Autism Strategy Action plan

1. Autism Strategy Action plan A B&NES plan for 2013/14 what we are doing to implement the Autism strategy next

2. We have been asked to let people know what are the 5 most important things we will do this year to improve services for adults with autism. This plan also tells you about the other things the Autism Partnership group will be doing in 2013/14, based around the 5 themes of the Bath and North East Somerset Autism strategy next

3. Top priorities for this year.We will… Set up a local assessment and diagnostic service and make it easier for people living in B&NES to access this Provide a range of local training to help develop local awareness, knowledge and skills to support people with autism Set up an Information and Advice service for adults with autism and those who support them Increase the amount of social work time available to support adults with autism Reduce isolation for adults with autism

4. 1 Improve information about the population of people with autism in B&NES next

5. We need to be sure that we know who has autism in B&NES, and make sure that this information is accurately recorded We will continue to do this using Council records next

6. We need to identify children with autism who have complex needs (including behaviour that may challenge services) and are likely to need support from social services (adult care) in the future We will record via Statement of Need and complete annual audit in Sept 2013 with representatives of children’s and adult care next

7. We need to ensure that young people moving into adulthood have person-centred transition plans We are implementing a B&NES transition pathway including use of one page profiles and My Future My Choice – we will check this is being used for young people with Autism next

8. 2 Increasing awareness and understanding next

9. We need to develop training for professionals that will be appropriate and proportionate dependent on their level of responsibility We will commission specialist training and supervision from the Bristol Autism Spectrum Service (BASS) and check who attends next

10. 3 Develop a clear, consistent pathway for diagnosis across Bath and North East Somerset next

11. We need to provide a full diagnostic and assessment service that people can access locally and quickly We will commission a local service for residents of Bath and North East Somerset from BASS - to commence in September 2013- and make sure this is well publicised next

12. We need to ensure that all adults with a diagnosis of autism have prompt access to a community care assessment We will set up protocols for joint working between BASS and Sirona Autism social workers by October 2013 next

13. We need to develop and/or adopt a model referral and care pathway for local commissioners /providers A Sirona specification for provision of an Autism Social Work service is in place next

14. We need to improve how we provide information to adults with autism and their family or carers at the point of diagnosis and after We will commission B&NES Autism Information and Advice service from BASS and make sure this is well publicised next

15. 4 Improving access for adults with autism to the services and support they need to live independently within the community next

16. We need to ensure that everyone who has the potential to live more independently is given the chance to do so This is ongoing through existing model of assessment. We will identify those young people moving into adulthood who require residential support in the future next

17. We need to continue to review people’s care (often for complex needs and/or requiring a secure facility) in out of county residential placements with a view to understanding whether more local services can be (jointly) commissioned to meet their needs We will do this via the annual review process next

18. We need to work with local and national providers, and with families and people with autism, to develop a range of housing options We will meet regularly with providers and the Council Housing team to ensure access to housing; and we will support people with autism to use the Council Homesearch register next

19. We need to support people to use personal budgets, and to have the right information about how to get the services they want and need Any adult who is receiving social services and not living in registered care will receive a personal budget. Adults with autism are supported by Sirona Autism Service social workers who will provide information and advice about using a personal budget next

20. We need to make sure that people understand and use the Mental Capacity Act properly for people who may lack capacity to make a decision, considering best interests decision making and appointment of an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) We check this during annual reviews and provide training to all staff next

21. 5 Helping adults with autism into work next

22. We need to collect local information that shows how many people with autism are, or would like to be, in paid or voluntary work We will collect via Council review processes and work on a local employment plan to be ready by April 2014 next

23. Enabling local partners to plan and develop appropriate services for adults with autism to meet identified needs and priorities next

24. We need to ensure that the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) includes information on the needs of people with autism The current JSNA includes information about the needs of people with Autism, and we will review and update the JSNA before end 2013/14 next

