Agenda item

21.1     Sarah Crouch, Strategic Commissioning Manager, introduced the East Sussex All Age Autism Action Plan which was developed in response to the national autism strategy and shaped through extensive consultation with autistic individuals and families. The Action Plan identified three priority areas for the next three years: health and wellbeing; education; and employment.

21.2     Sarah explained that 26 actions had been identified, with a focus on deliverability and affordability. Year 1 deliverables were underway, including the development of a communication strategy to raise the profile of autism in East Sussex, a review of current autism training, and collaboration with NHS Sussex on the neurodevelopmental pathway programme. Sarah also noted work with colleagues in local authorities across Sussex to share learning and avoid duplication.

21.3     Stephen Lightfoot welcomed the report and acknowledged the significant health inequalities faced by autistic people. He highlighted the importance of raising awareness about available services for autistic people and welcomed plans to do this in the report and asked where this information would be available.

21.4     Sarah responded that a range of resources were already available via the Council Local Offer website, East Sussex One Space, and through an employability brochure. Partners, including district and borough councils, were also delivering a range of services, including a new autism advice service in Lewes and it was part of the Autism Partnership Board’s role to promote these further. The training offer was also being reviewed to increase awareness and understanding of autism. Sarah acknowledged that service visibility remained a challenge and confirmed that a communications strategy was in place to address this.

21.5     Stephen suggested that partner organisations should link to these resources from their own websites to ensure consistent messaging and accessibility. Sarah confirmed that ESCC was working with other Sussex councils and NHS Sussex to collaborate and share information about local work and resources.

21.6     Councillor Ungar thanked Sarah for the report and the work it reflected and shared personal experiences of working with autistic adults and noted the historical lack of services and employer understanding of autism. He welcomed the ‘all age’ approach, highlighting the benefits of a diagnosis for people at all ages, and stressed the importance of staff training to support individuals effectively.

21.7     Sarah agreed that increasing awareness and understanding of autism was a key priority of the Autism Partnership Board and noted that the Council was focusing on internal training as a starting point for this. There was also a national NHS delivered training programme called the Oliver McGowan programme. Sarah expressed a desire for all businesses to develop autism awareness.

21.8     Councillor Jobson referenced her visit to Hastings College, where many young people were enrolled in special needs courses, and emphasised the need to empower young people and ensure they feel supported and valued. Sarah agreed with the need to enhance the benefits that young people with autism could bring to employment.

21.9     Councillor Ballard raised concerns about transitions from primary to secondary education and into employment, noting that primary schools often managed autism well but challenges arose later and asked what more was needed to be done in secondary schools. Councillor Ballard also enquired whether VCSE sector training could support autistic people into employment and whether the strategy addressed broader neurodiversity.

21.10   In response, Sarah acknowledged that primary schools often benefited from smaller communities and more inclusive adaptive practices. She confirmed that transitions were a known challenge and that more work was needed in secondary schools to minimise gaps in support. Sarah clarified that while the strategy focused on autism, which aligned with a national autism strategy, many of its actions supported the wider neurodivergent community. Sarah welcomed the suggestion to involve VCSE organisations in employment support and confirmed that this would be explored further.

21.11   Carolyn Fair, Director of Children’s Services, acknowledged that primary schools, due to their size, provided more opportunities to support inclusion, but noted that national inclusion efforts were underway in secondary schools and that a forthcoming government white paper was expected to outline key policy changes in this area.

21.12   Veronica Kirwan offered to connect Sarah with the Voluntary Action Alliance to support the employment strand of the strategy.

21.13   Mark Stainton described the strategy as critical for many residents and families noting that it encompassed ‘all age’ and ‘all agency’ across sectors, including education, business, health, and care, and was informed by autistic people. The support of the HWB was valued, and progress updates would be included on the work programme. Mark agreed with the importance of aligning communication and ensuring that all agencies were pointing in the same direction to raise awareness of autism, and to signpost to support. Mark requested that the HWB support the strategy and action plan and agree to receive an update in 12 months’ time.

21.14   The Chair noted the importance of this work and emphasised the HWB’s role in supporting this where needed.

21.15   The Board RESOLVED to:

1. acknowledge the development of the East Sussex All Age Autism Action Plan and the priorities within it which were identified through significant engagement and consultation with local autistic people and stakeholders (section 2 and Appendix 1);
2. agree the proposal for an annual report to be presented to the East Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board to update on progress (paragraph 2.6); and
3. note the progress made to deliver year 1 priorities during the five months since the Action Plan was launched (section 3).