Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The Adult Autism Strategy was co-produced by a wide range of professionals, people with autism and their carers over a period of months. This means the Strategy document looks different to traditional strategy documents. It states clearly what the people responsible for developing the Strategy intend to do in order to implement it. It also describes what the Council needs to do to support the delivery of the action plans.

The Strategy was endorsed by the Health & Wellbeing Board at its meeting on 27 September 2017.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to note Stockport Adult Autism Strategy for 2017-2020.

Officer contact: Karen Kime, 0161474 3450, karen.kime@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care submitted the Stockport Adult Autism Strategy for 2017-2020 (copies of which had been circulated) for the Scrutiny Committee’s consideration. The Strategy had been co-produced with service users and their carers, and with Healthwatch Stockport, to make it as comprehensive and robust as possible. Although the Strategy was primarily aimed at adults, it covered age 14 upward to ensure consistency with service provision and to move toward the aspiration of an all-age Strategy.

It was suggested that the autism training opportunities be widened to include councillors.

Concerns were also expressed about the lack of an autism diagnostic pathway.

RESOLVED – That the Strategy be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The Board is invited to consider and endorse the draft Stockport Adult Autism Strategy for 2017-2020.

Officer contact: Karen Kime, 0161474 3450, karen.kime@stockport.gov.uk

Karen Kime, Policy Manager at Stockport Council, attended the meeting to present the draft Stockport Adult Autism Strategy for 2017-2020 (copies of which had been circulated) and seeking the Board’s endorsement.

The Strategy had been co-produced with service users and their carers, and with Healthwatch Stockport, to make it as comprehensive and robust as possible. Although the Strategy was primarily aimed at adults, it covered age 14 upward to ensure consistency with service provision and to move toward the aspiration of an all-age Strategy.

It was highlighted that despite positive engagement there remained a significant challenge of there not being a diagnostic pathway for autism in Stockport, making Stockport the only borough in Greater Manchester without one.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Concerns about the lack of a diagnostic pathway were echoed by Board members.

·         Was there sufficient reference within the Strategy to carers given the importance of the relationship between carers and professionals in supporting those with autism, in particularly the need to ensure that information about those with caring responsibilities was adequately captured? In response the need for additional work to ensure all partners, particularly health partners, were doing all they could to ensure their registration process were robust was acknowledged. It was also commented that carers had been involved in the development of the Strategy itself and therefore their views featured throughout the document.

·         There was little reference to social media in the Strategy, which was surprising given the scope for engagement. In response it was stated that there was a common assumption that those with autism were avid social media users, but there was a large share of the cohort who were not active users. Nevertheless the opportunities presented by social media were acknowledged.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Stockport Adult Autism Strategy 2017-2020 be endorsed.

(2) That the Chief Operating Officer of Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) be requested to provide an update to the Board on the development of an autism diagnostic pathway and the designation of a Clinical Lead within the CCG.