Local authority self-assessment of autism support published

Improving Health and Lives has published a "ratings atlas" of Local Authority self-assessment of services for people with autism in 2010/2011. The aim of the exercise was to establish a baseline position against which to monitor progress in the implementation of the autism strategy, Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives.

The results cover a wide range of aspects of local authorities’ awareness of the position and problems of people with autism as well as the services they are providing to meet these. The Department’s Self Assessment template focused on seven intended outcomes including "inclusion and opportunities for work".

99 (73%) local authorities responded to the question of whether they were meeting the key outcome, "Adults with autism are included and economically active". Of these, 19% were rated green, 77% amber and 4% red. Two regions had no LAs that had achieved the economic activity outcome, whereas the East Midlands and the South East both had 4 LAs achieving this.

The survey asked the following questions around economic inclusion:
* Is demand for your care services changing?
* Are you planning to map usage of services?
* Are you engaging with local employers to examine and increase employment levels for adults with autism?
* Have you mapped the local employment services that support adults with autism e.g. voluntary organisations, employment services funded by Local Authority or DWP?
* Have you identified local employment services that support adults with autism, including Work Programme and Work Choice providers, Remploy and council-funded services?
* Are local supported employment services familiar with the draft standards for supported employment?
* Do transition processes to adult services have an employment focus?

The report identifies responses (or lack of them) from individua authorities and is available to read at http://www.improvinghealthandlives.org.uk/uploads/doc/vid_15980_IHaL%202...