Wychavon District Council partnered with Talentino to deliver a series of interactive Neurodiversity in the Workplace workshops designed to build awareness, confidence, and inclusive practice across all departments.

Within three months, 100% of participants agreed the training would contribute to a more inclusive workplace, and 99% felt confident supporting neuroinclusive practices in their teams.

Background

Wychavon District Council, located in Worcestershire, is a forward-thinking local authority recognised for its commitment to community wellbeing and staff development.

In 2025, the Council’s leadership identified a need to strengthen understanding of neurodiversity and SEND inclusion among all employees, not just line managers. While the organisation already promoted equality and diversity, they wanted to ensure that neuroinclusive practice was embedded consistently at every level of the workforce.

The Challenge

Although awareness of inclusion was strong, feedback from line managers revealed the council were facing:

  • Inconsistent understanding of neurodiversity and how it presents in the workplace
  • Staff uncertainty about how to support colleagues with different communication or working styles
  • A need for practical tools to prevent stigma, strengthen teamwork, and maintain wellbeing

Wychavon Council sought a structured, high-impact training programme that could raise awareness, provide practical strategies, and complement their existing leadership CPD and Community of Practice work.

The Solution

Talentino designed and delivered a bespoke Neurodiversity in the Workplace programme tailored to Wychavon’s organisational context.

The programme included:

  • Three half-day interactive workshops delivered face-to-face to maximise engagement and participation
  • Custom learning materials reflecting real scenarios within the Council’s departments
  • Practical exercises and reflection tools to help staff identify and apply inclusive behaviours
  • Facilitated group discussions to encourage peer learning and shared understanding
  • Actionable takeaways to embed inclusive practice and signposting resources

Sessions were led by Talentino’s National SEND Careers and Education Manager, bringing specialist expertise in inclusion, workplace culture, and SEND. Employees described the workshops as “comfortable, informal, and empowering,” and several requested copies of materials to continue reflection and discussion with colleagues.

Anonymised staff comments reflected both the impact and quality of delivery:

“Really well delivered – best training I have attended in a long time.”

“Amanda was brilliant, so knowledgeable, understanding and friendly and funny.”

“Excellent session, interactive and interesting.”

“Amanda was very warm and engaging and kept our attention. The information was presented well and very thought provoking.”

Key Learnings

  • Practical, real-world examples make neurodiversity concepts relatable and easier to apply.
  • Staff value open, non-judgemental discussion spaces to explore their own assumptions.
  • Ongoing reinforcement, through leadership and peer networks, ensures consistent culture change.
  • Inclusion initiatives thrive when they integrate wellbeing, communication, and performance, not just compliance.

Next Steps

Following the success of the workshops, Wychavon District Council plans to:

  • Continue collaborating with Talentino to expand neurodiversity awareness through refresher sessions and new team onboarding
  • Embed the workshop tools and principles into wellbeing frameworks and manager induction
  • Use the evaluation insights to inform wider diversity and inclusion strategy development
  • Adopt practical, low-cost adjustments identified during the sessions including clearer, more neuroinclusive signage

By continuing to invest in learning, Wychavon is building a truly inclusive culture, one where every employee feels understood, supported, and able to thrive.