Support for people with autism

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability from birth. It affects social communication and interaction with the world. Autism affects people in different ways. There are some difficulties that autistic people may share but everyone is different.

• difficulties with social interaction
• difficulties with communication
• difficulties with social imagination (this includes things like working out ‘hidden rules’ of conversation, coping with change, or seeing things from other people’s point of view).

Like anyone, there are things autistic people are good at and things that might need a little extra support to do, that’s where we might be able to help.

Diagnosis

If you think you or your child has autism, speak to your GP. Every GP Practice in Derby has been provided with a booklet which will help them to:

• make reasonable adjustments for people with autism
• decide who may need a diagnosis 
• refer patients with diagnosed autism for support services.

The second is self-referral directly to the Trust. You can do this by contacting:

Autistic Spectrum Disorder Assessment Service
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
St Andrew’s House
3rd Floor
201 London Road
Derby, DE1 2SX

Telephone: 0300 123 4574
Website: www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk

Care Act assessment

The Autism Act 2009 requires local authorities to provide a Care Act 2014 assessment for anyone diagnosed with autism. Contact us and explain that you have a diagnosis and that you are asking for the automatic care act assessment. 

The social care worker will then carry out the assessment to find out what your needs are, what you want to achieve and will work with you to plan how best to achieve this. For more information on the assessment, visit our Assessment for adult social care page.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellance (NICE) has produced some guidance on diagnosis and assessment for adults with autism. You can find the guidance on their website.

Carers assessment

Families and those who are unpaid carers of people with autism may also need support. A carers assessment is an opportunity to discuss your needs as a carer and identify any support needs which link to a suitable plan to meet your needs. More detail on carers support can be found in the Carers section.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellance (NICE) has produced some guidance on supporting adult carers including advice on carers assessments. You can find the guidance on their website.

Post diagnosis support

Those with a diagnosis can access support from a number of places. Those with a diagnosis who ask for a care act assessment and who qualify for funded support will be referred on for specialist support. Those who do not qualify for funded support will be signposted to local voluntary agencies specialising in autism and self help groups where people with autism and family members offer advice, information and peer support.

Here are some links to local organisations:

Umbrella support people with autism up to the age of 30 to engage in social and leisure activities and provides services for all family members.

Website: www.umbrella.uk.net

Ronnie MacKieth Centre
Royal Derby Hospital
Uttoxeter Road
Derby, DE22 3NE

Opening hours: 10am to 2.30pm
Telephone: 01332 785658

and

Umbrella House
64 Birdcage Walk
Mackworth
Derby, DE22 4LD

Opening hours: 10am to 3pm
Telephone 01332 521229

Derbyshire Autism Services provide support to local people with autism and their families. For information on support available, please visit the Derbyshire Autism Services website.

Relate Derby and Southern Derbyshire has counsellors specifically trained in understanding Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Face-to-face appointments are available as well as appointments via telephone, LiveChat and email support.

Contact Relate for more details on 01332 349177. 

A Relate Helpline for adults is available every Tuesday 10.30am to 4.30pm and Thursday 1.30pm to 4.30pm.

Speak direct to a counsellor on 0808 178 9363 (calls free from a landline) or there is a free LiveChat drop in for adults which is available every Wednesday afternoon 2pm to 5pm.

Website: www.relatederby.org.uk

Relate also have a Living Well with Autism service which is available to self funded Derby city residents or those with a direct payment. Further details can be found on the Living Well with Autism website.

The National Autistic Society (NAS) Autism Helpline provides impartial, confidential information, advice and support for people with autism spectrum disorders, their families, professionals, researchers and students.

393 City Road 
London 
EC1V 1NG

Telephone: 020 7833 2299   
Helpline: 0845 070 4004 (Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm)  
Website: www.autism.org.uk

There is a national campaign, called STOMP, to reduce over reliance on medication for people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Further information can be found on their website www.england.nhs.uk/stomp

Revised Derby and Derbyshire Autism Strategy 2017-2020

We have worked with Derbyshire County Council and Hardwick Clinical Commissioning Group to update the joint Autism Strategy. The strategy has been updated to take into consideration:

• The National Autism Strategy Guidance and its supporting guidance.
• Feedback from local people with autism and their families and the county wide Autism Partnership Group.
• Information from the Derbyshire Transforming Care Partnership.

The Autism Partnership Board welcomes the views of autistic people and their families. