Health Minister Vaughan Gething has today [Monday 21 September] announced a consultation on the draft Statutory Code of Practice on the Delivery of Autism Services, which had previously been delayed from April due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The consultation seeks responses on the draft Code of Practice which will provide clarity on what statutory services need to take into account when meeting the needs of autistic people, their families and carers.

The four key areas being looked at are:

  • assessment and diagnosis;
  • accessing health and social care services;
  • awareness raising and training on autism;
  • and planning, monitoring services and stakeholder engagement.

Integrated Autism Service

A further one year of funding for Wales’ Integrated Autism Service has also been announced, which will now continue until 2022.

Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething, said:

“Since I last provided an update on the progress Wales is making in delivering improvements to our autism services, we have all experienced the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the emergency situation meant many difficult decisions had to be made.

“As well as today confirming our commitment to the Integrated Autism Service for another 12 months, I am pleased to say we’re now able to progress with the draft Statutory Code of Practice on the Delivery of Autism Services and accompanying guidance public consultation.

“This Code of Practice will affect many aspects of the lives of children, young people and adults with autism – as well as their families and carers – and I hope this will continue to build on the collaborative working and partnerships we saw pre-coronavirus. With continued social distancing meaning we’re not able to hold public consultation events as we have done previously, we are considering how technology can help us ensure everyone can share their views on the draft Code.”

The consultation will run for 12 weeks, until 14 December.

Access the consultation – and an easy read version, produced by Learning Disability Wales – here.