Issue - meetings

Elaine Carolan explained that the report was the regular update about the All Age Autism Strategy. The agenda included the action plan.

The Partnership Autism Group had organised a successful employment event to enable employers to understand more about employing people on the Autistic Spectrum and to create opportunities for people. The event had pulled together learning disability and autistic spectrum information in order to give a consistent message to employers. It was hoped that the event could be repeated in future.

A position had been created within the Commissioning Unit to give work experience to someone on the Autistic Spectrum. Partners were encouraged to look for similar opportunities in order to raise awareness of what valuable employees people on the Autistic spectrum could be.

The Commissioning Unit was refreshing the Strategy for 2018 and wanted it to remain all age.

Owen Cave, one of the Co-Chairs of the Autism Partnership Board, mentioned that the Business and Training events were successful and they hoped to continue them as well as working with the Chamber of Commerce. The CCG had taken over commissioning a large proportion of services and would be reviewing the Governance of the Aspergers Group so it seemed a suitable time to review all the governance arrangements around the Autism Group.

Following a query, Jennie Dalloway, Lead Commissioner from the CCG, clarified that they were looking at the reasons for the increase in referrals to the umbrella pathway. It was partly due to improved awareness and that schools were working to provide the best support for their children. It was important to understand the reasons for the referrals to ensure that the necessary services were in place.

RESOLVED that the HWB noted progress made on Worcestershire's All-Age Autism Strategy since the last update in July 2017 and that a refresh would be completed during 2018.