice in healthcare systems or education for example does not suit them. Our teams always look to adapt the service they provide to suit the individual. Ways those services might adapt include working out the most suitable communication techniques (Together has an Accessible Communications Policy available to staff and volunteers) or building trust so a person feels comfortable to speak up if a situation is causing them distress. Receiving a neurodivergent diagnosis can be important for people to be able to access certain services and a lot of those involve long waits for an assessment. If a person does have a diagnosis, Together staff and volunteers will always look to understand the lived experience of the person and avoid any stereotypes or assumptions that might exist around their neurodivergence.

When working alongside a neurodivergent person who uses Together services, staff and volunteers will work in collaboration with specialist partner organisations who offer specifically tailored support. These partners may include mental health teams, specialist neurodiversity services and primary health services. Integrating with these partner organisations can be crucial in a person accessing assessments and finding suitable pathways towards receiving diagnoses that can help them qualify for support options.

In Together’s accommodation services, people who are neurodivergent can be supported to better engage with the communities they are part of by staff and volunteers, often seeing a real benefit from building these relationships. This is also true of our community support services, where drop-in sessions or workshops are adjusted to make them accessible. Our advocacy services provide a voice for people in secure mental health facilities and help them to express their views. They often support people with learning disabilities and ensure they understand their rights and have the capacity to make decisions for themselves. In our criminal justice services, ensuring individuals understand the court process is a priority for our staff and our teams may help people to access an assessment if they feel the person may be neurodivergent.

Feedback from a neurodivergent staff member at Together on adjustments that help in the work environment

Case Study – Supporting a neurodivergent person in the criminal justice system who experiences mental distress

Joe is a Black British man in his early 20s, who was supported by Together’s Liaison & Diversion Team at Willesden Magistrates Court, whilst facing 2 charges of robbery having served several previous sentences in his youth. Joe has received diagnoses of Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and reported experiencing trauma in the past that had impacted his mental health. He was granted bail with conditions including staying at an agreed residence and complying with a curfew tag.

When Joe first accessed Together services, he was not taking his ADHD medication. He explained this was because he did not like negative side effects such as feeling unmotivated or having no appetite. Joe did acknowledge however, that his family and friends had noticed a positive change in him when he was on his medication and that he was less likely to get in trouble when on it.

When Joe received conditional bail, the Forensic Mental Health Professional (FMHP) made a referral to Brent Community Mental Health Team and within that he received support for his neurodivergent conditions and his unresolved trauma along with medical treatment for his ADHD. The FMHP organised a further referral to his GP to explore issues Joe had had with alcohol so he could be linked with specialist drug and alcohol services. As a condition of his bail Joe was referred to Brent Community Mental Health Team and they organised for him to be referred to specialised services in the area providing Autism and ADHD support. Joe was also given crisis information and numbers for organisations like The Samaritans in case he felt like his mental health worsened and required immediate support.

Joe reflected that he had been arrested many times before but hadn’t been offered the opportunity to meet with services like Liaison & Diversion in court settings or at the police station. He stated that he wanted to engage with the community support options the FMHP had linked him in with and was keen to explore the option of therapy which he had not engaged with in the past.

Case Study – Engaging with a neurodivergent individual to make a connection through shared interests

Liam grew up in a chaotic household of high expressed emotion. Both of his parents had profound and enduring mental health issues which led to both verbal and physical aggression and his only sibling also has mental health issues which, frequently required police intervention. Liam muddled his way through school and although having received a diagnosis of autism, was given very little in the way of support as services that engaged with the family focused on the other members.

By the time Liam left school he was living solely with his mother at home, was supported by Together’s Norfolk Integrated Housing and Community Support Service (NHCSS) and was obliged to take on the role of being her primary carer. The service sought to help Liam’s mother get on top of managing finances and attempts were made to declutter their home, which had become very hoarded and dirty.

The NIHCSS workers, repeatedly raised safeguarding concerns for Liam and his mother, seeing the stress in the home. Liam asked for help from NIHCSS but when social workers contacted him, they fed back that he did not engage and so, said there was nothing they could do.

Things came to a head when Liam pushed his mother, and she was taken into hospital.  Liam was charged with assault and left alone in the home. The Deputy Service Manager at NIHCSS made a request to accompany the social worker on a joint visit to him, which took a familiar pattern initially as Liam stayed silent, hid behind his fringe and gave one-word answers. To fill the silence, the Deputy Service Manager made conversation and mentioned they had been attempting to grow mushrooms at home. At the mention of this Liam lit up, brushed his fringe to the side and spent the rest of the meeting talking about his wish to have his own home, so he could grow plants.

As the meeting continued Liam was able express his needs and desires to the Social Worker. This was due to the Deputy Service Manager speaking with him and finding something he understood and enjoyed and building a relationship to establish trust and a communication style that worked. The Social Worker agreed to an emergency package of hours, while the Deputy Service Manager drafted in a NIHCSS worker with housing expertise and the service went into action. Following significant work by the NIHCSS worker, Liam secured a tenancy of his own.

All assault charges against Liam were dropped, as the police and his mother were able to understand the  pressure he had been under. His priority in his own home, was to grow his plants and he has maintained the relationship with the Deputy Service Manager who has donated cuttings and seedlings for him.