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Meeting Details
Date: Wednesday 29 January 2020
Time: 10:00–13:00
Venue: Costessey Town Council, The Costessey Centre, Longwater
Lane, Costessey, NR8 5AH
Agenda Item 1: Welcome and Introduction
1.1 Welcome and introductions made. Communication cards distributed, and their use explained. Directions to quiet rooms were given. No reasonable adjustments were requested. Members reported no
declaration of interest. Noted: Amanda Dunn advised that Joanne Yellon from the CCG will be attending future meetings replacing Jocelyn Pike’s membership.
Noted: Agreement obtained to record the meeting for note taking purposes and in line with GDPR
requirements. NCC being the data controller on behalf of the NAPB.
1.2 Position of NAPB Autistic Co-Chair Post expressions of interest received from autistic members of the board. Trevor Key nominated with full support from all members.
Decision: Trevor Key NAPB Autistic Co-Chair.
Agenda Item 2: Presentation: Autism Data Dashboard with Jeremey Bone
2.1 To enable the partnership to grasp and measure progress quickly and easily, the data working group is
looking to design and implement an Autism Dashboard. This involves using the 9 priorities within
the local Autism Strategy, and how to measure success against them. On the 22 Jan 2020 at the Coproduction Meeting voluntary and autistic board members started to look at priority 1 and 3. Jeremy Bone gave a progress update and asked approval from the Board to continue with the approach.
2.2 Decision: Agreed approach to deliver an autism dashboard.
2.3 Decision: Jeremy Bone identified as the Data Working Group Lead.
2.4 Agreed: A proposed nine-month plan to be developed that aims to enable the Data Working
Group and members to work together to create measurable priorities for success.
2.5 Agreed: Walter Lloyd-Smith to forward to Tracey Walton a table that enables members to prioritise the work, by looking at resource required and impact. This will be shared with members who will complete the template and return to autism@norfolk.gov.uk for the data working group’s attention.
2.6 Agreed: The Autism Strategy priority list will be sent to members for them to go back to their organisations and teams to ask how they are currently capturing progress against the priorities and share with autism@norfolk.gov.uk for the data working groups attention.
2.7 Agreed: To utilise existing resources within the partnership. Members to identify the leads within their own data analytical teams and forward their contact details to the Data Working Group. This aims to speed up work and prevent duplication of effort. Information and contacts will be sent to
autism@norfolk.gov.uk for the data working group’s attention.
2.8 Agreed: Add data as standing Board agenda item, to share the progress to deliver an autism dashboard presented by the Data Working Group Lead.
2.9 Noted: The Board asked that the Data Working Group considers as part of their work, how we capture and measure non-commissioned activities for example NSFT autism assessments when not commissioned.
Agenda Item 3: Presentation: Safeguarding Concerns with Walter Lloyd-Smith
3.1 Presentation about an ongoing safeguarding adult review with an invite for the partnership to contribute to the final report by sharing their experience of specialist hospital provision.
3.2 Decision: NAPB members offered to support the Safeguarding Board by sharing experiences at a co
production event.
3.3 Agreed: A planning meeting for the session will include Sue Bridges, Tracey Walton and Walter Lloyd
Smith. The planning meeting will consider how to set up a focus group and what support is needed.
The purpose of the focus group will be to share experience and identify key questions they would like
the commissioned independent report to consider.
Agenda Item 4: Presentation: Education Update with Lorraine Stephen
4.1 Noted: Agenda Item – Education Update deferred to next meeting.
Agenda Item 5 : Minutes of previous meeting (17/10/19) and matters arising not on the agenda.
5.1 Agreed: A separate action log will be created to ensure previously agreed actions are discussed and
completed. The actions discussed and completed from this meeting will be added to the log.
5.2 Agreed: Autism Self-Assessment 2018 to be recirculated to members.
5.3 Agreed: Data presentation from NAPB 17 Oct 2019 to be recirculated to members.
Agenda Item 6 : Update on Autism Norfolk Forum (ANF) with Lee Gibbons
6.1 ANF held on the 31 Oct 2019 at County Hall attended by 11 people.
The agenda included an update from the Board, session on post support and autism issues raised by
participants, shared with working group leads.
