Meeting Details
Date: Tuesday 25th March 2025
Time: 13:00 – 15:00
Venue: Microsoft Teams Meeting
Agenda Item: Pre-Meeting Support
Agenda Item 1 : Welcome and Introduction
1.1 Welcome and introductions made. Communication prompts posted to the Teams Chat window, and their use explained. No reasonable adjustments were requested. Members reported no declaration of interest.
Minutes and action log approved by the Norfolk Autism Partnership Board (NAPB)
Code of Conduct to be monitored by Lee Gibbons
1.2 Members were notified that an automatic transcript of the meeting would take place to ensure accuracy of minutes. There were no objections
Agenda Item 2 : Diagnostics and Support Working Group
2.1Due to changes in the commissioning landscape and the introduction of a new provider, a review of the remit for the Diagnostics and Support Working Groups is being planned.
While the focus will remain on diagnostics and support, there is a discussion about potentially including other areas such as mental health and ADHD in the working group.
A piece of work will be done to assess this and a discussion will be held with interested parties. The findings will be brought back to the board.
A terms of reference for the group will be created once the scope and remit are clear
Agenda Item 3: Diagnosis Waits Updates
3.1 Adult Autism Diagnosis and Support Criteria
Eligibility
People need to be registered with a Norfolk GP, they must be adults aged 18 plus, without a learning disability or an existing autism diagnosis, and they do offer an adult autism assessment with pre and post support.
Pre-Diagnostic Support
Information is available on their website, and a telephone conversation is offered.
Post-Diagnostic Support
Up to three post-diagnostic support sessions are available.
3.2 Adult Autism Diagnosis and Support February 2025
- 36 people referred to the service
- 28 people added to the waiting list for an assessment
- 1228 people waiting at end of February 2025
It was noted that February had a low referral rate compared to other months, the reason for this is unknown.
Waiting List Statistics
- 45 people waiting over 200 weeks
- 684 people waiting over 104 weeks and up to 200 weeks
- 367 people waiting over 52 weeks and up to 104 weeks
- 132 people waiting below 18 weeks
3.3 New Service Model Overview
Objective
- The aim is to achieve the same or more diagnostic assessments within the existing financial framework while improving the experience for those waiting for an assessment.
Engagement
- A specific question on adult autism diagnosis was added to the Norfolk All Age Autism Strategy, resulting in 138 responses. 117 people (84%) expressed that adult autism diagnosis was important to them.
- Engaged with individuals who suspect they are autistic, autistic individuals, parents, carers, clinicians, and the Norfolk Autism Partnership Board.
Key Features of the New Model
Identification & Referral
- Transition from paper-based to electronic screening tools, with paper alternatives available for those who need them
Screening & triage
- For individuals with significant challenges requiring interventions, to improve communication, behaviour, and well-being
- These individuals will be added to the waiting list
Pre-Assessment Support
- Includes symptom screening, validation, and a reasonable adjustment letter with essential autism-related information
- A Navigation Service will provide support during this stage.
Autism Assessment
- A shift from a simple diagnosis to a formulation assessment which outlines the support needed post-diagnosis, focusing on the challenges individuals face and the appropriate support for their needs.
Post-Assessment Support
- A diagnostic report with clinical recommendations and a link to the Norfolk Autism Partnership resources, such as the Norfolk Autism Directory and the “What’s On” guide.
3.4 Navigation and Assessment Service
Purpose
- The service is commissioned to offer 240 assessments per year, which is more than the current service provides.
- It will offer post screening, validation of symptoms associated with autism and reasonable adjustment letter
- It aims to target those who are most at risk and vulnerable for an assessment
- The focus is on formulation assessments, which make evidence-based recommendations for ongoing support, rather than simply diagnosing autism.
Objectives
- Enable people to wait well – helping individuals manage and cope during the wait for an autism assessment
- Offering needs-led coaching – to resolve current day-to-day problems and challenges.
- Peer Support – Connecting individuals with other autistic adults and support groups to fostering a positive self-identity and sense of community.
- Support for informal networks – Working with families and support systems to understand difficulties and providing strategies for help.
- Bridging to existing services – Connecting people with services across Norfolk and addressing any barriers preventing access to support.
3.5 Next steps
- ABL Health has been awarded the contract for the autism service in Norfolk.
- TW is currently supporting NCHC in transitioning the autism service to ABL Health. This transition will be completed by June 1st, 2025.
