Page Last updated 09-04-2009
National
The future strategic drivers for work surrounding ASD by Local Authorities are currently being debated on a national level. A private member's bill that would put a legal duty on councils and NHS services to meet the needs of people with autism is currently progressing through parliament. Concurrently, government proposals for “statutory guidance”, rather than legislation, to improve provision of services have been launched in the shape of a National Autism Strategy. Whichever approach is formally adopted it will likely outline two key responsibilities; a duty to have detailed prevalence figures, and illustrate that needs are being met for these individuals.
‘Better services for people with an autistic spectrum disorder’ (2006) clarifies existing policy as it applies to adults with ASD.
The policies it addresses are:
From these it explores the following themes for people with ASD:
1. Responsibility & Funding –gaps created by traditional service boundaries have been identified and joint working protocols (covering assessment, diagnosis, joint working arrangements, care pathways and decision making based on ‘best interest’ principles) are recommended.
2. Commissioning – The responsibility of the Director of Adult Social Services (DASS) and/or the Director of Public Health. Needs analysis should be undertaken using local data about local people, and:
3. Assessments and reviews – need to be co-ordinated and result in a written plan. National policy also places emphasis on using family carers and users’ expertise in assessment, arranging services and service monitoring. Services may need to be imaginative in creating ways to engage people with an ASD in these processes.
4. Monitoring and regulation - Monitoring systems, standards and practice should be adapted to ensure they are responsive to the needs of diverse groups of people. Presently, only a few extend to monitor things that matter to people with an ASD.
5. Service provision - People with ASD are entitled to receive direct payments and individual budgets in the same way as everyone else. It is thus expected that there will be a growing number of people with ASD who will take up this option and purchase their own services provision. From 2007, following implementation of the Mental Capacity Act, individuals must be assumed to have capacity to make decisions about services provided or offered to them unless it has been demonstrated otherwise. This includes people with an ASD and those who may not find it easy to express their choice in words.
6. Community Integration and Employment Support - Local supported employment and other specialist employment services should have the competence to support people with ASD into paid work.
7. Family carers – the expectations and imperatives are the same as for carers in any other area.
8. Health & Specialist Services – this section particularly highlights the importance of diagnostic services to families and the need for services to work together.
9. Workforce development - Policy requires that local workforce development plans include reference to people with a broad range of needs – this will include staff to support people with an ASD.
10. Transition & Emergencies - Meet the statutory requirements to commence transition planning from the age of 14.
11. Involving People with ASD. Decision Making, Consultation and Advocacy - Policies emphasise the importance of involving people and their families in planning. This works best when planning processes are adapted to help people get and stay involved.
12. Equality - Understanding ASD as an equality issue is vital. Furthermore, all equality issues affecting the general population apply to people with an ASD, however little is known about ASD in minority populations.
The above summary provides the ‘headline’ from each theme. The report deals with each in detail with a number of specific suggestions and recommendations.
Local
In addition Valuing People Now (2008) is clear that:
... the policy outlined applies directly to those people with autistic spectrum disorders who also have a learning disability. Many of the approaches outlined also work well for people who have higher functioning autism and do not have a learning disability. For example, personalised approaches should be used to commission and provide services, in line with good practice described in Better services for people with an autistic spectrum disorder. (p68)
Citizens First, three year Strategy for the Learning Disabilities Partnership Board, organised the objectives of Valuing People into nine themes. The Health theme includes:
This will help to provide synergy between Autism developments with the Valuing People agenda.