Agenda and draft minutes

(1)       Mr Mills and Mr Thomas-Sam introduced a report which updated the Select Committee on the general progress that had been made in this area since the Select Committee had submitted their report to Cabinet in March 2010. 

(2)       Mr Mills stated that progress had been made with all the recommendations but he acknowledged that there was still more to do in certain areas.   Since the Committee produced its report the financial context had become more challenging, but this area was a high priority and the recommendations were still being progressed.  ASD was also a high priority with the Department of Health. The Government had published “Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives” a strategy for adults with autism in England and a first delivery plan. There was also a close link with the Valuing People Now delivery plan.    In Kent there was a group overseeing the delivery of Valuing People plan and they had links to the Learning Disability Board and the Executive Board on Transition which Mr Mills chaired.  In relation to transition a base line survey was being carried out.

(3)       Mr Gibbens, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services, commended the Select Committee report as an important piece of work which was ongoing and evolving and confirmed that ASD issues were high on the list of priorities.  He stated that he would like the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee to look at this issue on a regular basis, annually and possibly more regularly. 

(4)       In response to a question from Mrs Allen, Mr Thomas-Sam confirmed that Adult Social Services had good links with Housing Departments in the 12 Districts.  When the Districts refreshed their housing strategy’s County Council officers made sure that they had input in relation to Social Care issues.  There was also a strong Countywide Housing Forum, on which Adult Social Services were represented and which fed into the work of the County Council. 

(5)       Mr Mills referred to the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for people with a Learning Disability, this included information about the needs of people with ASD.  Mr Thomas-Sam explained that this was complicated as assessment would depend on the criteria used, and that further work was needed on prevalence. 

(6)       Mr Simmonds referred to the Select Committees suggestion that work should be commissioned from the Tizzard Centre, Mr Waller explained that the Government had now funded a national prevalence study, which removed the need for the County Council to commission its own study.  However, the national study had been delayed until 2011.   Mr Walker, from the Kent Autistic Trust, pointed out that the number of adults with ASD who were in need of services was different from the total number of adults with ASD, and that there was no central data. 

(7)       In response to a question on home to school transport for young people with ASD, Mr Mills explained that this fell outside of the scope of this review. 

(8)       Mr Thomas-Sam explained that the xxxxxx Act placed a requirement on the Secretary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.