Welsh mental health helpline offers neurodivergence support
Families in Wales living with autism and other neurodivergent conditions can now access specialist support via a 24-hour helpline.
The Community Advice & Listening Line (CALL) is a service which provides free access to advice and information for anyone living in Wales who needs support with their mental health. Helpline operatives have now received additional training in neurodivergence from the National Autism Team, enabling them to provide specialist support for people living with neurodivergent conditions, such as autism, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dyspraxia.
The Welsh government has a strong track record in recognising the needs of neurodivergent people and driving innovation in delivery of specialist care and support. In 2008 it established Autism Wales, which provides expert information, guidance and training resources for people living with autism and their families, as well as professionals, such as teachers, healthcare workers and social workers. In 2016 the government introduced seven Integrated Autism Services across Wales, forming a partnership between health boards and local authorities. In 2021 it published the Statutory Code of the Delivery of Autism Services, which sets out the responsibilities of public bodies to ensure the needs of autistic people are met.
“Many families have expressed a need to be able to share their anxieties, that having someone who is able to listen to them, without judgment, would make a difference to their lives and wellbeing,” said Julie Morgan, Welsh Deputy Minister for Social Services. “I am pleased to say that we are listening and we are taking action.”
What is neurodiversity?
Every person’s brain is unique. Neurodiversity is the concept that brain differences are natural variations. It acknowledges that many people’s brains simply work in a different way, making them ‘neurodivergent’ rather than ‘neurotypical’.
According to The Brain Charity, at least 20% of the UK adult population may be diagnosed with neurological conditions such as autism, dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). People with such conditions can be considered to be neurodivergent.
Autism practice guide for social workers
The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) has published a downloadable practice guide to support social workers in working with autistic children and adults. It’s designed to help social workers understand the often complex issues relating to autism and to facilitate best practice with autistic people, their families, and supporters.
Neurodiversity in social work jobs
Of course, social workers themselves can be affected by neurodivergence, either personally or through family members. As in many other professions and industries, there is a significant percentage of neurodivergent people working in social work roles. The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) has a Neurodivergent Social Workers Special Interest Group, which holds virtual meetings on the last Tuesday of every month.
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