Agenda item

Southwark Council is developing an Autism Strategy and the sub-committee are scrutinizing its development.

An update on progress is attached.

The chair invited Peta Smith, Commissioning Manager, and Jay Stickland, Director of Adult Social Care, to present the paper attached.

The committee then raised the following questions and issues:

• Members raised concerns with the range of people, particularly parents and carers, who had been contacted and the location used for consultation. In particular, concerns was raised that there was an over emphasis on established groups, an over reliance on Cambridge House in Walworth as a location, and consultation events were only scheduled during the day. Members said as a consequence only a certain type of parent would attend. Members recommended evening events in other parts of the borough.  Officers responded that so far there had been 1300 hundred comments from about 700 people. They said they had been guided by Parent & Carers, who suggested day time in Cambridge House, but they will be responding to feedback and offering evening events.  Officers said that they will also be thinking about how to use technology to get a diversity of feedback.
• Members said that schools are good, however moving into adulthood was an issue, including accessing Further Education, supported living, and supported employment. Officers agreed and said that there will be focus on transition and the department has asked for a peer review on this, in recognition that this area needs strengthening.
• A member asked if there would be a review of the diagnostic pathway, and asked if this is a problematic area to address. Officers responded that the strategy is being done with CCG and there are discussions on training for GPs.
• Officers were asked if the strategy will be considering the needs of people with more complex needs. Officers responded that there will be more consultation with people with mild autism but those with more needs will already have relationship with the council as they will be using services.
• Officers were asked about consultation with the general public. Members said that to integrate people with autism there will need to be awareness raising in the working place and community, and therefore the wider public need to be engaged. Officers said that modelling inclusive behaviour by staff is one way of creating an integrated culture. Officers commented that members were raising the need for an accessible borough. They spoke about ‘Wand’ - which is a card that promotes more accessible provision.  Members asked about training for frontline staff and officers confirmed the strategy would contain training for council officers working with the public, for example housing services.
• Members asked for reassurance that the timetable would not slip again and officers gave assurances that it would not.

RESOLVED

The committee recommended officers:

• Consult with a wider group of parents & carers, not just established user groups, and ensure that events are held at a range of times, including evening, and in a range of locations, not just Walworth.
• Particularly consider transition from children to adult services.
• Engage with the wider public, community and universal services.

The draft strategy will be considered by the committee.