Agenda item

BSOL ICS to present Learning Disability and Autism Strategic Visions.

The Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Nurse for BSOL ICS presented the BSOL ICS Learning Disability and Autism Strategic Visions. They outlined why and how the Visions had been developed. This included how they had worked closely with people with lived experience and system colleagues to develop these draft visions, to make sure they reflected the lives and aspirations of local people. For both Strategic Visions, Birmingham and Solihull Delivery Plans would be developed, where again, there would be close work with key stakeholders and experts by experience.

Members raised a number of questions, which in summary included the following:

·  Members welcomed the development of the Strategic Visions. They emphasised the challenges young people faced when making the transition to adulthood, including in regards to accessing further education and employment opportunities. Members queried how this could be reflected in the Visions.

·  The Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Nurse for BSOL ICS agreed this was important – they outlined how, as part of the development of the Delivery Plan, there would be focus on the whole life course and the support available at different key transitionary points.

·  Members highlighted how the Strategic Visions acknowledged there were some limitations on what was currently know about the local population – in particular, for residents with a learning disability, the current estimates did not include those before school age. They queried how the needs of this age group could be taken into account, especially due to the length of time it could take to obtain diagnosis and support.

·  The Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Nurse for BSOL ICS confirmed school readiness was recognised as a key transitionary point for children and their families. Going forward, there would be continued focus on the services and capacity available for families to receive diagnosis and support, including via commissioned partners such as Healios.

·  Members queried how the Strategic Visions and Delivery Plans could reflect the needs of home educated children. The Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Nurse for BSOL ICS confirmed the needs of this group could be included as a specific area of focus.

·  A Member emphasised how it could be extremely challenging for autistic people to raise their condition and ask for reasonable adjustments in different settings, including healthcare. They queried how this could be reflected in the Strategic Vision and Delivery Plan. The Member also emphasised that, whilst autism was not a mental health condition, an autistic person may be more likely to experience a mental health problem. Again, they questioned how this could be taken into account.

·  The Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Nurse for BSOL ICS detailed how, as part of the Delivery Plan, there would focus upon ensuring opportunities, in different settings, for people to raise their conditions and receive the necessary support. There would also be emphasis upon continually feeding in peoples’ lived experiences, as part of the Strategic Vision and Delivery Plan.

  RESOLVED

The Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

(i)  Endorsed the BSOL ICS Learning Disability and Autism Strategic Visions;

(ii)  Endorsed the further engagement to be undertaken for the Strategic Visions, especially the proactive engagement with people who have a learning disability, autistic people, as well as carers; and

(iii)  Endorsed the development of the draft Visions into easy to read versions, to ensure all can engage in reviewing and feeding back.