Autism: Health Services
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help support for people during their transition from child to adult autism services.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock
It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including services for autistic people, in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
NICE guidelines, specifically Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: recognition, referral and diagnosis, and Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: support and management, provide guidance on the transition to adult services, including that local autism teams should make arrangements for a smooth transition to adult services.
On 5 April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance for autism assessment services. This guidance will help the National Health Service improve autism assessment services, and improve the experience for people referred to an autism assessment service. This includes guidance to local areas on how to manage referrals and transitions between child and adult assessment services.
The Care Act 2014 places a duty on local authorities to conduct a transitions assessment for young people, adult carers, and young carers that are likely to have needs for care and support, or support as a carer, after they turn 18 years old.
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