SOURCES OF SUPPORT AND ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM IN SURREY

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1 SOURCES OF SUPPORT AND ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM IN SURREY Whether or not you are assessed as eligible for Adult Social Care services, you may still be able to get help from any of the following, as appropriate. Some of these are autism specialist, and some are suitable for anyone. Some do need to be paid for: 1. Information on community support for people with autism is frequently updated on Surrey Information Point: Finding Work 2. EmployAbility run Job Clubs and pre employment courses open to people who are not eligible for a social care service. For people who are eligible for a funded service, EmployAbility can also offer more intensive support to find a job and maintain employment, including support and training for employers. for more details of what is currently available EmployAbility@surreychoices.com or call Job Centre Plus provide employment advice, and information on employment-related benefits and Access To Work grants. 4. Access to Work grants may help to pay for practical support so that you can start work, stay in work or start your own business. If you get Access to Work funding, there are autism specialist providers you could use, such as EmployAbility, the National Autistic Society (NAS) Employment and Training Service, or AS Mentoring 5. Employment Skills NAS, Godalming. Monday and Thursday afternoons. The sessions aim to provide the knowledge to understand all the steps required in getting a job. These include workplace relationships, interview skills, CV writing, job searching and coping strategies when difficulties arise in the workplace. Places at the sessions can be paid for via Adult Social Care funding if the person is eligible, or can be self-funded. Contact Gemma Fry gemma.fry@nas.org.uk 1

2 Advocacy, and Self Advocacy Groups 6. Surrey Disabled People s Partnership (SDPP) offer advocacy support, including advocacy for job interviews. They also run self-advocacy groups for people with Asperger Syndrome / high functioning autism which meet twicemonthly from p.m., on Wednesdays in Camberley and on Mondays in Reigate. Contact Wendy Storr at SDPP on advocacy@sdpp.org.uk Web: Support Groups The National Autistic Society runs a number of services for people on the autism spectrum including: 7. ASSIST (Asperger Signposting, Support & Information Services Team), Godalming/Reigate/telephone/online, which offers individual advice, information and support. For more information tel: or bettina.stott@nas.org.uk 8. ASpire Godalming. Social group + social skills group. Fortnightly on Thursdays ; p.m. Contact Howard Childs bettina.stott@nas.org.uk 9. Transition group (18 25 year olds) Guildford. Fortnightly on Wednesdays p.m. Contact Howard Childs howard.childs@nas.org.uk Other social groups for people on the autism spectrum: 10. Banstead. Contact Stephanie Wright. stephanie.wright@surreycc.gov.uk 11. Oxted. Monthly, Fridays. (Run by volunteers) Contact Elaine Holloway, tel: , s.holloway541@btinternet.com 12. Horley. Fortnightly, Fridays pm. (Run by volunteers). Contact Angela Adcock tel: angela.adcock99@gmail.com 2

3 13. The National Autistic Society Surrey Branch is a parent-run voluntary support organisation, which can provide information and peer support for families. This is separate from the NAS services described above. See website or nas@mugsy.org Tel: Advice and information on benefits and other issues is available from the Hubs: The Hub Epsom 131 High Street, Epsom, KT19 8EF (next to Marks & Spencer in the Market Place) Telephone/Text: enquiries@thehubepsom.org.uk, Opening times: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 4pm, plus the first and third Saturdays of each month The Hub Redhill 41 High Street, Redhill, Surrey. RH1 1RX Tel: Text: info@thehubredhill.org.uk Opening times: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10am to 4pm, plus the first and third Saturdays of each month The Hub Woking 51 Commercial Way, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6HN Telephone/Text: info@hubwoking.org.uk Opening times: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm The Hub Addlestone 1a Corrie Road Addlestone, KT15 2HT Tel: info@hubaddlestone.org.uk Opening times: 10am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday The Hub Godalming 94 High Street, Godalming, GU7 1DW Tel: info@hubgodalming.org.uk Opening times: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm The Hub Walton-on-Thames Old School House, 72 High Street, Walton on Thames, KT12 1BU Telephone/Text: info@thehubwalton.org.uk Opening times: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10am to 3pm 3

4 15. Housing Related Support comes in the form of supported housing schemes, or outreach support. You can find schemes through the website and contact them directly to find whether they have suitable vacancies. You can also access them through your borough housing department. Outreach Support is available through Dimensions and Keyring in different parts of the County. Contact: 1. - Southwest Area 2. - Northwest Area 3. - East Area You can contact the Housing Related Support Team direct on or at 16. If counselling would help, your GP can refer you for this. 17. The Autistic Spectrum Handbook, produced by Surrey Learning Disability Partnership Board is available to download at: (this is in the process of being updated) 18. The Autism Partnership Board works to implement the National Autism Strategy Think Autism in Surrey, see Mainstream adult education and leisure facilities should make reasonable adjustments for people with autism, and may have staff with some specialist training in how to support people with autism. 19. Courses at local Colleges Adult and community learning Leisure services 4

5 Social Care Funded Services The rules for eligibility for funded Adult Social Care services are changing in April The new eligibility criteria can be found at /43738_ _Regs_Affirmative_Accessible.pdf - Pages These criteria are a framework to look at an individual s needs and how they affect the person s wellbeing. The criteria include difficulties with developing and maintaining personal relationships, and access to work, training, education or volunteering. You can get in touch with Surrey County Council s contact centre to arrange for someone to carry out an eligibility assessment. If you are assessed as eligible, you can receive services funded by Surrey County Council to meet your assessed needs. Tel: (8am-6pm weekdays) If you let Surrey County Council know that you have autism, you can ask for the staff member carrying out the assessment to have had autism training, and they will try to ensure that this happens. The Care Act Statutory Guidance says they must do this /43380_ _Care_Act_Book.pdf See paragraphs 6.86 to 6.89 Until April 2015, eligibility will be decided using Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) criteria. These were set by the Department of Health. See Page 21, paragraph 54 of: /prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalass et/dh_ pdf Thomas Moore Autism Lead, Adult Social Care Commissioning, Surrey County Council Thomas.Moore@surreycc.gov.uk Produced by the Surrey Autism Partnership Board v.4 Dec

6 Support for People on the Autism Spectrum and their families. Service G.P Mental Health Services. Learning Disability Services. Autism Assessment Service. Psychological Therapies. National Autistic Society Assist Service National Autistic Society Surrey Branch Social Care Advocacy services. What they do initial assessment and treatment for mental health problems. assessments and interventions assessment and intervention (including diagnostic assessments) diagnostic assessment for adults without a learning disability short term talking therapies 1-1 signposting and support sessions and groups Volunteer run support for families. Signposting and groups. Support and information for people over the age of 18 who are finding it difficult to manage by themselves Advocacy Services, information, and benefits advice and groups. Who they provide services for Anybody registered at their surgery People with severe and/or complex mental illness. People with a learning disability People without a learning disability For people suffering with symptoms of depression and anxiety. People who do not meet the criteria for Learning Disability Services Family members of people on the Spectrum Based on risks to health, care, work or support systems. Disabled People over 16 and older people How to access Contact your local surgery to make an appointment GP referral required nhs.uk refer. nhs.uk GP referral required. nhs.uk GP referral required. refer uk/assist org refer gov.uk refer. org.uk Created by The Autism Partnership Board July 2013.