- ABL Health has approached the NAPB to engage with autistic people and their parent carers in designing the new service model, ready to be delivered from June 1st.
- The new service model will be delivered from 1 June 2025, commissioned by the Integrated Care Board.
- As of June 1st, TW will no longer be the lead Commissioner.CA will take over this responsibility.
- The new approach must not override a person’s right to request an assessment.
3.6 Question: why is the new provider limited to 240 assessments?
Answer: We asked for a minimum of 240 assessments per year due to the funding envelope.
3.7 Question: Are any plans to set specific timeframes for each stage of the autism assessment process?
Answer: when ABL Health attends the Diagnosis and Support Working Group, they can work together with autistic individuals to co-design realistic timeframes for the process.
3.8 Question: Would the diagram showing the assessment process be made available to people undergoing the process?
Answer: ABL Health could continue to improve the diagram and possibly add timeframe, but it could be made available
3.9 Question: How will the formulation aspect of the autism assessment differ from the current process; how will mental health services collaborate with the new provider?
Answer: The new assessments will include support recommendations not currently in reports. TW offered to help connect mental health services with ABL Health
3.10 Question: What support pathway/s are available to people who do not receive an autism diagnosis?
Answer: Individuals who do not receive an autism diagnosis are discharged back to their GP for further support
Agenda Item 4: Break
4.1 A ten-minute break was held
Agenda Item 5 : Autistica Report: Not a Priority
5.1 It was encouraged that everyone read the document, as it compiles a vast amount of useful information in one place
Agenda Item 6 : Strategy Progress Update
6.1 Update following the last Board meeting
- TW and KD added the progress updates in the agreed format and emailed them to the Autism Strategy Oversight Group on 20 February
- Children’s Services put forward a senior manager with responsibilities for Education who will attend the May Board meeting
- TW and KD met with the Police. They are creating a governance structure to agree and monitor their actions in line with the priorities of the strategy.
- TW and KD met with the Crown Prosecution Service with actions in progress. A meeting has been offered to the Witness Care service.
6.2 Strategy Oversight Group
The Strategy Oversight Group met on 3 March. They:
- reviewed the strengthened education actions
- reviewed the format of the plan and made further recommendations
- queried how new actions will be added to the plan
- identified areas of good practice, and completed actions
- reviewed the BRAG ratings and proposed changes
- agreed actions that have not progressed as expected to share with the Board
- agreed actions that have progressed well to share with the Board
6.3 Draft Year One Plan Progress Update – New Format
Focus on Actions
- The column titled “What is important to people” was deleted and made this a header for each section. This keeps the detail that is taken from the strategy together and makes the table focused on Year One actions.
Clearer Timeframes
- “What we will do” was changed to “What we will do in Year One.”
- “Progress update” was changed to “Progress update to 31 December 2024.”
- “Next steps” was changed to “Next steps to 31 March 2025.”
Activities within Actions
- Actions with multiple activities have been separated, with each activity now having its own BRAG rating, and space for progress and next steps.
- Some activities currently have no update, marked as red, and will be requested for updates in the next reporting cycle.
TW and KD updated the Year One Plan into the agreed format and sent it to the NAPB for circulation on 12 March.
6.4 Year One Plan – Areas of Good Progress
The Strategy Oversight Group identified the following areas of good progress:
- The NAPB has made good progress on many of its actions.
- The Local Supported Employment programme is on track to exceed the national target for supporting autistic people into paid employment.
- All three prisons have made good progress in implementing one-page profiles for prisoners
Question for the Board: As a Board, how would we like to recognise this work?
Suggestions, including quarterly updates for positive feedback, were made; however, more time is needed to reach a final decision
6.5 Year One Plan – Areas of Concern
The Strategy Oversight Group highlighted two key areas of concern:
- There has been a lack of updates and concerns about the ability to deliver onactions to improve mental health support.
- Mental Health commissioners provided updates, but as they were not relevant to the actions, these were not included.
- The new action owners are the Learning Disabilities and Autism team within the ICB. However, this team does not have commissioning responsibility for mental health support, raising concerns about their ability to influence the necessary changes for these actions.
The transition from school to college is no longer included in the work under the Local Area Inclusion Plan. The focus has shifted to early years transitions instead.
6.6 Routes for Escalation
Issue 1: Mental Health Actions for Year One. Options available:
- Discuss the issue with Integrated Care Board members of the Partnership Board.
- Raise the concern at the Integrated Care Board Learning Disability and Autism Programme Board, explaining the issue and requesting escalation.
