NHS Resolution’s Practitioner Performance Advice service (Advice) has published its latest Insight: Supporting Neurodivergent Practitioners: The Role of NHS Resolution’s Practitioner Performance Advice Service, in collaboration with Dr Elizabeth Stonell, a GP in Wakefield and the Associate Dean at the School of General Practice in Yorkshire and the Humber. This Insight brings together practice perspectives and explores how the Advice service can work with healthcare organisations to support neurodivergent practitioners.
This Insight explores the experiences of neurodivergent practitioners, the legal and practical considerations for healthcare organisations in managing performance concerns and how Advice can support employers managing cases involving neurodiverse practitioners.
This Insight also includes a case studies learning pack, which has been developed by Advice to promote learning, considerations, support and resolution options when performance concerns for practitioners who are neurodivergent, or who have a suspected diagnosis, arise.
Why are we sharing this?
Advice want to encourage better workplace support of neurodivergent practitioners through outlining the following key actions for employers:
- Early, informal resolution – encourage proactive discussions to address concerns before they escalate, including where neurodivergence may be contributing.
- Tailored guidance – our Advisers can suggest when to consider a neurodiversity assessment or signpost you to options for arranging one.
- Compassionate conversations – we help leaders and managers approach discussions with curiosity, empathy, and a focus on solutions.
- Behavioural assessments – while the occupational psychologists we work with do not undertake formal diagnostic assessments, they can identify behavioural patterns which may be consistent with a neurodivergent profile.
- Action plans – we can develop tailored remedial action plans for neurodivergent practitioners, focusing on practical support in the context of appropriate workplace adjustments that enable individuals to perform effectively in their roles.
- Signposting and ongoing support – we can signpost to relevant services, which offer confidential mental health and wellbeing support for all practitioners, including those who are neurodivergent.
- Balancing support with patient safety – If a practitioner’s neurodivergence poses a risk to patients and cannot be managed through adjustments alone, we can advise on appropriate steps to protect safety whilst supporting the practitioner.
Our resources
You can access other publications in our Insight series which cover a wide range of subjects, from Exclusion to Practitioner Characteristics.
If you are interested in hearing more about our research and insights programme, please get in touch with us at nhsr.adviceresearchandevaluation@nhs.net or sign up to receive Insights by email.
