Date & Venue:
Microsoft Teams (Online Meeting)
Key Highlights:
- Leadership & Governance Updates:
- Minutes and action log approved.
- Norfolk Autism Partnership Board (NAPB) now fully independent from statutory services.
- Discussion on forming a mission statement to define the Board’s role and objectives.
- Diagnostic Updates:
- Adult Diagnosis: 860 adults on the waiting list, with 66 added monthly.
- Children & Young People: 4,487 children on the waiting list; 38% waiting over two years.
- £2 million in funding allocated to reduce waiting times and commission external diagnostic providers.
- Early Support Service Development:
- New social care support service planned for autistic adults.
- Feedback from the Autism Norfolk Forum highlighted key priorities:
- Visual information formats
- Individual needs-based access
- Training, employment, and advocacy support
- A single point of contact for service navigation
- Autism Strategy Refresh:
- Strategy due for renewal in 2024.
- Board invited to reflect on progress made, priorities, and future engagement with autistic individuals and carers.
- Communication & Accessibility Improvements:
- NAPB website undergoing accessibility improvements to meet government standards.
- Libraries across Norfolk launching autism-friendly events in partnership with NAPB.
- Other Key Announcements:
- Family Voice Conference (March 2023) and SENDfest (June 2023) announced.
- Concerns raised over NHS ratification of private autism diagnoses—to be added to a future agenda.
Next Steps:
- Continue work on reducing diagnostic waiting times.
- Advance Early Support Service development with community input.
- Establish a Task & Finish Group to define NAPB’s future direction.
- Monitor NHS plans regarding private autism diagnosis ratification.
Next Meeting: 14 March 2023, Microsoft Teams.
To read the full minutes click here