Training

Our training is built around a number of key principles:

  • Co-design and co-delivery. Autistic colleagues are key members of our team in the design and delivery of training and other services.
  • We guarantee that training will be provided by experts in their respective fields.
  • Our training reflects ethical values, best practice, and evidence.
  • It is adapted to specific local needs and to the cultural context.
  • Development of local expertise. We look to develop and train local professionals so that they can then train colleagues and expedite the process of building local expertise and capacity.
  • We promise to be supportive, responsive, and professional at all times.
  • We aim to make training enjoyable and interactive.
  • Evaluation. We are committed to the evaluation of our services. 

We are members of the CPD service and seek where appropriate accreditation of training.

Education

  • Our Associates are experienced in writing national training materials on education.
  • Training can be delivered from pre-school through to higher and further education or for teacher training on inclusion in mainstream settings.
  • SPELL and Synergy training is offered to schools and other education settings.

Social Care and Support

Staff working in social care settings or in social work may need specific training to understand the impact of autism.

Examples of this are the courses for:

  • Mental Health Professionals (previously AMHPs).
  • ‘Behaviours of concern’.
  • Stress reduction.
  • Advocacy and mediation.
  • SPELL and Synergy training.

 

We are pleased to discuss specific requirements around individual topics or needs.

Health

We offer training on a variety of health issues related to autism. This is sometimes done in partnership with other organisations, such as the National Autism Trainer Programme (NATP) with Anna Freud at UCL.

We also offer training in diagnostic assessment using recognised instruments.
We offer training to: 

  • Primary health care settings.
  • Community mental health settings.
  • High secure and forensic mental health settings.
  • CAMHS services.
  • Early years.

“I contacted AT Autism with specific requirements for training a staff group of mental health professionals. From the very start, the AT-Autism team were responsive, keen to understand and work with our service needs.  On attending the training in person, I found them to be very knowledgeable, engaging trainers who are experts in understanding and supporting autistic people.  I look forward to working with AT-Autism again in the future”.

Mark Butler, Senior Matron, Integrated Mental Health Services

“AT-Autism delivered a fantastic training session with our participation team in December, enhancing our understanding of working with autistic children and young people. The trainer was personable, knowledgeable, and made the session both fun and interactive. We gained so much from this experience and would highly recommend a session with AT-Autism!”

Ayesha Akkari, Participation Programme Lead 

“Love, love today. Good pace, great content. Very thought provoking. Thank you, looking forward to part 2.”

Delegate on ‘Introduction to Neurodiversity’ course

“Thanks for organising this – it was a brilliant session, and I am very grateful for the insights that were provided.

I really liked how practical the advice was – very easy to adopt into daily practice, without a major overhaul of how we work.”

Delegate on ‘Neurodiversity in the Workplace’ course

“Course delivery largely very engaging – constantly asked to reflect on own service really supported learning and application to learning, one of the best training delivery styles I have received via Trust.”

NHS delegate on ‘Autism and mental health’ course