Minutes of Meeting Adult Autism Partnership Board Thursday 28 th Jan pm to 4.00pm Room C418 County Hall Chelmsford

Transcription

1 Minutes of Meeting Adult Autism Partnership Board Thursday 28 th Jan pm to 4.00pm Room C418 County Hall Chelmsford Chair Co-Chair Guests Apologies Item Carolann Jackson (CJ) President of SAFE Wendy Burt (WB) Essex Carers Network Andrew Hensman (AH) Individual with Autism and Karen Brown, carer Jackie Philips (JPh) Job Centre Plus Jenny Peckham (JP) Quality Improvement Manager, ECC Maria Thomas (MT) Senior Commissioning Delivery Officer, ECC Marian Redding (MR) Healthwatch Essex Tom Purser(TP) National Autistic Society Carol Cecil (CC) BAITAS Jo Jacobs Note taker Amy Townsend Observer to Note taker Rob Wright (RW) Web Editor Paul Gayler (PG) Maldon District Council and Chair of Essex Housing Officer Group Maeden Yfans (MY) Senior Commissioning Delivery Officer Steve Allen - Chair, Autism Lead ECC and Head of Commissioning, Vulnerable people Avril O Sullivan, Tendring MH Service Jo Keys, Autism Anglia Alfie Bandakpara-Taylor, Mental Health & LD Commissioning Manager Deborah Tranter, Adult Operations Workforce Capability representing Autism Champions Emily Oliver, Head of Commissioning Vulnerable People Julia Carr, Employment Pathway, PACT Harlow Kirsty O Callaghan, Head of Transformation Vulnerable People, West Essex CCG Mariann Payne, North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Action 1. Notes of Previous Meeting and Actions arising: Notes reviewed and approved for accuracy and notes outstanding will be looked at and added to forward plan. The Board noted there were some actions outstanding from West CCG Commissioner (Kirsty o Callaghan) and the Chair asked if these could be updated at the next meeting West CCG The Board were informed that there was no update at present in relation to Page 1 of 6

2 the query raised through Health and Wellbeing Board regarding a separate data question regarding those with an Aspergers diagnosis to be added to the Self-Assessment Return. Update to be provided at next meeting. MT Request for Second Co Chair Wendy Burt kindly agreed to take this role Action Owner Update on Action All are asked to look at the current living well website All Comments added where appropriate Jackie and Glenn: Could 1:1 build up support be considered in training schemes? Information to be provided at next meeting. Jackie Philips/Glenn Badham We have formulated questions just waiting for it to go through ECC governance. TP hoping that NHS will have some input into this and government is going to produce a white paper on Autism. DWP has also been given the alliance to deliver training just waiting to see what level of training will be needed. Autism Anglia, Julie Carr, Carolann all contributed to the survey and as soon as that has gone through the process we will have a look at it and then it can It was agreed by the membership that case studies would be helpful as evidence base to improve existing pathways. All board members to consider and provide information ahead of meeting directly. 3. Autism Information Hub All go out to the public. Case Studies to be discussion of meeting in July There is a recognised need, based on prevalence data from the JSNA, for the creation of an Essex Autism Information Hub as a much needed innovative resource to support to people with autism, their carers and families. We know that adults with undiagnosed autism can be socially isolated and can struggle with self-confidence and self-esteem. That is why the Hub has been designed, as part of the Living Well Essex site to address clear needs. Page 2 of 6

3 There was further discussion on the following: The Directory of Services which will be part of the Living Well Site should concentrate on local information. An easy read version of the Autism Information Hub be developed over the next 12 months following the launch as requested by front line social workers Page to be retitled Information for Carers Feedback page to include the words Feedback and queries The Board agreed and minor grammar on three pages Any queries received will be answered by the Inclusion Communication Team (ICE) within ECC with planned updates on information received being presented at subsequent Adult Autism Partnership Board Meetings Adult Autism Partnership Board agreed and endorsed the Autism Information Hub. 4. General Housing Provision Countywide The Adult Autism Partnership Board welcomed Paul Gayler Chair of Essex Housing Officer Group. Paul discussed Basic outline of how there are 12 separate and independent housing authorities (LHA) in Essex and two unitaries each with own policy and practice. Each will have its own priorities and ways of doing things. All meet through Essex Housing Officer Group. Some areas or districts have no housing of their own and all will also rely on housing associations and in some cases private landlords; this is complex where a range of organisations that could be involved, with all of their policies and procedures may often be even greater but the LHA is there to help and advice, as well as to understand and respond to local housing need. It is acknowledged responding to need is becoming very difficult. All were asked to note the following: Find someone either in LHA or ECC who you can begin a discussion about housing with, knowing that it will link to your particular LHA, Don t rely on the advice of others, even if they have had past experience, so much is changing, every case is unique and we see real problems caused as a result of thinking that all housing is the same and everything else will improve as a result especially when Page 3 of 6

