Norfolk Autism Partnership Board

Meeting summary

Norfolk Autism Partnership Board Meeting Summary
26th November 2024

Purpose of the Meeting
The Norfolk Autism Partnership Board (NAPB) met to discuss ongoing work supporting autistic people and their families in Norfolk. The meeting was held online via Microsoft Teams. Attendees included representatives from local government, health organisations, the police, autism groups, carers, and autistic adults. The meeting aimed to review recent updates, share progress on key projects, and plan future actions related to autism strategy, diagnosis services, carers’ support, and police response improvements.

Main Updates and Discussions

Right Care, Right Person Initiative
An update was provided by Mark Joyce from Norfolk Constabulary on the "Right Care, Right Person" initiative. This project aims to ensure appropriate responses to non-criminal welfare-related calls made to the police. It was developed in partnership with health, education, and social care agencies to improve how calls are triaged and resources allocated.

Since the initiative started, there has been a reduction of 1,043 fewer welfare-related calls in 2024 compared to 2023. This improvement is partly due to a new grading system that helps allocate police resources more effectively, ensuring that the correct agencies manage welfare concerns.

Mental health crisis responses have also improved. There has been a decrease in the use of Section 136 (which allows police to detain someone in a mental health crisis for assessment) and a reduction in time dealing with such crises. People in mental health crises are now taken to Accident & Emergency (A&E) for both mental and physical health assessments, which is a safer and more appropriate option.

Police continue to rely on individuals to communicate if they are autistic, as records are not always immediately accessible. The Board noted a need to ensure that neurodiverse people receive appropriate support within this system.

All-Age Autism Strategy Year One Plan
Melissa Marfleet-Collins and Karen Dures provided an update on the Norfolk All-Age Autism Strategy Year One Plan. The strategy sets out key priorities to improve services and support for autistic people of all ages across Norfolk. It was co-produced with a Strategy Oversight Group and presented in accessible plain English.

Positive actions to celebrate include the availability of free autism e-learning, development of autism training for leisure and social groups, creation of an autism directory, engagement with local employers to find jobs for autistic people, work to address diagnosis and mental health needs, support for autistic people in prison and on release, and recognition of wider neurodiversity.

Concerns were raised that the action plan did not go far enough in education and that more work is needed related to the police and courts system. In response, ongoing discussions are taking place to build on actions in these areas. Norfolk County Council Children’s Services will nominate a representative responsible for education to attend future Board meetings.

The Board was asked to sign off the Year One Plan in principle, pending approval by the Integrated Care Board (ICB). The Board agreed to sign off the plan in principle. It will be made available publicly on the NAPB website once ICB approval is complete.

Carers’ Strategy Update
Sharon Brooks and Sophie Little from Carers Voice Norfolk and Waveney discussed the All-Age Carers Strategy, which was co-produced with carers and other stakeholders. The strategy aims to support all carers in Norfolk and Waveney and addresses key themes including access to support, mental health, and recognition of carers’ rights.

Recommendations include creating a task and finish group to develop the strategy further, establishing indicators to monitor impact (including cost of living and pandemic effects), identifying research areas, recognising the role of family and community support, and embedding co-production by supporting carers to monitor the strategy.

Key focus areas include raising awareness of carers of all ages (including hidden carers), improving access to high-quality information and services, involving carers as equal partners in care, co-producing services with carers, recognising peer support importance, creating frameworks for commissioned services, and developing a carers’ pathway.

The Board was asked if they would approve the carers’ strategy in principle. The Board agreed. The final version will be circulated once approved by the ICB, expected on 4th December 2024.

Diagnosis Waiting List Updates
An update on adult diagnosis waiting lists for autism (for those without a learning disability) was shared. There is an average referral rate of 71 per month, with 1,174 adults currently waiting for assessment. Around 18 assessments take place monthly.

Waiting times vary significantly. No one has been waiting longer than 200 weeks, but 9 people are waiting between 104 and 200 weeks. Most people are waiting between 18 and 104 weeks. The data shows a previously increasing demand from 2020 to 2023, with a projected decrease in demand in 2024.

The Board discussed data about choice of provider for assessment (right to choose), which Norfolk County Council does not currently hold but may be available from the ICB. The Board asked for this information to be shared quarterly.

The Board also asked about the estimated number of autistic people living in Norfolk. It was acknowledged that exact figures are difficult to obtain due to inconsistent recording methods. Research from University College London suggests between 1 and 3 percent of the population may be autistic. Based on Norfolk’s population, this could mean approximately 27,400 autistic people live in the area.

Other Discussions and Actions

Meeting Times and Membership
Board members raised a question about changing the meeting start time to after 1pm. Lee Gibbons will circulate a poll to gather members’ preferences.

There are ongoing efforts to review and streamline NAPB membership to improve attendance and representation.

Actions and Next Steps

Lee Gibbons will continue to follow up on outstanding actions, including liaison with Tracey Wooldridge about Care, Education and Treatment Reviews and progress on the LeDeR review publication.

The Norfolk Police “Right Care, Right Person” Alert Card scheme will be communicated to the partnership.

The Year One Autism Strategy Plan will be made public once ICB approval is obtained.

The carers’ strategy will be finalised and circulated after ICB sign-off on 4th December 2024.

Caron Ager from Norfolk County Council will provide quarterly updates on adults choosing their assessment provider.

A Norfolk County Council Children’s Services representative with education responsibilities will be invited to future Board meetings to contribute to action development in this area.

Lee Gibbons will issue a poll to Board members to decide whether meeting times should change.

Next Meeting Dates

The next meeting is planned for Tuesday 28th January 2025 from 11:00 to 13:00, again held via Microsoft Teams. Further meetings are scheduled for March, May, July, and September 2025.

Glossary and Abbreviations
The meeting included a glossary of terms related to autism and local organisations. Examples include ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), ICB (Integrated Care Board), LeDeR (Learning from the Lives and Deaths of people with learning disabilities and autistic people), SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability), and others.

Summary
This NAPB meeting highlighted continued progress on improving support for autistic people in Norfolk. Key areas of focus were better emergency and welfare call responses by the police, ongoing development of the all-age autism and carers strategies, addressing pressures on adult autism diagnosis services, and strengthening collaboration with education and criminal justice systems. Actions were agreed to improve information sharing, public communications, and representation at the Board. The meeting confirmed the commitment of multiple organisations to work together to enhance services for autistic individuals and their carers throughout Norfolk.