Force introduces bespoke training programme to support neurodivergent officers and staff

The force engaged training and consultancy business Creased Puddle to design and deliver a bespoke training and awareness programme to support its trainers’ understanding of neurodiversity in the workplace and ensure they were able to train and assess all delegates effectively and inclusively.

As part of the programme, Creased Puddle delivered ten ‘train the trainer’ sessions to all internal trainers and assessors, including firearms trainers from the Tri-Force collaboration unit with Wiltshire Police and Gloucestershire Constabulary, with more than 145 officers and staff attending.

It also delivered a number of bespoke inputs for personal safety trainers focusing on autism, public and personal safety training and first aid.

Over the past five years, Avon and Somerset Constabulary has evolved and advanced its working practices, with the provision of personal-issue laptops, which has enabled more agile working, and the implementation of more computer-based processes and systems.

More recently, it has also changed its internal training programmes for new student officers to the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship, Degree Holder Entry Programme and the Professional Policing Degree. These changes have also prompted a greater awareness of neurodiversity, having highlighted areas where it can learn and adapt further, to ensure the force is supporting both new student officers, as well as current officers and staff, who are neurodivergent in the organisation.

Emily Skyrme, operational delivery manager for learning at Avon and Somerset Constabulary, said: “The training that Creased Puddle provided has proven to be incredibly valuable for our trainers and assessors.

“Prior to the course, only 25 per cent of colleagues rated themselves as ‘confident’ when training a neurodivergent learner, but after the training this rose to over 90 per cent.

“Similar results are also evident for trainers in their understanding of neurodiversity, the challenges faced by neurodivergent learners, why reasonable adjustments should be made and what these adjustments could be.

“Ensuring that there’s good neurodiversity awareness across our organisation and making sure that we’re supporting our own people, is part of our inclusive culture. This will in turn make sure that we are able to provide a really safe space for our colleagues, that that they can then perform in their job roles more effectively, and enable us to serve and protect the public to the highest ability.”

Chief executive officer of Creased Puddle, Caroline Turner, added: “As someone who is ADHD and a former police officer, I know how important it is for trainers and assessors to understand how to support the learning and development of someone who is neurodivergent in policing.

“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Avon and Somerset Constabulary and make a real difference to the experience of student officers as they go through their training.”

One of the trainers who received the input from Creased Puddle commented: “Overall, the training that I have received has helped me to strive to being a better police officer, a better trainer and above all a better me. I genuinely feel very lucky to work for an organisation that I have found to be so accepting and supportive of neurodiversity.”

Avon and Somerset Constabulary is now working with Creased Puddle to roll out the training for a further 200 tutor constables, both frontline officers and detectives, staff tutors and first line leaders, to upskill in their understanding of neurodiversity and aid in providing effective support and guidance to the student officers and tutees, and build a better organisation-wide culture around Neurodiversity and inclusivity.