healthcare update - issue 11
Fulfilling and rewarding lives - the autism strategy
The Autism Act 2009 called for a cross-government strategy on
how to help adults with autism lead better lives. This strategy is
now published. We consider its aims, those it will affect and
how it will work.
There are five core aims to the strategy:
- Increase awareness by training
- Diagnose better with clinical guidelines, diagnostic and
assessment services
- Improve access to services and support by enforcing disability
equality duties and providing more services
- Provide employment by breaking down barriers to autistic adults
working
- Plan and develop services locally with ‘area-based
funding’
The strategy will primarily affect PCTs, Mental Health Trusts
and local authorities amongst other bodies and trusts.
What will it cost, and who will pay for it?
There has been no indication of how much the strategy’s
proposals will cost, or who will pay for it but considering just
how wide the range of measures is, the cost is likely to be
substantial. It is not yet clear how the allocation of resources is
to be apportioned.
Currently, all that is promised is an initial £500,000 to pay
for training for people who work with adults with autism.
How will it affect health and social care providers /
commissioners?
If local authorities are to help more autistic adults live
independently by providing day-to-day care there will need to be a
transfer of responsibility for what has previously been provided
under the remit of health care, to social care. The line between
the two is becoming increasingly blurred as local authorities are
given more responsibility and may result in problems when deciding
what comes within whose ‘jurisdiction’. Joined-up thinking and a
closer relationship between health and social care is
inevitable.
What next?
We await further guidance and delivery plans due this year, but
as yet it is far too early to tell how successful the strategy will
be. Key questions on funding have to be answered as well as
identifying what, if any, sanctions will be imposed for not
complying with the measures.
What monitoring and regulation, if any, will LAs, PCTs and the
NHS be subject to? Is the duty of care in providing services for
autistic adults being extended or just clarified? We will be
watching closely.
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The content of this update is provided for the purposes of general
interest and information. It contains only brief summaries of
aspects of the subject matter and does not provide comprehensive
statements of the law. It does not constitute legal advice and does
not provide a substitute for it.