Embracing neurodiversity

Embracing neurodiversity: our commitment to inclusive care

At Berkley Care Group, we are committed to delivering outstanding, personalised care. As the UK’s leading provider of luxury, all-inclusive care, we believe that every individual—whether a resident, family member, or employee—deserves to feel understood, valued, and supported. Therefore, we are excited to share that we are rolling out a new Neurodiversity Training Initiative. This new programme is designed to improve understanding, encourage open conversations, and ensure that our homes continue to be places of inclusion, where everyone can thrive.

The inspiration behind our neurodiversity training

Berkley has always prioritised the needs of our residents and staff, and we recognise the importance of addressing neurodiversity within our community. We have worked together with Theo Smith, neurodiversity expert and founder of Neurodiversity at Work, to develop a comprehensive awareness strategy.

With over 1,100 employees across our eleven homes, we understood the importance of starting a conversation about neurodiversity that could reach everyone. Our goal is simple but incredibly important: to ensure that every member of our team understands neurodiversity and feels comfortable discussing it.

Rolling out neurodiversity awareness across our homes

By the end of the year, we aim to roll out awareness sessions across each of our care homes. These sessions will serve as the foundation for our ongoing commitment to neurodiversity, ensuring that our staff are equipped to support both neurodivergent colleagues and residents.

Leading the charge in our Northern homes is Vicky, a passionate team member with personal experience in this area. Her dedication stems from her experiences as a parent of a child with ADHD, and she is eager to bring her insights to our homes. Vicky, along with other team members, will act as neurodiversity leads, ensuring that each home has a champion to guide and support the training process.

To complement these in-person sessions, we are integrating neurodiversity training into our e-learning platform. This ensures that every new employee is equipped with the knowledge and tools they need from day one. Our training covers a range of topics relevant to our care setting, including ADHD, autism, and dyslexia, providing a comprehensive understanding that supports our commitment to bespoke care.

Conversations aid understanding

At Berkley, we believe that conversations are the cornerstone of change. That’s why our neurodiversity training begins with verbal sessions designed to open dialogues and break down stigmas. We want our staff to feel comfortable discussing their experiences and challenges, whether they are neurodivergent themselves or have loved ones who are. By normalising these conversations, we can create a more tolerant and supportive environment across the group.

Importantly, this training is not just for our staff. Residents who wish to participate are encouraged to join these sessions, as we recognise that an inclusive approach benefits everyone in our community.

Our Neurodiversity Training Initiative is a natural extension of Berkley’s broader commitment to continual care improvement. Just as our acclaimed Berkley Nurse Programme ensures that our nurses are up to date with best practices in nursing care, our neurodiversity training ensures that all staff are equipped to meet diverse needs.

Creating an inclusive future

In addition to training, we are exploring innovative tools to make our recruitment process more accessible. For example, we are utilising Synthesia, an AI video platform, to create more inclusive job vacancies. By offering interview questions in advance and providing alternative interview formats, such as walking interviews, we hope to ensure that all candidates feel comfortable and can perform at their best.

We know that thinking about neurodiversity is not enough—conversation is key. By talking openly about neurodiversity, we can challenge misconceptions, reduce stigma, and create a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.

Join us on this important journey

As we continue to expand our Neurodiversity Training Initiative, we are actively recruiting team members who are passionate about this cause to volunteer as neurodiversity leads. These leads will play a crucial role in maintaining the momentum of the initiative, ensuring that neurodiversity remains a priority across all of our homes.

We invite all members of our community—staff, residents, and families—to join us in creating an environment where everyone can live well and reach their full potential!