Surrey Autism Partnership Board

Transcription

1 Surrey Autism Partnership Board Meeting held on 22 nd January 2014 Park House, Leatherhead 1. Welcome and introductions Tom welcomed everyone to the meeting and everyone introduced themselves. 2. Correction to the minutes of the meeting held on 10 th July 2013 AOB Instead of: NESCOT are building a new facility for people with autism which is due for completion shortly. The minutes should read: NESCOT has just opened the Seasons Learning Hub which is a newly refurbished area for students working at foundation level, many of whom may have learning difficulties or disabilities (including an autism spectrum disorder). The college is also hoping to open a hub for students with more profound difficulties which it is anticipated will be ready for use from September Surrey Commissioning and Development SEND and Pathways Team Mary Jane Newell and Penny Easton The team works with pupils aged in schools and colleges across Surrey, supporting education provision. They work alongside other services within Surrey County Council, Health, and social care disability teams. They are trying to expand local provision so as to reduce the number of out of county placements. Data and future demand Chris Tisdall Chris presented an analysis of needs which shows changes to the number of young people with an SEN statement coming through the system. The aim of this is to help to develop provision. Special schools in Surrey attract people to the county because they are good. It is predicted that 1,000 more young people with SEN will be coming through the system over the next 10 years. The projection shows that we expect a steep increase in the number of young people on the autism spectrum over the coming years. The presentation will be sent out with these minutes. The situation in Surrey reflects national trends. Barry Carpenter s research at a national level shows that there is an increase in the number of young people with diagnoses and more of these young people require higher levels of support.

2 4. Feedback from Surrey FE Colleges Guildford College Nikki Kennedy The Additional Learning Support Team work with people on the autistic spectrum. For those looking to do courses at Level 1 and above, the college look through the 139A forms from the Pathways Team and decide whether or not they are able to provide support and will then go out to assess suitable students. To aid transition, young people are brought into the college by someone from school, spend some time in class with the current students and get to know the college facilities. They are taken through the enrolment process and also attend a taster session with the students and staff they will be with. Support needs vary but can include access to speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and psychology support although there are funding issues. Nikki s office is used as a chill-out zone and she is available for 1:1s. Mentoring, pastoral support, in-programme support, student mentors and access to a mental health facilitator are also available. The Supported Learning department provides learning support to entry level students. The environment is more caring and supportive and less academic. The college have bid for funding for an LDD provision unit. This would enable students with more severe needs to be supported. College staff have visited some providers and Mary Hendrick offered to facilitate meetings with other providers and link into the process. Feedback from others at the meeting emphasised the need to provide full training to new staff and carefully consider the design of the building. East Surrey College Oliver Connolly East Surrey College offers similar services to Guildford but are not able to offer support from a mental health facilitator or psychologist. Their LDD provision is housed in a separate unit, consisting of three teaching rooms (one of which is a sensory room), garden and toilets with a hoist. It is not open to other students. Clifton Hill is a local school for people with learning disabilities and behavioural difficulties and the plan is to offer three days of teaching to pupils with SLD (including some with autism) and three days to pupils with PMLD. The college run two support groups for mainstream learners on the autistic spectrum. A 45 minute forum is held every week for each group to discuss any issues they ve encountered in college and look at what s been good and what s been bad. Disruptive behaviour by other pupils is also discussed. The groups also meet outside of college for various activities. Students can attend both forums if they wish. The college has 1,800 students, of whom are mainstream learners on the autistic spectrum, and are in supported learning. Brooklands College Lorraine Crossland Brooklands College also offer similar services. Chill-out rooms are available on both sites for students with autism. Support is provided both in and outside of classes and learners on the autism spectrum or with behaviour support needs also have access to advanced practitioners and a speech and

