HR Managers Take Note: Drastically Reduce Need for Costly Referrals with the Stepped Approach 

At Genius Within, we’ve long recognised that many neurodivergent individuals face frustratingly long waits and unnecessary barriers before accessing even the most basic support. We have also seen HR Managers struggling to get the right adjustments in place, unsure what will work best and how to prioritise. These insights led to the creation of our Stepped Support Model: a groundbreaking approach that was proven to reduce referral needs significantly at a recent trial.

Simple adjustments like movement breaks, reducing sensory distractions, or communication strategies are often delayed because employees must first go through lengthy referral pathways. These delays not only impact individual performance and wellbeing but also cost HR Managers and businesses valuable time and productivity. 

We knew that there had to be a smarter way, one that delivered timely, practical solutions without always escalating cases unnecessarily. That’s where our Stepped Support Model comes in.

The Stepped Support Model reimagines how organisations provide support for disability and/or neurodivergence. Instead of starting with formal referrals or extensive external consultations, Genius Within offers a tiered pathway that begins with universal, personalised access to self-directed support, and then escalates only when higher-level intervention is genuinely required. 

Our Founder and CEO Dr Doyle says: 

Developing self-awareness and feeling empowered to make changes to working styles and patterns is very often what makes the biggest difference to neurodivergent career success. So many of us struggle to do what we think we should be doing and forget to adjust our working practices to suit our thinking style. We set out to find a way to deliver these insights at scale.

At the foundation of this model is our digital platform, the Genius Finder™. This tool provides an organisation-wide screening process that helps every employee discover their unique cognitive profile. Based on this insight, each individual receives tailored recommendations, practical strategies, and accessible tools designed to enhance performance, focus, and wellbeing. 

Crucially, this first step is universal. We make it available to everyone in the organisation while still personalising the results to each person’s working style and strengths. 

It bridges the gap between “no support” and “formal referral,” ensuring that employees can take immediate action to improve their work experience. 

Our recent partnership trial with HCML (Health Claims Management Limited) produced remarkable results. During the study, 40% of the participants who accessed Genius Finder™ reported that their needs were fully met at the first stage. 

That’s a 40% reduction in referrals, meaning half of those who might otherwise have been referred for higher-level interventions were able to find the support they needed immediately through self-guided, personalised strategies. 

By empowering individuals early and effectively, organisations can reduce waiting lists, accelerate access, and preserve specialist resources for those who genuinely need more intensive support. The impact is profound: faster outcomes for employees, reduced administrative costs, and a culture of inclusion that benefits everyone. 

Learn more about the HCML case study.

Our Founder and CEO Dr Doyle says: 

The important thing here is ‘agency’ – a sense of being able to act and affect your own performance and well-being. Rather than passively waiting for an expert to offer a ‘fix’, our clients start working on their own problems and talking freely to their managers. This means that even those who still come for coaching to address complex issues do so with a healthy, empowered attitude.

Once the initial self-supported stage has addressed many of the common challenges, you can take your much smaller pool of people and move to the more intensive options.  

At this stage HR Managers can focus on support such as: 

With all this covered you will have only the most complex and significant needs left to address and can move to a final stage of full assessments, having ensured that priority is being placed where it is most urgently needed. 

The power of the model lies in its accessibility, scalability, and efficiency. By embedding ND inclusion directly into the organisational culture through tools like the Genius Finder®, support becomes proactive rather than reactive. Employees gain clarity about their strengths and needs early on, fostering self-awareness, confidence, and engagement. 

At the same time, HR Managers and occupational health teams can allocate their limited time and resources to cases that truly require more in-depth involvement. It’s a system that works better for everyone, reducing bottlenecks and creating a sustainable model of inclusion that evolves with organisational needs.

The results speak for themselves, more people getting the support they need faster. The Genius Within Stepped Support Model is reshaping how organisations think about ND inclusion, demonstrating that scalable, personalised support can be both effective and efficient. 

Inclusion doesn’t have to be complicated or slow. With the right tools, insight, and mindset, every organisation can unlock the genius within its workforce. 

To learn more about who we are and what we do, click here.