Date & Venue:
5th November 2020, Microsoft Teams (Online Meeting)
Key Highlights:
- Leadership & Membership Updates:
- Trevor Key confirmed as Autism Co-chair.
- Tom Bassett’s replacement as Workforce Development Work Group Lead introduced (Hannah Riches).
- Working Group Updates:
- Engagement:
- NAPB independent website in development, aiming to host autism training materials.
- Buddy Scheme progressing well—six volunteers available for pairing.
- ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure Park introduced autism-friendly measures; engagement team seeking to highlight this in the newsletter.
- Workforce Development:
- Autism training access issues persist—Co-Chairs to escalate the issue with NCC.
- University of East Anglia (UEA) and other partners interested in receiving training.
- Board members encouraged to complete a survey to assess training needs.
- Data & Diagnosis Working Groups:
- Progress updates required in the next meeting.
- Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) Recognition:
- Board agreed to support development of a Norfolk PDA position statement.
- PDA to be a major agenda item for the next Diagnosis Working Group meeting.
- Engagement:
- Autism Strategy & Safeguarding Initiatives:
- Autism Hoarding & Self-Neglect research project with Sussex University ongoing.
- Tricky Friends video initiative—NAPB working with Norfolk Safeguarding to promote awareness.
- Data Dashboard for Autism Services remains incomplete—data submissions still lacking.
- Other Key Announcements:
- Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Trust secured funding for five new psychological therapy trainee positions focusing on autism and learning disabilities.
- Dr. Melanie Bruce agreed to act as a deputy for NSFT representation while Stephanie Summers is on maternity leave.
Next Steps:
- Launch independent NAPB website and migrate relevant resources.
- Improve accessibility of autism training for external partners.
- Continue developing the PDA position statement.
- Encourage members to submit autism-related success stories for the newsletter.
Next Meeting: 6 January 2021, Microsoft Teams
To read the full minutes click here