4 using the homeless route. Make sure that the provision of support and the need for adaptations is brought together as part of the planning for the housing too often we see people make assumptions about what may follow on once they are housed, There clearly is some work to do where LHA, ECC and others including voluntary organisations could do more, even only considering how best to present and explain options in the first place making best use of resources by sharing work, in return info and feedback from families is invaluable in helping understand need. What we seeing nationally now is the drop off of supply is adding to the pressure of demand to make it even harder to find suitable, affordable housing. Supported housing for some people may be the best option. What does seem to work is when you have intermediaries, a housing broker, who is someone who will work with the individual to get them into accommodation and includes all impairments, the key thing is to get accommodation with the support. Board members had not heard of the housing brokers and would like some information about them to be added to the HUB for those who are eligible to use this service. It was acknowledged what is important is that those who are on the housing waiting list understand the process of remaining active and know how the process works and this in time could be added to the Autism Information Hub. Action: Tom Purser reminded the Board that there was a duty for housing officers to be trained in Autism. Chair of Essex Housing Officer Group to confirm what training is planned or in place Following and further discussion it was agreed: Andrew Hensman offered to provide case study to Housing Officers E-Learning package to be forwarded to Housing Officer Group Simplified page to be developed on General Housing with Links to districts service offer, to be added for information to the Hub. Questionnaire to be sent to EHOG members asking them how they record hyper sensitivities and how this is addressed when making an application for housing and then when a housing offer is made. PG AH MT ICE Team PG 5. ECC Specialist Housing Provision It was agreed that ECC could initially look to see if there was property that can be redesigned to suit those with Autism and Aspergers, and this may be that we can look at existing building stock that ECC already have with a view to see if any can be appropriately adapted for accommodation purposes. Page 4 of 6

5 Action Maeden Yfans look into properties that can be adapted to see if this is a viable option and to provide brief update to the Adult Autism Partnership Board.. Action Maeden Yfans to contact Gwyn Owen within ECC to investigate if there are any properties that can be enhanced as mentioned above. Additionally Maeden and Paul to work together to establish if housing associations in Essex have existing properties that could be used, e.g. some sheltered schemes for older people that may be under-utilised; to be taken through EHOG and inform Adult Autism Partnership Board of findings. MY MY The Board thanked Both Paul and Maeden for their presentations 6. Essex Self- Assessment This was circulated for information to promote its accessibility and to use this as a tool to take forward areas where Essex needs to improve. Tom Purser reminded all that this can be accessed through Improving Health and Lives Autism SAF. Public Health website, this will show each counties information and see how Essex is doing compared to the national trend. Also Autism connect, it is presented in a better way but you have to keep clicking through, however you are being encouraged to feedback on each section of the survey so would encourage you to do that. Tom Purser asked all to note that there are specific questions that will be for those with Autism without LD so this will help separate Autism and Aspergers and answer the question raised by Essex HWB. Action Tom Purser to send link to website to access all best practice items. TP 7. Any other Business and Date of Next Meeting: Transforming Care to be an item at next meeting (Agenda addresses the Winterbourne process, housing and support within the community Rosemary Leak (ECC) will present on this at the next meeting). It was noted that CCG membership are key at the Board Meetings and none were present today and all are encouraged to attend; at the next meeting Mental Health will be the main topic Jenny Peckham (ECC) to update the Board at the next meeting on current project which will be of interest Details of Jobs Fair to be circulated shortly from Jackie Philipp; and details of Survey once agreed to be circulated also. Page 5 of 6 RL ALL JP JPh

6 Marianne Payne a research company have a survey out on what to do with medicines if you do not feel they are working so if there are any issues the group would like to send in response to this MR will send on behalf of group. MP Date of Next Meeting - Tuesday 26 April to Page 6 of 6