Learning from reflection – good practice in handover with neurodiverse clients

Abstract

This article details the reflection process that arose as a result of our recent experiences with client handover within a national, specialist, adult neurodevelopmental psychology service, following one clinician leaving the service. The departing clinician and the team used this ‘learningfrom experience’ opportunity to collectively reflect on handover with neurodiverse clients, thinking about what went well with the whole process, what could have been done differently and to consider the adaptations that this population may require in order to make handovers as smooth as possible. We have summarised the learning points from these reflections into ‘good practice guidance’ for our own service. Literature on best handover practice is limited, especially with respect to neurodiversity, and given the increasing number of neurodiverse clients accessing local or secondary care services, we are sharing our first-hand experiences in the hope that this may be relevant, helpful and/or stimulate discussion for other services experiencing similar situations.