Empowering Staff through training

A simple whiteboard changed everything. After participating in a new training course, the staff team learned a more effective way to communicate with the autistic person they support, dramatically improving their relationship. This is just one example of the "Enabling the Autistic People We Support" training course, which is providing frontline staff with essential knowledge and practical skills to create more inclusive and effective support environments.

The training directly addresses a common misconception that the difficulties faced by autistic people are inherent to their neurodivergence, instead highlighting that many challenges stem from a society that is not yet fully inclusive. This is particularly vital given that The Richmond Fellowship Scotland supports hundreds of autistic individuals, many of whom have additional diagnoses.

The training is an advanced follow-up to the e-learning modules 'Understanding the Autistic People We Support' and 'Communicating with the People We Support'. The course is a full-day, person-centred learning experience delivered by our National Autism Advisor, Callum McCrosson.

This flexible approach ensures the training can be tailored to the specific needs of the staff and the people they support.

The course equips staff with a deeper understanding of autism, covering key areas such as:

• Understanding Autism: Delving into the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder, the concept of neurodiversity, and the motivations behind autistic behaviours.

• Communication and Social Interaction: Defining social communication and designing practical, individualised strategies.

• Sensory Processing: Exploring sensory modulation, recognising sensory-seeking or avoiding behaviours, and evaluating the sensory impact of different environments.

• Practical Application: Applying this knowledge through reflective practice to provide truly person-centred support.

Feedback from those who have completed the course has been overwhelmingly positive, with the numbers from pre- and post-training surveys to prove it:

• The course has been delivered 51 times to 259 staff throughout 2024 and 2025.

• From 91 responses, the average ability to understand autistic people increased by 16%.

• Confidence levels rose by 8.5%.

Louis, Services Manager for Tayside & Grampian, praised the course, saying, "It's given staff a real, good insight into how to support autistic people. It’s the little things that make the difference."

A perfect example of this in practice comes from one staff team, who, after the training, decided to install a whiteboard. They noticed that a person they support had difficulties not only expressing themselves but also understanding what the staff were communicating to them. This communication barrier created difficulties with day-to-day independence, such as planning activities in advance. Drawing on the training's emphasis on alternative and augmentative communication strategies, both the staff and the individual began using the whiteboard to exchange key questions and thoughts. This simple change dramatically improved their communication. As a result, the person felt more connected to their staff and increased their levels of self-advocacy and independence, which is now allowing them to face other significant challenges they had with their mental health. This demonstrates that responsive and tailored support can make a massive difference for everyone.

Peter, a Support Practitioner, shared his appreciation for the training's engaging and refreshing approach. Another participant told us the course “completely shifted their perspective” and made them “so much more confident!”

The success of the course is also attributed to its collaborative design, which incorporates feedback from autistic people and their families. This ensures the content is always relevant, respectful, and rooted in lived experience.

Looking Forward

Following this success, the "Enabling the Autistic People We Support" training will continue to be delivered to staff nationwide. Feedback from all participants, including those we support and their families, will be used to continually evolve the learning experience, ensuring the course remains a powerful tool for empowering staff and enhancing the lives of the people they support.

To find out more please email info@trfs.org.uk