Agenda item

The Co-Chairs of the Worcestershire Autism Partnership Board, Owen Cave and Laura Westwood presented an update to the Board. It was explained that a refresh of the Strategy happened in 2019 as new guidance had been expected from the Secretary of State in 2020 which would include a duty to link the children’s and Adult’s Strategies; those details were still awaited. When the guidance was received a new strategy would be developed.

Currently work was being done through an action plan but progress had been slow in the last few months due to both the pandemic and the work being done in children’s services following the Ofsted inspection and creation of Worcestershire Children First. How well actions were picked up would partly depend on how quickly health services got moving again following Covid.

Work was now happening on the All-Age disability offer and a group were looking at children’s priorities with a view to adding that as an appendix to the current strategy. Autism was being considered in the STP and plans were being put in place to get through the back log of adult referrals.

Achievements included increasing work with Worcestershire Children First and people were motivated to ensure that the needs of children and families were properly addressed. Work with partners within the criminal justice system had been helped by being able to hold meetings using zoom. Worcestershire had worked with the University of Portsmouth on helping people with autism into work and that had now been rolled out as a national programme by the DWP.

The next steps included focusing on delivering outcomes in the 2021 Action plan and looking at the impact of the pandemic. Some services had found that some more introverted people had actually engaged more with services over the last year. Bernadette Louise was introduced and she would be taking over Owen’s role as one of the co-chairs. She explained that she was a parent to two autistic children and she was on the spectrum herself and had a great deal of personal and professional expertise to bring to the role.

Board members believed there was certainly a need for action around autism services and had concerns about the support and services available once young people transitioned into being supported by adult services. They felt there was awareness of the umbrella pathway but believed more was needed in terms of delivery and they questioned what support was available around mental health issues and support for parents and carers.

In response Owen explained that he represented Autistic people on the Board, but other people with autism were encouraged to join or contribute when they could and they had found that meetings on zoom actually made it easier for more people to engage with the meetings. Transitions were anxious times for people with autism and it was hoped the voluntary sector could engage more and help in areas such as helping people with autism get into employment. There was currently limited information within the action plan about transitions but more would be available in the updated plan when all transitions, such as between different stages of school, moving house or bereavement would also be looked at. It was confirmed that detailed work had begun in the People’s and Children’s Directorate concerning the transition from Children’s to Adult’s Services.

Work was being planned around the Umbrella pathway and what services would be available and a plan could be sent to Board Members within a few months. Since the publication of the last strategy it has been clear that more was needed around mental health. People with Autism People found it hard to access services and work was ongoing with service providers to improve the situation such as those for Mental Health and access to services was listed on the action plan for when the pandemic was over.

Owen Cave was thanked for enthusiasm and work with the Board.

RESOLVED thatThe Health and Well-being Board noted the progress made on the Worcestershire's All-Age Autism Strategy and Action Plan 2019-2022 andendorsed the work in progress on a 2021 Autism Action Plan.