Hywel Dda University Health Board has become the first Health Board in Wales to achieve ‘Autism Understanding’ status

The accreditation is awarded by the National Neuro-divergence Team, a Welsh Government funded body dedicated to improving the lives of neuro-divergent children, young people, adults and their families.

The team engages with stakeholders from all sectors across Wales to help develop policy, legislation, resources, and information around neuro-divergence. This includes autism, helping to increase awareness and understanding and the removal of barriers that may stop neuro-divergent people from achieving their potential.

To achieve ‘Autism Understanding’ status, 85 per cent of Hywel Dda’s 13,000 staff had to complete e-learning modules. The award means Hywel Dda and its employees have been recognised as an organisation that understands autism.

It is hoped that this, in turn will enable neuro-divergent staff and patients to be better supported in the working environment or when health care is accessed.

Representatives from Hywel Dda’s Neuro-developmental Services received the award at a special ceremony last Thursday (31 October) at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff.

Catherine Vaughan, Service Delivery Manager for Neuro-developmental Services at Hywel Dda said: “Being neuro-divergent means the way in which we experience the world is different.

“We are working closely with the National neuro-divergence team for Wales and services across the Health Board, as we want to increase awareness and understanding around autism and other neuro-divergent conditions throughout the organisation.

“To facilitate this, we have developed a neuro-divergence strategy which includes partnership working with the national team to develop and deliver webinars, along with developing and delivering bespoke training packages to many services areas across the Health Board.

“We are also in the process of developing a special interest group to encourage wider engagement across the Health Board.”

Catherine acknowledges that there is more work to be done at Hywel Dda.

“The Understanding Autism e-learning module is a starting point. We’re now an ‘Understanding Autism’ organisation but in time, the vision is for departments to develop even greater knowledge and skills to be more autism informed and skilled as the prevalence of autism and ADHD, for example, is increasing year on year.

“Potentially one in seven employees may be neuro-divergent, so as an employer thinking about workforce development, how do we retain the staff that we have by making the necessary reasonable adjustments in the workplace?

“Furthermore, how do we attract neuro-divergent people to come and work for us and inspire confidence in them that they will be supported and valued for the strengths and skill sets they possess?”

Catherine believes that being an ‘Autism Understanding’ organisation will bring benefits to the patients and families that Hywel Dda serves.

“Wherever you are working in the organisation and whatever your role, you are highly likely to encounter neuro-divergent patients and/or their families. It’s important that neuro-divergence is recognised, along with any additional needs, to help make their patient experience and outcomes a positive one.”

Liz Carroll, Hywel Dda’s Director of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities said: “We are delighted to be recognised as an ‘Autism Understanding’ organisation. It is an acknowledgement of all the hard work, commitment, dedication and enthusiasm of all staff working across Neuro-divergent Services in Hywel Dda. Congratulations to Catherine and the teams.

“It is so important that we as employers embrace the diversity in our community and we know there is more work to do. I have total faith in Catherine and the team that we are making great leaps to towards where we want to be as an organisation which supports and encourages those living with neuro-divergent conditions.”

CAPTION: From left to right – Members of their team collect their award – Trica Roberts (Clinical Nurse Specialist Adult ADHD Service); Wendy Thomas – Head of National Neuro-divergence team in Wales; Catherine Vaughan – Service Delivery Manager Neuro-Developmental Services; Emily Dwyer – Team Lead Integrated Autism Service

CASE STUDY: ANGELA LOWE

Angela Lowe is as a Neuro-divergence Specialist Support Worker with Hywel Dda University Health Board who was diagnosed with autism later on in life. She has worked for the health board for just seven weeks but already feels the benefits of working for an autism aware organisation.

“I’ve only been here seven weeks, but I got off the ground and running really quickly and I guess that’s testament to how easy it has been for me to join my new workplace, which can be really anxiety inducing,” said Angela.

“Coming into this atmosphere where people are neuro-affirming and continually making you feel at ease and saying phrases like ‘just be you’ – it’s a breath of fresh air, because it’s not my usual experience.”

Angela, who is 49 years-old, was not diagnosed with autism until the age of 47. She has faced some challenging situations in the workplace over the years but knowing that Hywel Dda was an autism aware organisation attracted her to her current role.

“I had great struggles throughout the whole of my education. And getting into employment was really hard for me, just mainly due to anxiety,” said Angela. “I couldn’t even do an interview when I was a young woman. It’s taken me a long time to get to where I am now.”

Angela has worked in education and care settings over the years in various roles and would have loved to have become a fully-qualified teacher but suffered a panic attack during her final exams and felt unable to complete her studies.

“So I very firmly began going down the additional learning needs support work role and naturally began advocating for children and young people who are neurodivergent,” said Angela.

“But I found that staff often didn’t get me in past workplaces – some understood but there were always some who didn’t. Some made it quite difficult for me at times, and I have had some really negative experiences.

“My manager and colleagues in the neurodiversity team at Hywel Dda have been really supportive, really aware and understanding. It just makes the absolute world of difference,” said Angela.

Angela said that starting a new job and meeting new people can be really challenging for her and those living with neurodivergence.

“We’re just trying to get to know people, but sometimes, with new faces – I can be quite face blind at times.

“And I may not engage fully to begin with, but I’m just trying to alleviate that anxiety and check who people are.

“And I think sometimes colleagues may feel as if you’re keeping yourself to yourself. Actually, you’re just trying to self-manage, regulate, just ease yourself into the day steadily.”

Angela said she looks forward to coming in to work at Hywel Dda.

“Whereas before I used to have so much anxiety around getting to work – I’d be stressed about being misunderstood by certain members of staff, and I’d also have high exhaustion levels from masking all the time. I don’t need to do that here.

“Before, I’d be going home and I’d have to offload all the time. Lots of negative experiences which were looping in my mind and it was quite awful really. I’m coming home now really excited to be home and looking forward to seeing my family and just really happy.

“It’s been life changing for me, working here.”