This report updates Cabinet on the progress to date to develop and implement the joint All Age Autism Strategy for Coventry and Warwickshire 2021-26 and seeks endorsement of  the joint All Age Autism Strategy for Coventry and Warwickshire 2021-26.

Portfolio Holders – Councillors Margaret Bell and Jeff Morgan

This report was introduced by Councillor Margaret Bell (Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care & Health) who reflected on the development of this five year strategy with partners, noting the co-production and mapping activity by experts in the field to develop a shared understanding and build upon good practice to address gaps in service provision.  She noted that there was close alignment with the national Autism Strategy (2021-2026) which launched in July 2021, although the priorities were described differently.  She noted that a key difference with the national strategy was the national strategy’s focus on improving diagnostic waiting times which did not reflect Warwickshire’s ambition to ensure that, whilst prompt access to a diagnosis was imperative, it was also of importance for people to access support without needing a diagnosis and were not excluded from services on the basis of their diagnosis.

Councillor Jeff Morgan (Portfolio Holder for Children and Families) welcomed the strategy, noting its importance for up to 1000 young people in Warwickshire who it was believed may be autistic.  He noted that research showed that young people with autism suffered inequalities in terms of self-harming, within the criminal justice system, suffering social isolation and achieving poorer educational outcomes. He further noted the considerable disparity between genders which required further investigation.

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse welcomed the strategy and the work that had gone into its production.  Noting that the report would be presented to Overview and Scrutiny in due course, he commented on increasing demand and waiting times, precision in the action plan, redesign of pathways and neurodevelopmental works, links to integration and place, gaps in the workforce and future workforce.

Councillor Bell responded that the colleagues were looking at methods to extend the number and type of people that were able to carry out diagnostics, so that psychiatrists could concentrate their skills on the more complex cases.  She noted the link with the SEND strategy and the Place Partnership Strategy for Coventry and Warwickshire.  She advised that annual action plans would be produced to monitor the effectiveness of the strategy.

Resolved:

That Cabinet

1.     Endorses the joint All Age Autism Strategy for Coventry and Warwickshire 2021-26.

2.     Authorises the Strategic Director for People (in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care & Health and the Portfolio Holder for Children, Families & Education) to approve the Strategy Delivery Plans and Written Statements of Action for each year.