6.2 Agreed: Autism Administrator will work with commissioners to ensure there is commissioner input into each ANF. Electronic invites to ANF forums sent.
6.3 Agreed: A review of key people who can support the Forum to be completed and ensure they are invited.
6.4 Agreed: Create a poster to communicate all ANF dates, times and venues to be distributed to all
members, groups and organisations.
6.5 Noted: The Board acknowledge the challenges experienced, and steps taken to create a friendly and
welcoming experience for all attendees that are in line with the NAPB Independent Review. Complaints and
issues are being learned from and dealt with swiftly as part of Engagement Working Group remit.
6.6 Agreed: Board agreed a process will be put in place to enable Working Groups Leads to prepare a short paragraph on their priorities and next steps to provide an update for the NAPB webpages and Forum.
6.7 ANF held on the 27 Nov 2019 attended by NAS West members.
The agenda included an update from the Board, and autism issues regarding the difficulties experienced in
the western locality, primarily surrounding diagnosis, education and support.
Noted: With receipt of Autism Norfolk Forum Agenda three weeks in advance of the meeting, NAS West
Karan McKerrow is planning to hold regular focus groups with families to provide their feedback into the
Forums. Feedback will either be sent in advance of Forums or be given in person by a volunteer attending
on behalf of NAS West.
Agenda Item 7 : Update on Autism Strategy “My Autism, Our Lives, Our Norfolk” and Partnership Plans
7.1 As agreed at the last Board meeting, Tracey Walton created a template for partners to complete and return by end of Dec 2019. The returns would enable Tracey Walton to create an autism partnership plan,
measure progress to implement the local autism strategy and identify gaps for discussion.
Agreed: All members will check they have completed the template and will return it within the timeframe.
Agenda Item 8 : Update on Diagnosis Working Group
8.1 Approved: Diagnosis Working Group report.
8.2 Agreed: Review the membership to ensure information filters out to other working groups and the
wider partnership and that there are routes for the wider partnership and others to feedback.
Agenda Item 9 : Update on Engagement Working Group
9.1 Approved: Engagement Working Group report.
9.2 Launch of Strategy, Questionnaire and Membership
Discussed the benefits and challenges of delaying the launch of the strategy until World Autism Week
(WAW). The strategy, adult autism questionnaire and activities to promote the membership of the Norfolk Autism Partnership will be launched. A request for partners to fund the event to was made.
9.2.1 Decision: Launch of the strategy during World Autism Week, with acknowledgement and thanks to ASD Helping Hands for offering support to facilitate the event.
9.2.2 Agreed: Subject to match funding, NCC has offered £400 for the event. Tracey McLean to discuss with CCG.
9.2.2.1 Noted: In addition to Lynn Sport and Open Space, Public facing venue suggestions in King’s Lynn to be forwarded to autism@norfolk.gov.uk.
9.2.2.2 Agreed: Co-Chairs to write to statutory partners about funding for the event.
9.2.3 Agreed: Tracey Walton to send information to autistic members and voluntary organisations to promote the launch of the strategy and completion of the adult autism questionnaire.
9.2.4 Noted: Ensure the plan to launch the strategy include a partner briefing that they can share with their
communication leads to promote the launch of the strategy.
9.2.5 Noted: On confirmation of event Sue Bridges will put a call out for GreenLight Champions to support the event.
9.3 NAPB Application Forms and Consent Forms Lee Gibbons advised that both the Application Form
and Consent forms have been updated to reflect partnership membership. A one-page process is also available to show what happens from completion of application through to acceptance onto the working group/Board or decline with feedback.
9.3.1 The engagement working group is confident that the application form has been simplified after working with an individual with learning disabilities and autism to successfully complete the form.
Board members asked for the following changes to the application form:
A link added to the NAPB webpage to find out the descriptions of the current working groups.
Both forms will be shared at the ANF on the 12 Feb 2020 for further coproduction and feedback.
9.3.2 Decision: The application form and consent form were approved.
9.4 NAPB Code of Conduct
Following coproduction and feedback obtained from the Autism Norfolk Forums, members and queries
raised with the NAPB. The NAPB Code of Conduct has been reduced to one page and now incorporates
the coproduction principles and sanctions. The principles were taken from the National Autistic
Society coproduction event with NAPB members 10th September 2019.
