Consultation on the Pan Dorset Adult Autistic Spectrum Condition Commissioning Strategy

We are currently consulting on the Autistic Spectrum Condition Strategy for Dorset.  This process will help raise awareness of the plans we have to support people with autism and their families / carers in the future.

To produce a strategy for Dorset we worked with people with autism, their carers and professionals to agree what outcomes we should aim for. These were: - Experience a greater responsiveness of services to greatly varying individual needs. - A good quality of life - social, material, physical and emotional wellbeing. - Greater inclusion - i.e. access to employment, leisure, housing and education. - Access to support without having to have a crisis. - Consistent and accessible diagnosis and access to support. - Promoting and supporting independent living, including employment.

To meet these outcomes, the strategy group set out a range of actions and these were prioritised into four areas: A.  Training the workforce B.  Raising wider public awareness C.  The development of a Care Pathway D.  Employment and Housing support We now need to consult on whether the actions in the strategy will result in better outcomes for people in Dorset.

The survey should take no longer than 15 minutes and the closing date is 21 April 2011.

	Name:

	Address:

	Postcode:

	Response on behalf of:

A - Training the Workforce "Making sure staff know more about autism and how it affects behaviour and responses, so that they can adjust the way they work." Action:  There will be a plan to develop multi-agency training, from basic awareness to in-depth courses.

1.	Do you have any ideas about the content or method of this training?

	Any other comments...

B - Raising Awareness "Increased public awareness would ease and promote integration into mainstream education, employment and leisure." Action:  Two conferences have been held in Dorset in June 2010 and January 2011 to raise awareness.  The events were arranged in partnership with statutory and voluntary agencies, people with autism and their carers, and included a keynote speech by the National Autistic Society.

2.	Are there other effective ways of raising awareness?

	Any other comments...

C - Develop a Care Pathway "Access to a diagnosis is key to enable people to be assessed/signposted for future support." Action:  Once developed the care pathway will show the route to assessment for services.  Assessments will be made within either the Community Learning Disability or Community Mental Health Teams.  The presence of "Autistic Spectrum Condition Champions" within the teams will support this process.

3.	Do you have any comments about this?

D - Employment & Housing "Specialist housing and employment support would address two key areas of peoples' lives." Action:  Better information, advice and guidance are needed to make people aware of the support that is available in Dorset.  The strategy group will work with partner agencies to develop information and make sure this is accessible for people with autism and their carers.

4.	We are planning to produce a range of information both online and in hard copies.  Can you think of the best way to distribute this information?

	Any other comments...

Finally...

5.	Do you think the actions will result in better outcomes for people with autism and their families / carers in Dorset? (please tick one)
	Not at all
	Very little
	Yes, to some extent
	Yes, a lot

6.	Do you have any other comments?

Thank you for taking the time to complete the questionnaire. Please complete this survey on-line or return paper copies to Lucy Bishop before 21 April 2011 at: Dorset County Council, Adult & Community Services, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ.