Abstract

We will present the findings from last year’s Social Care Research Ambassadors’ exploratory qualitative study. “It’s about adapting to the person not the label”: Exploring social care practitioners’ understanding of neurodiversity. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with a total of fifteen social care workers (n=15) and findings reveal inconsistencies in their understanding of neurodiversity terminology, with confusion between terms such as ‘neurodiverse’ and ‘neurodivergent’. Despite this, there is a positive perception of neurodiversity as an identity. Social care workers observe various forms of neurodivergence and note challenges in accessing services due to misdiagnosis and long waiting lists. Strategies for supporting neurodivergent individuals include tailored communication and more time for processing information. However, there are concerns about time constraints and a significant gap in formal training, therefore addressing these issues is crucial for improving support in social care settings.