The Code of Conduct will be shared at the ANF on the 12 Feb 2020 for further coproduction and feedback.
Board members asked for the following changes:
-Reword paragraph with “is responsible or has responsibility”.
-Rephrasing the text to be clearer about first warning, second warning, red warning.
-Add the word “monitor”.
-If at the stage of being asked to leave, ensure form includes an offered of other ways to get involved.
-Use the word “discuss” rather than “challenge”.
9.4.1 Decision: The draft was approved, subject to the changes above. However, it was also agreed that
amendments may be needed following the ANF on 12 February, when it will be shared for feedback.
Sign off of Code of Conduct, following amendments after the ANF delegated to the Working Group.
9.4.2 Agreed: Once signed off by the Working Group, the Code of Conduct to be sent to all members.
9.4.3 Agreed: Ensure standing item on all agendas to communicate who is identified by the chair to
implement the Code of Conduct.
9.5 Freedom of Information requests (FOIs) and Data Compliance
The NAPB is a partnership and does not have a legal entity. It is in place to influence the Council, CCG and
wider partners. It also should monitor the progress to implement the local autism strategy. This means
there is no statutory or organisational process in place to manage complaints, compliments, Freedom of
Information requests or compliance with General Data Protection Rules known as data compliance.
NCC is identified as the data controller on behalf of the NAPB. Therefore, questions regarding data
compliance or Freedom of Information will be answered by the Board via the council.
It is suggested by the Engagement Working Group that it manages all FOI requests on behalf of the
Board, with James as the NAPB Co-Chair or his Deputy providing the sign off for such requests.
9.5.1 Decision: Engagement Working Group to monitor, respond and keep a record of all NAPB Freedom of Information Requests (FOIs) on behalf of the NAPB and liaise with NCC via Tracey Walton to seek resolutions.
9.5.2 Agreed: Partners must advise members of the public to direct their FOI requests to autism@norfolk.gov.uk if about the NAPB.
9.6 Complaint Process
In receipt of a complaint and absence of an established process The Engagement Working Group
has coproduced one.
9.6.1 Decision: Board thanked the Engagement working group for coproducing the document and approved the implementation of the process.
9.6.2 Agreed: Working Group Lead to prepare a report to the Board to review the complaint process in 6
months. This will include a review of the process itself and a review of the themes of complaints.
9.6.3 Decision: all members will direct members of the public to the NAPB complaints process if a complaint is received and it is about the NAPB. If the complaint is from a volunteer member of the board or working group the relevant process will continue to be the internal volunteering process that is within the NAPB standards.
9.7 Engagement and Communication Plan Agreed: Tracey Walton will put in place a process for
all working groups to update the Communication and Engagement Plan and forward to
autism@norfolk.gov.uk at the end of each meeting.
Agenda Item 10 : Update on Workforce Development Working Group
10.1 Approved: Workforce Development Working Group Report.
Agreed: NAPB members with responsibility to do so will continue to instruct relevant NCC staff to complete
the eLearning. Scope for this training should be widened to educational professionals who would benefit from this training.
Agenda Item 11 : Any Other Business and Wellbeing Check
11.1 Rosemary Boutet requested that the Board considers the use of “people with autism in the
community” rather than “Autism Community”. The term “Autism Community” could imply segregating
people whereas the Board promotes inclusion.
Decision: Board consensus with no objections expressed to use from this point forward.
11.2 Rosemary Boutet and others expressed the challenges of parking at County Hall.
The NAPB does not have a budget for venues and therefore where possible free venues will be sourced
and asked members to consider options available to find solutions to the problems presented.
Agreed: Use of other venues such as Dereham hospital will be explored.
11.3 Noted: Members expressed that the meeting felt productive and informative. Presentations were
considered good and impactful.
Date, time and location of next meeting
-Thursday 16th April 2020, 10:30am-1:30pm. Edwards Room, County Hall
-Thursday 16th July 2020, 10:30am-1:30pm. Edwards Room, County Hall
-Thursday 15th October 2020, 10:30am-1:30pm. Edwards Room, County Hall
-Thursday 14th January 2021, 10:00am-1:00pm. Edwards Room, County Hall