Consultation for statutory guidance for local authorities and NHS organisations to support implementation of the autism strategy

This email contains a link to Implementing “Fulfilling and rewarding lives”, a consultation document containing draft guidance for health and social care bodies to support the implementation of the Adult Autism Strategy.  The consultation was launched on 29 July 2010. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_118058

The Government has made public its commitment to delivery of the adult autism strategy published by the previous government and to consult on and publish statutory guidance as set out in the Autism Act 2009.

The statutory guidance is a functional document. It is intended to providefrontline staff with clear directions on how to implement the policy setout in the strategy.

Throughout, the guidance underlines the importance of using existingprocesses and resources to achieve these outcomes. For example, the guidance requires health and social care organisations to provide autism awareness training for staff, but emphasises that this can be delivered as part of existing equality and diversity training, or similar programmes.
This is particularly important given the financial constraints that all public sector organisations are currently working under, and the need to demonstrate value for money.

The aims of the consultation are to:

• hear the views of service commissioners and providers, service users and  family carers and use those views to inform the development of the  statutory guidance
• understand the expectations of adults with autism and their family carers in relation to health and social care services
• seek views on the issues in the consultation document on the provision of health and social care services for adults with autism
• gather more information about services which are currently provided for adults with autism and family carers.

Consultation will be over a 12 week period in line with best practice.

Please send us your response by not later than Friday, 22 October 2010.

Throughout the consultation process, we will continue to work closely with key partners to ensure that the voices of service users, self-advocates and family carers are heard and given due weight.

We need your support, we need your scrutiny, and we need the commitment and expertise shown by organisations and individuals like you to extend new hope for people with autism.  We hope you’ll continue to work with us to drive change. We look forward to hearing your response to the consultation.

The Autism Project Programme Team