The fifth episode of our new Podcast series on work and health explores the topic of neurodiversity in the workplace. Unlike many other types of diversity, neurodiversity can be invisible; this combined with the stigma that surrounds neurodiverse conditions means that neurodiversity doesn’t always have the voice of other diverse groups.

In this episode, Helena Brady, senior occupational health advisor at TP Health, Nancy Doyle, Occupational Psychologist and founder of Genius Within, and Aidan Healy, Business Psychologist and CEO of Lexxic, examine the barriers that neurodiverse individuals can face when seeking employment and when in work. They discuss how these barriers can be broken down, looking in particular at the role of management in embedding inclusivity into the workplace and recruitment process.

As guest host, SOM Past President Professor Anne Harriss says, “If the employee has got a difficulty, why would you not want to address the difficulties they’ve got and support them?”

SOM’s Commissioning neurodiversity services in the workplace guidance will be launched early 2022. This will be the first guidance document from SOM’s Occupational Psychology Special Interest Group (SIG). The guidance has been led by Dr Nancy Doyle.

About the speakers:

Helena Brady is a senior occupational health advisor (SOHA) working for TP Health, a nationwide occupational health provider to a wide range of industries within the workforce including the National Health Service. Her role involves complex case management and pre-employment screening. She is passionate about the subject of neurodiversity from a professional perspective in her role as an SOHA and as an employee who has dyslexia. Her combined experience from a professional and personal stance equips her to support employees and employers to manage the challenges associated with neurodiversity in the workplace.

Dr Nancy Doyle is an Occupational Psychologist and the founder of Genius Within, a social enterprise dedicated to facilitating neurodiversity inclusion through consultancy, talent assessment, workshops and coaching for businesses. Dr Doyle works with customers in finance, technology, defence as well as those who are unemployed and incarcerated, working towards a future where all neurominorities are able to maximise their potential and work to their strengths. She is a Research Fellow with Birkbeck, University of London having completed her Doctoral Research at City University of London. In 2019 she was recognised by the British Psychological Society with an award for her contribution to Policy Impact in Occupational Psychology, based on her work to improve inclusion for neurominorities in all walks of life.

Aidan Healy is a Business Psychologist and the CEO of Lexxic. He is on a mission to create a working world where all minds belong. He has fifteen years of experience in people development roles, holding qualifications in psychology, leadership development and coaching. Lexxic are a specialist consultancy who are leaders in the field of neurodiversity in the workplace. With a fourteen-year track record, they partner with organisations to empower neurodiverse talent and help them become neurodiversity smart.

About the host:

Professor Anne Harriss has significant experience in occupational health education, latterly as Course Director for Occupational Health Nursing and Workplace Health Management programmes at London South Bank University. She started her teaching career as OH lecturer practitioner at the Royal College of Nursing after a clinical career starting in Muscat with the Royal Oman Police followed by the hotel then the pharmaceutical industries. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing, Hon Fellow of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine and both a Principal Fellow and National Teaching Fellow. She has contributed to the development of public/occupational health initiatives nationally and internationally because of projects in New Zealand, Slovakia, and South Africa. Professor Harriss has a particular interest in promoting mental health in the workplace.

Links:
Genius Within website: https://www.geniuswithin.org/
Lexxic website: https://www.lexxic.com/
Lexxic blog page: https://www.lexxic.com/blog