IN CONTROL BIG EVENT WORKSHOP Improving services for people with autistic spectrum conditions and their family carers

What we’ll talk about  What the government is doing  What SCIE is doing  What you can do

What the government is doing  Autism Act – 2009  Autism Strategy “Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives” – March 2010  Statutory guidance – December 2010

Autism Act 2009  First ever condition-specific law  Required government to produce Autism Strategy  Required government to produce statutory guidance  No new rights  England only & adults only

Autism Strategy – March 2010 “All adults with autism are able to live fulfilling and rewarding lives within a society that accepts and understands them. They can get a diagnosis and access support if they need it, and they can depend on mainstream public services to treat them fairly as individuals, helping them to make the most of their talents.”

Autism Strategy – March 2010  Five key themes  Awareness  Diagnosis  Services  Work  Local plans

Autism strategy – points to make  Long-term  Consultation  Money for training  No other new money  Delivery plans  Reviewed 2013  Not law, but...

Statutory guidance – December 2010  Will set out what in strategy is compulsory  Consultation over the summer  Will cover  Diagnosis  Numbers  Assessment  Transition  Local planning & leadership  Training

What SCIE is doing  Research briefing  Practice enquiry  SCTV  Personalisation briefing

Research briefing  Evidence base for what works is weak  Outcomes for people with autism often poor  Access to social care is problematic  Individuals ‘fall through the cracks’  People with autism and learning disabilities access support more easily  More able people often struggle for help  More awareness about autism is needed

Research briefing  Evidence - effectiveness of autism specific approaches  Need better understanding of the barriers to social care among ethnic minorities, women and older people with autism  People with autism and their organisations - more vocal  Concerns about individuals with additional sensory processing differences

Practice enquiry  University of Sussex  National Autistic Society

Practice enquiry  Looking at barriers to services  How to overcome them  Survey on NAS website  Section for people with autism  Section for carers 

Social Care TV  September 2010  Awareness raising  Supported by Department of Health  Part of training programme for different professional groups

Personalisation briefing  Treat people with autism as individuals  More support for people with Asperger’s  Traditional services may not be best option  People with autism take control over their support and their life  High quality support planning  Good access to information  Staff are trained in autism  Meaningful relationships reduce safeguarding issues

Over to you  Who you are  What’s working well  What needs to change  What you can do/would like to see done differently  What messages for provider/manager  What you can do to help your organisation