3 language practitioner. The Additional Support Manager oversees the service. Transition arrangements are in place. 100 learners are on discrete supported learning courses, of which are on the autism spectrum. The college links in to the local schools and offers college experience to year olds to help transition. A successful bid has been made to refurbish an existing building, away from the main buildings, for learners with autism and a higher level of need than those offered places at present. The building will open in September 2015 with an initial intake of up to 16 students. It will provide a good environment in its own space, and will also enable students to access other areas of the college. The college is also looking at funding to provide activities outside of college to enable high needs learners to develop social skills. Discussion focussed on: The need for colleges to strengthen their links with other organisations in order to provide activities outside college hours The need for a forum to bring colleges together to share good practice around autism, and for supported learning in general The need to build better links with special schools who have a high level of expertise, and are willing to offer training and support The need to offer support with life skills to learners with autism even when they are in higher level courses or achieve well academically Actions: Mary Jane and Tom to discuss setting up a forum All colleges to nominate a representative to attend the Autism Partnership Board and link to special schools 7. AOB Partnership Board Meetings Action: All to let Barbara and Tom know their preference for which day future meetings should be held on. Social Care Eligibility Criteria DH has published a discussion paper proposing changes to Social Care Eligibility Criteria, and are taking comments on this. See: NICE Guidance NICE have issued guidance on autism. This is very relevant for our neurodevelopmental service. Self Assessment Framework (SAF) Sara ran a focus group on behalf of DH related to the SAF as part of the review of the autism strategy. 31 people attended, divided into three groups of people on the autism spectrum, and one group of parent carers. Action: Tom to circulate Sara s paper along with the SAF and make this an agenda item for the next meeting.

4 Local Authority Trading Company (LATC) From April 2014, the services below currently provided by Surrey County Council will be provided by a LATC: Community and day services Employability Shared lives About us Personalisation Further information will be given at the next meeting interaktive Newsletter Shelagh Dixon would like to include updates from the further education colleges in the interaktive Newsletter. Action: Barbara to provide contact addresses Older People s Representative Action: Tom to consider inviting a representative from older people s service to attend the Partnership Board Portsmouth University Employment Survey The University of Portsmouth is conducting research into the difficulties that people with autism have getting into employment. They would like people with autism, parents, carers and those who work with people who have autism to complete the survey here: The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete. The data will be used as a basis for a research project aimed at increasing employment opportunities for people with autism. Sarah Mitchell Sarah Mitchell, Director of Adult Social Care has left Surrey County Council. A farewell party has been organised on 3 rd February and all are welcome to attend Action: Barbara to forward the invitation 8. Future meeting dates 16 th April 1.30pm 9 th July 1.30pm 8 th October 1.30pm All meetings will be held at Park House, Leatherhead, KT22 0AH

5 Attendees Name Tom Moore Sara Truman Justin Price Barbara Buck Martin Woodward Nicola Kennedy Christina Earl Mary-Jane Newell Mary Hendrick Oliver Connolly Chris Tisdall Penny Easton Daniel Jeffery Sally Carey Sally Dickens Carolyn Scott Shelagh Dixon Lyn Reddick Stephanie Wright Apologies Name Marianne Scallon Co-Chair Michael Gosling Chris Esson Co-Chair Carol Cullen Jo Poynter Moira Coates Alison Mould Howard Childs Raja Mukherjee Laura Netley Sarah Cannon Carol Pearson Organisation Surrey County Council Commissioning, Autism lead NAS Surrey Branch Freemantles School Commissioning Surrey County Council, Employability Lead ALS Specialist ASD learners, Guildford College Surrey County Council, Employability Team Manager Surrey County Council Commissioning East Surrey College Surrey County Council, Services for Young People Surrey County Council, Services for Young People Camberley Group Service Delivery Surrey County Council, Services for Young People Carer / InterAktive NESCOT Surrey County Council, Autism Champion Representative Organisation The Smart Enterprise Councillor, Surrey County Council Surrey County Council, Assistant Senior Manager Commissioning Parent Surrey County Council Commissioning, Adult Learning Disability lead Job Centre Plus Surrey and Borders NHS Foundation Trust/ CLDT Surrey and Borders NHS Partnership Trust The Smart Enterprise Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust Surrey Coalition of Disabled People

6 Anne Thurlow Charlotte Williams Anh Nguyen Andy Campbell Adam Beral Sarah Pryce Angela Sargeant Dave Sargeant Donal Hegarty Sheila Jones Surrey County Council, Children s, Schools and Families National Autistic Society Surrey County Council, Service Delivery NESCOT The Smart Enterprise Commissioning Mental Health lead