HR Training for Non-HR Managers
Practical HR training that gives your managers the confidence to handle performance, conduct and absence fairly, with neurodiversity built in rather than bolted on
I struggled with the structure of my team, time management and unfilled expectations. It was overwhelming, I was ready to resign. This course taught me skills to cope and implement action plans, to feel more confident and assertive in managing others. I now feel in control, feel empowered, my role is enjoyable.
Most HR training for managers teaches the rules. This teaches your managers how to apply them in the real world, where roughly 15 to 20% of any team is neurodivergent and the skills that help you support those people make you a better manager for everyone.
It is built on the combination that matters most for managers: 20 years of HR and employment law experience, plus deep neurodiversity expertise. That mix is rare. Most management training gives you the legal basics or the inclusion theory. This gives you both, grounded in real cases.
Every session is delivered personally by Jenefer Livings, our founder, a Chartered CIPD professional and qualified neurodiversity specialist who is neurodivergent herself. We deliberately limit on-site training to around 30 sessions a year so each one gets her full attention. Training dates fill early, so it is worth getting in touch in good time.
Why our HR training for managers is different
Most HR training for managers treats neurodiversity as a tick-box add-on. We treat it as part of how good management actually works.
Jenefer delivers Workplace Needs Assessments and trains HR professionals across the UK, so she brings things you will not find in standard management training:
- How to spot when a performance issue might actually be an unmet adjustment need, so you tackle the right problem
- What reasonable adjustments really look like in practice, not just in theory
- How fair, consistent and neurodiversity-aware management reduces your tribunal risk
- How to have the hard conversations well. Adjustments are about helping people meet the standard, not lowering it
- Why the skills that support neurodivergent employees make you a better manager for everyone
What your managers will be able to do
This is a two-day course delivered on your site. It is hands on and built around real situations, so your managers spend the time working through the kinds of problems they actually face, not listening to theory. Here is what they will be able to do by the end.
- Onboard people well from day one: set up contracts and inductions properly, including the small adjustments that help neurodivergent employees settle in and perform.
- Spot and prevent discrimination: understand the Equality Act 2010 well enough to recognise risk early and make fair decisions with confidence.
- Get the best from everyone: motivate and manage people across different working styles, so you are not using one approach on everyone and hoping for the best.
- Handle time off and statutory rights correctly: know what people are entitled to and apply it fairly and consistently.
- Manage absence with confidence: address absence fairly and recognise when it points to an unmet need rather than a conduct issue.
- Tackle performance issues head on: set clear expectations, hold honest review conversations and tell the difference between a genuine performance problem and a neurodivergent working style, so you address the right thing.
- Run fair disciplinary and grievance processes: follow the right procedure so issues are dealt with properly, which protects your people and your business.
Course Introduction
In this video Jenefer introduces the course and explains a little bit about how she approaches training delivery. Towards the end of the video we include a number of course reviews from those who have attended training sessions with Jenefer.
Where this fits in your management training
HR for Non-HR Managers gives your managers the foundations: fair process, when to escalate to HR and how to manage people without tripping over legal risk. It is the natural starting point in a longer development path.
- The next step: Advanced Employee Relations for managers ready to handle more complex cases
- For your HR team: Neurodiversity for HR Professionals
- For individual employees: Workplace Needs Assessments where someone needs tailored adjustments
- For complex or ongoing work: Neurodiversity consultancy
This training gives your managers what they need to handle people issues with confidence, stay on the right side of the law and get the best from their teams. Here’s what your team will gain:
- Reduced legal risk: your managers learn to follow fair, consistent processes, which matters more than ever under the Employment Rights Act 2025. Fewer costly mistakes and fewer tribunal claims.
- Confident managers: they stop avoiding the difficult conversations and start handling performance, conduct and absence head on, fairly and early.
- Stronger teams: lower absence, better morale and people who feel supported enough to do their best work, neurodivergent or not.
On-site Training
£4,500
- Two Days - in-house, at your workplace
- Maximum of 14 delegates
- Interactive workshop
- Comprehensive workbook for each participant
- CPD certification for all attendees
- Plenty of opportunity to discuss your real life experiences and cases with our expert trainer
All prices are exclusive of VAT.
Prices are correct for courses delivered on your site in Essex, Kent, London and Suffolk. Courses can be delivered outside these areas, please call 01245 910500 for a quote.
Who this HR training for managers is for
This course is built for managers who lead people but do not come from an HR background: team leaders, operational managers, department heads and anyone responsible for managing staff day to day. You will leave with practical tools you can use straight away, not theory you have to translate back at your desk.
