Agenda item

Report of the Director of Law and Governance

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance on the work and outcomes of the Scrutiny Autism Task and Finish Group and sought consideration of their recommendations. An Appendix to the report provided the Report back of the Autism Task and Finish Group to the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board (5) at their meeting on 23rd March 2022.

At the start of the Municipal Year 2021/22, the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board (5) agreed to set up a task and finish group to look at support for autistic children and young people. This work was prompted by concerns raised regarding the wait times for assessments and diagnosis. The Task and Finish group wanted to understand the reason for the waits and what support was available during the waiting time without a diagnosis, particularly for Children and Young People.

At their meeting on 11 March 2020 the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board (5) considered an item on the Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) Pathway and Support to Children and Young People in Coventry (their minute 33/20 referred). The Chair identified that more in-depth consideration needed to be made of some of the issues and invited Members to join a Task and Finish Group. Members of the Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board (2) were invited to join the Group due to the cross over in the remit of the two Boards regarding autism.

The report sought Cabinet’s consideration of the recommendations identified by the Task and Finish Group to address issues around the assessment process and support for children and young people who were referred for an autism assessment, and their families, as well as transition into adult service, inclusion and other aspects of autism and neurodiversity.

The Cabinet thanked the officers and Members who had been involved in the work of the Task and Finish Group, in particular they recognised the work undertaken by the Chairs of the Scrutiny Boards, and asked that Cabinet’s thanks to all concerned be placed on record. 

RESOLVED that the Cabinet agrees the following recommendations of the Autism Task and Finish Group:

1)  That the Council work with partners to identify sustainable, long-term funding as there is currently only funding available for the first year of the All-Age Autism Strategy delivery plan.

2)  Ensure tackling health inequalities for autistic people is prioritised for delivery as part of the All-Age Autism Strategy implementation plan to improve physical health, mental health and emotional wellbeing.

3)  Work with partners to accelerate and build on existing workstreams, to reduce the unacceptably long waiting times for diagnostic assessment.

4)  The Council and health partners work with schools, colleges and universities to ensure that all educational professionals (teachers, senior leaders, early career teachers, support staff) have a good understanding of the needs which may present for autistic and neurodiverse pupils and provide appropriate Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to ensure high quality provision at both whole class and individual intervention level.

5)  The Council strengthen data sharing, alongside all relevant partners, between organisations to enable evidence gathered through assessments to be used by other professionals as part of the autism assessment process, to assist and expedite diagnosis with the necessary data protection safeguards put in place.

6)  Support the Education and Childrens’ Service Scrutiny Board undertaking a task and finish group during the 2022/23 municipal year to look at the in-depth challenges facing schools in providing support to children, young people and their families who are on the autism assessment pathway.

7)  Health partners review the referral process for diagnosis to simplify it and enable electronic submission of referral forms.

8)  Health partners to include schools in correspondence about appointments where schools were involved in the referral process. This will enable schools to support pupils and families through the diagnostic process.

9)  The Council work with partners to ensure information on referral and support pathways is accessible to parents, carers, young people and professionals.

10) Community support services should be offered in the wider context of neurodiversity rather than limited to those with an autism diagnosis. Services should be titled and described to reflect that not all services require a diagnosis to access them.

11) The Council, with partners develop a holistic approach to support for families post diagnosis which includes emotional as well as clinical support and access to training.

12) To continue the Council’s participation in the Employ Autism scheme, or the development of an inhouse equivalent and ensure there is appropriate resource for it to be delivered.

13) For the Council to lead by example and become an inclusive employer including for autism and neurodiversity. 

14) Support SCRUCO including a future item on skills resilience pathways into employment for those with disabilities, including neurodiversity.

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15) The Council works towards Coventry becoming a city which celebrates, supports and accepts autism and neurodiversity. This would include. 

a.  the introduction of more inclusive spaces and autism friendly environments throughout the City including in the City Centre, Parks and Open Spaces?

b.  safe spaces/low sensory stimulus areas to enable autistic people to decompression throughout the City.?

c.  public realm designs should include inclusive spaces including Autism friendly environments.?

16) The Council resource and pursue digital opportunities including the development and rollout of a Neurodiversity Support App for Coventry.

17) Support Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board receiving an update in 6 months-time on progress towards the recommendations, particularly the impact of measures to reduce waiting times for diagnostic assessments with regular briefings to the Chair in-between.?