- Write a letter from the Norfolk Autism Partnership Board (NAPB) to the Integrated Care Board, raising concerns that the actions have been transferred to a team without responsibility for mental health support.
Outcome: NAPB Steering group to decide if and how to approach the Integrated Care Board regarding lack of / inappropriate input from Mental Health Services
Issue 2: Transition from School to College. Options available
- Raise the issue with the action owner as part of the next progress request to seek solutions.
- Discuss the matter with partners at the Partnership Board level.
- Write to Norfolk County Council Children’s Services to inquire when and if this issue will be addressed in future plans.
Outcome: Wait until a representative from Children’s Services is part of the NAPB.
6.7 New actions
Need for a Process to communicate new actions:
- Highlight new actions to the Oversight Group and Board.
- Share with the general public at year-end that these new actions were not included in the published plan but have been achieved.
Proposed Process
- Organisations will inform TW and KD about any new actions.
- We will discuss the actions, including their activities and measures, ensuring alignment with the strategy’s priorities.
- Once agreed upon, the wording will be finalised, and the action will be added to the document that was previously sent out to the group.
- These new actions will be highlighted to the Strategy Oversight Group and the Board, but progress will not be tracked until the next reporting period.
- At the end of the year, a “You Said, We Did” report will be published on the NAPB website to share progress and outcomes with the general public.
Question for the Board: Does the Board agree with this approach, or is there any other way to do this?
Answer: The board agreed with this approach
6.8 Regular reporting
- Every three months, the Board agreed to report to the Integrated Care Board Learning Disability and Autism Programme Board. We are asked to report on progress and areas of concern.
- Only the ICB and NCC attend these meetings
Question for the Board: Is the NAPB happy to share:
- The whole plan with all progress updates, celebrating success and raising concerns?
- Only the ICB and NCC progress updates, celebrating success and raising concerns?
Outcome: There is value in sharing the whole plan and its actions, However, we need to ensure that we do not flag concerns about other partner organisations that aren’t present to represent themselves.
6.9 Next Steps
Write to Action Owners for Progress Updates
When: 28 March 2025, Return by: 11 April 2025, Who: TW and KD
What: Action owners will be asked to provide an update to 31 March 2025 and outline next steps to 31 May 2025.
Report to the Learning Disability and Autism Programme Board
When: 24 April 2024. Who: Tracey, Karen, and Adrian
What: Share good practice and highlight areas of concern for escalation
Autism Strategy Oversight Group
When: Monday 12 May 2025, 1 pm to 3 pm.
Who: All members of this group
What: Monitor progress based on updates from partners.
Norfolk Autism Partnership Board
When: Tuesday 27 May 2025.
Who: All members of the partnership board
What: Review the progress update and agree on any actions.
Agenda Item 7 : Autism Acceptance Week – Now That’s What I Call Autism! 2025
7.1 Date & Time: 2nd April 2025, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM at the Forum
- Theme: Celebration of autistic identity, creativity, and community
- Online Portal: Goes live on 31st March 2025
Activities:
12 Autistic Creators at our Makers Market
15 Support Organisations
4 Autistic performers
7 Autistic Speakers for our Panels
7 autistic volunteers to help run the day
7.2 Panellists
Panel 1: Intersectionality: The Overlapping Identities of Autistic People
Panel 2: The Power of Special Interests: Passion as a Strength
Panel 3: Thriving as an Autistic Person: Strengths and Realities
Performances
My World, My Brain (short film)
Singer
Guitarist and Singer
Stand up comedian
Spoken Word Artist
The Gallery / Interactive zone
Literature Corner- Highlighting books from autistic writers (with support from Norfolk Library Service)
Art with Artism – a still life workshop based on improving wellbeing
Just one thing display – an art installation Live
Affirmation Wall – a positive word affirming display
7.3 Event Accessibility
A full list of accessible features for the event can be found on the NAPB website
Breakout / Quiet Rooms
Two quiet rooms will be available one near the auditorium and one located in the Millennium Library
Board Member Support
Board members are encouraged to visit the event, engage with autistic individuals who have contributed their time, and celebrate the creativity and diversity that autistic people bring to the community.
Agenda Item 8 : Any other business
8.1 Question: Is the NAPB participating in Autism Acceptance Week?
Answer: Yes, we are hosting an event at the Forum called Now That’s What I Call Autism! 2025.
Date, time and location of next meeting
Tuesday 27th May 2025 13:00 -15:00 (Microsoft Teams)