All our courses, whether live or recorded, are delivered by Jenefer Livings who has 20 years experience in HR, having designed and delivered training on the whole range of HR topics for organisations across industry sectors. As Jenefer also provides hands-on consultancy work with her clients she maintains an up to date knowledge and experience that shines through with engaging stories in her training.
With our in-person course we'll work through case studies and discuss real life examples to ensure your managers get learning relating to the types of cases they'll be dealing with.
Why Silk Helix?
Every Silk Helix session is delivered by me, Jenefer, in person. Not an associate, not a stand-in, not a recording. I keep on-site training to around 30 days a year so every group gets my full attention and the most current examples from the consultancy work I am doing that same week. Training is the one thing I will never outsource. When you book Silk Helix training, you get me.
My promise to you! There will be no role plays, no embarrassing icebreakers where you have to reveal information about yourself and no one is picked on to speak. In my experience these are the things people dread about training and I see the collective sigh of relief when I start the session with this promise.
I recognise that to get discussion going you need an inviting environment. For in-person training this means a room set up, which includes a supply of fidgets and sweets, usually this in itself creates instant discussion as people enter the room. This sets people at ease and creates an ice breaker of its own.
You get a little hint of my style on our YouTube channel. In-person training is like that just with lots of interaction interspersed. And if you're looking at my webinars, they're just like my YouTube channel but with a lot more specific detail, backed up by examples, and also include discussion and interaction to encourage everyone to get involved.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If anyone attending our training sessions has a specific need we should be accommodating we ask that you tell us in advance so that we can plan the training accordingly. We will do our best to accommodate any need for whatever reason that need exists.
There are also some common ways we develop our training to take into account the wide variety of learning styles and needs. We know learning styles are not limited to visual, auditory, reading and writing, and kinesthetic. Learning is impacted by a whole variety of things, including underlying medical conditions (diagnosed and not), comfort/ safety in your environment and your past experiences of learning. Our training by design takes this into account, including:
- a welcoming environment for learners to enter
- stress balls or other fidget resources
- workbooks with place for personal notes if the learner wishes
- minimal need to read long pieces of text
- noone is called out or picked on (even to go first)
- no icebreakers that require you to reveal personal information (we do use activities but always related to the learning and with a specific goal)
- no role plays (we find for too many people the issues around acting get in the way of learning)
- regular breaks
- no lengthy period of lectures by the trainer - it’s about discussion of your real life cases or activities that make you think or develop skills
Whilst our webinar/lunch and learn sessions cannot provide all of the physical support we’ll still do everything we can to accommodate. We encourage individuals to access their own supports, join the session from somewhere they are comfortable, use their own fidget tools or take notes and camera on or off is a personal preference.
- Yes, we’ve worked with many clients where we’ve delivered multiple courses to allow everyone to attend. We don’t recommend more people in the session for many of the reasons listed above, our courses are designed to be interactive and a safe place to discuss real life situations. Once the groups get much bigger than 14 it starts to become difficult for everyone to participate in these discussions.
- Yes, we’re happy to adapt and design sessions to suit your needs. Book a FREE, no obligation, consultation to discuss your needs and get a quote for bespoke training.
Yes, our in-person training is provided at your venue. Some clients use meeting rooms in their buildings, others book venues. There are a couple of things to consider - we need space in the room to move around. We won’t get you running about but being able to move into smaller groups for discussion, sometimes brainstorming around a large piece of paper are examples of the activities that need space.
In addition, our trainer will need parking as training comes with a lot of kit, plus somewhere to plug a laptop in and either a screen or projector. We don’t use loads of slides (Jenefer isn’t a fan or either producing them or remembering to switch slides) but there are a few occasions where a diagramme or video for example help make the point.
- Our full day sessions are 6 hours, including 30 minutes for lunch and 2 coffee breaks. Our half day sessions are 3 hours with a coffee break. Exact times may vary slightly, training courses are interactive with plenty of opportunities for discussion built into the day, this can impact the end timing slightly.
Yes.
We are a registered provider with The CPD Certification Service- Every session is delivered in person by Jenefer Livings, our founder. Chartered CIPD, a Postgraduate Certificate in Neurodiversity, a qualified Workplace Needs Assessor, 20 years in HR and neurodivergent herself. Training is never outsourced to an associate.
- If you’re ready to go ahead then either book a consultation or email training@silkhelix.co.uk with your requirements and we’ll get dates booked in.