Agenda item

Cabinet Members: Councillor Elin Walker Jones and Councillor Dilwyn Morgan

 

To consider the update on progress

DECISION

 

a)    To accept the report, noting the observations made during the meeting.

 

b)    Establish a Task and Finish Group to discuss the implementation of the Plan with the new team and ensure representation from the Education Department and the Health Board.

 

c)    To receive a progress report in 6 months.

 

The Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Well-being highlighted that the report was a joint report between the Adults Services and the Children's Services to ensure that the Autism plan was incorporated smoothly into both services. He noted, as Chair of the Regional Partnership Board (which is responsible for gathering information to improve and the quality of the services provided to autistic people and their families or carers), that the Plan received prominent attention.

 

Councillor Elin Walker Jones (Cabinet Member for Children and Young People) confirmed that significant progress had been made by Cyngor Gwynedd since the Code of Practice for the Delivery of Autism Services came into force in September 2021. There was reference to the successful bid that had been made which would mean that staffing resources could be increased for the development of Autism services across the County, development of E-learning modules to raise the awareness of Local Authority staff, the Health Board and the Police and reference to the National Autism Team which had a general role in the development of services throughout Wales and, by meeting every quarter, provided an opportunity to share relevant information and updates.

 

It was noted that the priorities for the next six months included

·       An induction plan for the new team and the launch of the new service to raise awareness.

·       Establishing clear processes and arrangements for the team to work across children's and adults' services. Contacting existing forums.

·       Further strengthening the links with the Regional Integrated Autism Service, attending their local information events and looking for opportunities to work alongside their contact worker in Gwynedd.

·       Engaging with autistic individuals and their families as well as partners locally in order to move towards the co-production of local services.

·       Establishing a working relationship with the neurodevelopmental service and offering support during the early stages of assessment and diagnosis.

·       Completing the implementation update as part of the baseline assessment for north Wales by the end of May.

·       Reviewing Gwynedd's autism plan based on the information contained in the baseline assessment.

Gratitude was expressed for the presentation.

 

During the discussion, the following observations were submitted by members:

·       Praise for the work that the service does.

·       Welcoming the appointment of a Coordinator/Project Officer to develop Autism Services.

·       That it was necessary to ensure Welsh language appointments so that children from Welsh households were not at a disadvantage.

·       That there was a need to see change and ensure that this was not merely a paper exercise.

·       That the Autism Bus was excellent (offering innovative and practical training developed to give people who are not autistic an experience of the difficulties faced by people on the autism spectrum) and that this touring bus should be promoted.

·       That the spectrum was broad and that it was important to recognise who really needed support.

·       That there was a need to ensure appropriate support for adults and children as they went through the assessment process.

·       Concern that children were being rejected by the assessment service because they did not meet the criteria - where then would these children receive attention? It was noted that the service needed to be simplified.

·       That there were comparisons between Autism and Dementia and that identifying opportunities for collaboration between the two teams should be encouraged. It was suggested that a scheme be established similar to Dementia Friendly.

·       That the autism service required input from the Education Department and the Health Board. It was suggested to hold a discussion and/or set up a task and finish group to share information.

In response to observations and questions submitted by members, it was noted:

·         According to regional data collection work completed by Conwy and Denbighshire (which included figures from Gwynedd and Anglesey and was based on the population), there were approximately 900 adults and between 300 and 350 children receiving help from the County. It was confirmed, although the information was not reliable, that there was an increase in referrals and the number on the waiting list to receive an assessment. The Cabinet Member pointed out that she shared the Councillors' concerns about the waiting lists and her intention to write to the Health Service highlighting the concerns, which would include the use of the Welsh language.

·         In response to a comment that many paid privately for an assessment due to the waiting list with the current system (a suggestion was made that having a private assessment did not give earlier access to services) and how the waiting list could be resolved, it was noted that approximately 200 were on the current children's waiting list. It was added that the new service would not deal with this, but that the work plan was likely to create a working network to find information and create contacts. It was also noted that it would be necessary to establish a relationship with the neurodevelopmental service and offer support during the early stages of assessment and diagnosis.

·         In response to a comment that it was necessary to ensure that events were held in rural areas, it was highlighted that additional resources were available to identify new opportunities to provide preventive support and raise awareness locally. It was noted that Derwen already offered information dates for families and collaborated with Byw'n Iach to conduct training. The plan would focus on ensuring better communication with families and on holding regular sessions (ensuring events across the County).

·         Following recent press reports that the number of older women being diagnosed with autism was increasing, it was noted that the National Autism Team had developed a Community of Practice which developed knowledge and focused specifically on this issue.

·         That the leader's aim would be co-production with the integrated team to ensure good engagement and collaboration with parents and carers, involving them in discussions about developing the relationship and developing support for parents. It was added that Derwen conducted activities and information sessions, e.g. emotion management sessions, although accepting the need to do more.

·         The intention to ensure that all members of staff who worked directly with children, young people or adults should undertake ASD awareness training, although at a general level, was welcomed. It was emphasised that intense training must be ensured for those dealing with autism directly. In response, it was noted that mandatory training was being presented to all Council staff (approximately 400 had completed it to date), which was included as one part of three ASD training levels. Those who dealt with autism directly would receive training on two higher levels.

·         To ensure that there were no differences between the needs of children and adults, it was ensured that the individual was at the centre of the service and that the best provision would be offered - the aim of the service was to collaborate around the individual. It was noted that there was a significant improvement to the individual after receiving support.

RESOLVED:

 

a)         To accept the report, noting the observations made during the meeting

 

b)         Establish a Task and Finish Group to discuss the implementation of the Plan with the new team and ensure representation from the Education Department and the Health Board

 

c)           To receive a progress report in six months