WEBINAR

Autism in the Workplace: Working Together to Build Inclusive Health and Social Care Teams

Date: Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Time: 10am-12pm (London, UK)

Price: Free

Speakers: Jenni Guthrie, Autistic Social Worker, Researcher, Trainer and Principle Curriculum Lead at Frontline, Tanja Conway-Grim, Senior specialist coach supporting neurodivergent people in the workplace, mentor, facilitator and trainer on all aspects of neurodiversity, co-production, missing people and suicide prevention, Tanja is autistic and has ADHD, Dr. Michelle O'Reilly, Associate Professor of Communication in Mental Health and Chartered Psychologist

Many of us are aware that the traditional ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to work life needs rethinking. With the ongoing surge in adult diagnoses of autism, there's a growing understanding of the many ways that autism can impact a person’s working life – whether that person is us, a colleague, or someone we manage.

This webinar is an opportunity to reflect on how we can have more honest conversations in the workplace about the individual needs of practitioners working in health and social care – and what's at stake if we don't. Inclusivity matters.

In a series of conversations with three expert speakers, we'll focus on the things we can all do to improve the workplace for everyone in it.  How can teams intentionally and proactively adapt to needs expressed by colleagues? If we identify and remove barriers, are we better equipped to navigate our important and challenging work together? What does it look and feel like to be part of an inclusive team?

While autistic people’s needs in the workplace vary greatly, changes around communication styles, adaptability of work environments, support and supervision may all be beneficial to the wider wellbeing of the workplace, for autistic and non-autistic staff members alike. How do we support autistic colleagues who experience sensory overload in the office environment, or who have difficultly ‘task switching’? How do we dismantle barriers to communicating needs with managers – and each other? If autistic masking and camouflaging can amplify burnout and mental health issues, how do we act on that knowledge to strengthen our teams?

Join us to explore these questions and the ways that we can create an autistic- and neurodivergent-informed workplace that is person-centred and inclusive in its approach. Whether you're an autistic or non-autistic team leader, manager, director, or colleague committed to making the working environment more inclusive, this webinar is for you.

Meet the speakers

Jenni Guthrie

Autistic Social Worker, Researcher, Trainer and Principle Curriculum Lead at Frontline

Jenni Guthrie is a multiply neurodivergent registered social worker, social work educator and parent to three neurodivergent young adults. She is a Principal Curriculum Lead in a fast-track social work master programme, and Director of Neuro Inclusive Solutions where she delivers independent training and consultancy on neurodivergence and inclusive practice to social work organisations. Jenni is completing a Professional Doctorate in Social Work researching the experiences of Autistic trainee social workers in placement. She also leads the BASW Neurodivergent Social Workers Special Interest group ‘s student and newly qualified group, a UK-wide space for neurodivergent students and early career social workers. Jenni also writes blogs on her website Autistic Social Worker, (when she has the spoons) and is a published author.

Group affiliations

Member of Workforce Autism Group, England

Lead for the BASW Neurodivergent Social Workers Special Interest Group student and newly qualified group

Chair of Trustees, Autistic Parents UK

Tanja Conway-Grim

Senior specialist coach supporting neurodivergent people in the workplace, mentor, facilitator and trainer on all aspects of neurodiversity, co-production, missing people and suicide prevention. Tanja is autistic and has ADHD

"My name is Tanja Conway-Grim. I am a specialist senior coach supporting neurodivergent people in the workplace. I mentor coaches new to neurodiversity coaching. I was part of the embedded Clinical Leadership in Practice Scheme (eCLiPS) as a coach, tutor, and mentor for over 4 years, which supported doctors on a clinical leadership journey. I provide independent consultancy on neurodiversity.

I develop and facilitate training on all aspects of neurodiversity (including radicalisation), co-production, suicide prevention and missing people. This training is commissioned by local mental and acute health trusts, NHS commissioners, county councils, police forces, police services, fire & rescue services, counter-terrorism policing, higher education institutions, HE support organisations, a government department, intelligence organisations, charities, community groups and others. Target audiences include therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists. I am fully insured to work worldwide.

For the police I develop bespoke training for custody sergeants and detention officers, was part of Operation Fanfare (improving the custody environment for autistic people), Operation Soteria Bluestone (improving response to rape and serious sexual assaults {RASSO}). I am a member of the Strategic Independent Advisory Group where we work with the Deputy Chief Constable, and I am a member of the Disability External Reference Group. I am the independent chair for the Out of Court Disposal Multi-Agency Scrutiny Panel as well as the chair for the Regional Counter-Terrorism Advisory Group and in that role, I am a member of the Counter-Terrorism Advisory Network (who work with CTP at national level).

I sit on the East Sussex Autism Partnership Board and the regional All Age Autism Strategic Steering Group. I chair the Expert by Experience Learning Disabilities and Autism Board that feeds in directly to strategic pan-Sussex boards for NHS Sussex ICB.

I have been a qualified trainer & educator since 1994. I worked as an antenatal teacher for several years until 1998. I regularly develop bespoke CPD for coaching companies, councils and higher education support organisations. Developing training is one of the aspects I enjoy most in my work. The training is always bespoke, co-produced, interactive, relevant, and informative. I am happy to provide face-to-face, hybrid or virtual training.

I am the Neurodiversity Lead and a Trustee for the charity Locate International. I work closely with the charity Missing People as well. I speak regularly at conferences and meetings mainly on all aspects of neurodiversity, missing, co-production & suicide.

I have an HND (Dist) in Animal Science, BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences, and an MRes in Forensic Investigation. I am on the autistic spectrum & have ADHD. I have lived experience of going missing and growing up in care. In my free time I enjoy gardening and exploring National Parks. I aim to be as inclusive as I can be and thrive on constructive and critical feedback & evaluations, which I encourage during the training."

Dr. Michelle O'Reilly

Associate Professor of Communication in Mental Health, and Chartered Psychologist

Dr Michelle O'Reilly is an Associate Professor of Communication in Mental Health at the University of Leicester and a Research Consultant and Quality Improvement Advisor for Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust. Michelle is also a Chartered Psychologist in Health and a visiting scholar at Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. Michelle has research interests in mental health and social media, self-harm and suicide, neurodevelopmental conditions, and child mental health services, such as mental health assessments and family therapy. She has undertaken several research projects with autistic children and adults, as well as their families and carers. She has written books that are both practical for parents and critical of the inequalities that exist in modern society. Her most recent work has been with neurodivergent police officers and staff to broaden an understanding of career ambitions, benefits and barriers to progression, and the ways in which neurodivergent characteristics benefit an organisations.