KEY ISSUES
Neurodivergent clients and their families may need to be referred to other agencies to support them during and following the intervention. It may be that involved agencies have been identified at the assessment stage and they may remain involved following the intervention. It may be that the client and family need further support in some of the areas identified in the checklist above (e.g., a Neurodivergent informed advocate or coach) (though see section 7 on some of the challenges of effective signposting). Support could include home environment checks and exploration to understand how the home and routines could be structured to manage competing needs. Things to consider include:
- Are there things that can be done immediately that would make a difference rather than signposting and a person being moved between organisations (which may also entail lengthy waiting lists)?
- Consider a neurodiversity champion in the workplace who can offer planning and support.
- Share information with involved support agencies.
- In some instances, it may feel appropriate to seek consent to connect with other workers (e.g., ADHD coach/ advocacy worker).
- Are there any local Neurodivergent-led organisations in your local area?
- Consider providing follow up and follow on post intervention service and build this into funding bids/business priorities.
- What further support does the whole family need (school, advocacy)?
- What are the ongoing risks to the victim-survivor and children (e.g., if staying in or leaving the abusive situation)?
Looking forward
- Service providers: build in funding for advocacy support into funding application bids/business priorities that can provide support and guidance throughout and beyond the intervention (this can include local and/or national services that can provide support to Neurodivergent clients online, and provide guidance and support to practitioners).
- Commissioners of interventions should be cognisant of the Home Office (2023) Standards for Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Interventions, and that adequate funding is essential to meet the requirements for neurodiversity-affirmative provision.
- Advise referrers that more time will/may be needed (for example children’s services).