FOI Request - Autism Support

Request 101002903226

1. The available autism support identified in the “What support is there in Moray at the moment” document, along with the key themes identified from the “GIRFEC 2020 autism survey”, are almost identical to those identified in 2013 during the preparation of the “Moray Autism Strategy 2014 - 2024” (as per Appendix E in the “Moray Autism Strategy 2014 - 2024”).   I would like to know full details of what work was undertaken between 2014 (when the “Moray Autism Strategy 2014 - 2024” was released) and 2020 (when the “Supporting Children & Young People with Autism and their Families“ working group was set up) to take forward the Moray Autism Strategy; please provide all minutes of meetings, and provide copies of all relevant communications.

2. How many “people with lived experience and parent carers” were part of the “Supporting Children & Young People with Autism and their Families“ working group which was set up in 2020?

3. How did the “Supporting Children & Young People with Autism and their Families“ working group decide which “people with lived experience and parent carers” were included in the working group?

4. a) Has the “Supporting Children & Young People with Autism and their Families“ working group now been formalised and the membership widened?  b) If yes, what steps have the group taken to widen membership?  If no, please explain why not, and provide an approximate timeframe for when this will be achieved.

5. The “GIRFEC 2020 autism survey” only received 54 returns in three months.  Who was the survey distributed to and how was the survey distributed?

6. The Grampian Autistic Society now have staff in Moray (since approximately June 2021) but only received funding from Moray Health & Social Care to support families in Moray up until the beginning of October 2021.  Why has this much needed specialist service not received long term funding to support Moray families?

7. In part 2, question 6 of my original FOI request, I queried transition support for those in Moray with autism. The response stated that “Transitions social workers look to the SILF to support individuals who are transitioning into adult services”.  a) What is “the SILF”?  b) How does an individual with autism access this service if they do not have a social worker?

8. What steps are in place to ensure support for a young person who doesn’t receive an autism diagnosis until they are aged 16 - 18, especially if they have left school (so are therefore not entitled to support from the Moray Autism Service)?  

9. What date (approximately) will the Moray Autism Strategy be updated and available on the Moray Council website?