25. Advocacy next

26. We need to better understand how people with autism can access advocacy services We will map demand for advocacy service amongst people with autism during 2013/14 next

27. Criminal Justice System next

28. We need to ensure adults with autism have access to an ‘appropriate adult’ to facilitate communication and understanding between the person with autism and police. This will protect the rights, welfare and safeguarding of the person with autism who may be vulnerable We will review local application of appropriate adult procedures with representatives of the criminal justice system next

29. We need to invite representation from the criminal justice system on to the Autism Partnership group We will do this by the autumn of 2013 next

30. We need to find ways to collect information about the number and needs of people with autism in contact with the criminal justice system We will build on existing similar system for adults with LD - establish protocol with forensic locality team, Court Assessment and Referral service and others next

31. We need to operate within the regional framework of the Specialised Services Commissioning group for people who need specialised (Tier 40 services) This is ongoing next

32. Health and wellbeing next

33. We need to ensure health professionals have a better awareness of people with autism We will promote access to training commissioned from BASS next

34. We need to ensure reasonable adjustments are made to improve patient experience in primary and secondary care settings We will review current practices within the RUH and a sample of primary care services. We will find ways of collecting feedback from patients with autism who are admitted to hospital next

35. We need to develop and expand the capacity of local services to understand and respond to the needs of people with challenging behaviour We have service agreements in place with the Sirona complex health needs team and with AWP next

36. We need to ensure that any restrictions or restraints are compliant with the Mental Capacity Act and if these amount to a Deprivation of a person’s liberty, then consideration of DOLS (Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards) authorisation needs to be evidenced We have ongoing application of local protocols for MCA, DOLS and Best Interest Decisions and we check how these are used next

37. Personalisation and self-directed support next

38. We need to ensure person-centred planning is at the heart of all services, when individual strengths, hopes and dreams are recognised to participate successfully in meaningful activities and relationships We will make sure that every person with autism has person-centred plans, prioritising young people in transition and people with complex needs, and people living at home with elderly carers. This intention includes the need to develop ‘emergency and contingency plans’ when appropriate. next

39. We need to continue to work with children’s services so that person-centred planning starts when the person is a child and is built upon through transition and into adulthood. This intention includes the need to continue to develop protocols, systems or better joined up working between children and adult services to ensure that workers in adults’ teams can access appropriate records from previous assessments We will ensure implementation of the BANES 'Transition Pathway' applies to young people with Autism. We will develop local strategy for implementing SEN reforms that promote person centred approaches next

40. Physical and sensory issues next

41. We need to raise awareness of physical and sensory issues for people with autism through the training highlighted above We will promote access to training commissioned from BASS next

42. Relationships next

43. We need to work with people with autism and carers to explore ideas to overcome barriers and address ways to promote and support relationships. Discussions could be focused on support to build social skills; develop practical strategies and understanding; or tools to enable and give people the opportunity to meet and form relationships with others The B&NES Autism Partnership Group will consult with people with autism during 2013/14 to hear people’s thoughts and ideas about how to reduce social isolation. next

44. Support for carers next

45. We need to ensure carers are aware of their entitlement to have a carer’s assessment of their needs This is ongoing through Council's assessment and review processes. We will collect information before the end of the year so that we know how many carers who support someone with autism have had a carer’s assessment next

46. We need to ensure carers have easy access to information and advice We will commission Autism Information and Advice service from BASS. We will establish information and advice resource on Council webpage next

47. We need to develop ways of seeking feedback from carers, including information collected from the Social Care Survey We will review and discuss this within the BANES Autism Partnership Group next

48. Transitions next

49. We need to map all young people with SEN and autism and identify those at risk of not meeting eligibility criteria within adult social care We will record via SEN statement of need next

50. We need to develop protocols to ensure that young people with autism can be appropriately signposted to other sources of support as an adult, if they will not be eligible for social services We will be developing local protocols for all young people who will not be eligible for social services as an adult during 2013/14 next