From the Workplace Law Network.
The Autism Bill has made it through its final parliamentary stage and will now become the Autism Act – the first ever disability-specific law in England.
Commented Mark Lever, Chief Executive of the NAS:
Explains James Willis, Senior Associate from Thomson Snell & Passmore:
For more information on the Autism Act visit www.autism.org.uk/autismact2009.
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Paul Burstow (Minister of State (Care Services), Health; Sutton and Cheam, Liberal Democrat)
I am announcing the Government's publication tomorrow of "Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives: Evaluating Progress"-a set of key outcomes and service ambitions to secure implementation of the adult autism strategy. A copy of the document has been placed in the Library. Copies are available to hon. Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office.
"Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives: Evaluating Progress" has been produced to deliver against a commitment made in the first-year delivery plan to produce a self-assessment template for localities to check progress on implementing the goals set out in the adult autism strategy.
The document details a set of seven key outcomes and three service ambitions which provide a consistent and tangible way to assess progress in each area. Over time, they will evolve into a jointly owned set of outcomes that all parties-local partners, adults with autism, central Government and others-can use to understand progress, and become a focal point for developing improved services.
The document reflects the Government's ambitions for local autonomy, where precise top-down targets are replaced by desired outcomes, where implementation and investment is determined by local priorities-as agreed by local communities through activities such as the joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA)-and where central Government's role is about facilitation rather than direction.
This means a new approach to evaluating progress on the autism strategy, with a focus on identifying the outcomes which will enable local and national assessment of whether the lives of adults with autism are improving. The Government will take the lead in supporting local partners to deliver change
In developing "Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives: Evaluating Progress", we have worked closely with partners such as the Care Quality Commission, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the NHS Confederation and voluntary and independent groups, to select the most relevant outcomes.
The document also includes a generic template for estimating local area need for use when commissioning services for people with autism. This will help provide a source of future information locally on progress. The learning disability public health observatory will collate data using the template by publishing information from each locality.
The development and launch of the autism strategy led to a range of activities at local and national level to improve services for adults with autism. To help continue that momentum the self-assessment template will enable local areas to assess their own progress towards the goals set in the strategy, and towards implementing the statutory guidance.
The Department has also funded a series of online training resources and booklets to increase awareness and understanding of autism across all public services. Working with the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Social Care Institute for Excellence, the British Psychological Society, the Royal College of General Practitioners, Healthtalkonline, Skills for Health, and Skills for Care, we have produced a range of quality materials to enable front-line staff to recognise better, and thus respond more effectively to, the needs of adults with autism.
This guidance and self-assessment framework is to help support Local Authorities and NHS organisations and their partners to implement the statutory guidance ’Implementing ‘Fulfilling and rewarding lives’ in their localities. The self-assessment is primarily for commissioners as a template to begin their planning to respond to the statutory guidance
- Download Fullfilling and Rewarding lives - Evaluation Progress - Best Practice guidance (PDF, 355K)
- Download Essential Quality Outcomes for Local Self-assessment Framework (RTF, 735K)
Autism training and awareness online resources
The Department of Health has published Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives: Evaluating Progress. This sets out key outcomes and service ambitions for local organisations to check progress on implementing the Adult Autism Strategy.
DH has also funded a series of on-line training resources and booklets to increase awareness and understanding of autism across all public services.
This builds on a body of work, including recently issued statutory guidance that sets a clear direction for how health and social care services should implement the autism strategy.
These tools will enable local areas to assess their own progress and drive change towards achieving the goals set in the Adult Autism Strategy and implementing the statutory guidance.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/Publicati...
Local organisations will be able to access new tools from today that will help improve the health and wellbeing of adults with autism, announced Care Services Minister Paul Burstow. The new tools have been launched on the eve of World Autism Day.
‘Fulfilling and rewarding lives: Evaluating Progress’ is a new Department of Health self assessment resource which will be available online. It is to be used locally and clearly sets out what local authorities need to achieve to implement the Adult Autism Strategy and allows adults with autism, their families, carers and representative groups to see what progress is being made in their local area and how this compares across the country.
They will be able to monitor improvements including:
The Department of Health has also funded a series of on-line training resources and booklets that will increase awareness and understanding of autism across all public services.
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said:
“For too long adults with autism have not been getting appropriate care and support to help improve their health and wellbeing.
“This is not acceptable and the Government has been clear that we are committed to improving health outcomes for those with autism so that they can lead fulfilling and rewarding lives.
“These new tools will help local authorities to drive change and create locally led, personalised services for adults with autism. We hope to see changes starting to take shape across the country shortly and an improvement in services and patient experience.”
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=418956&...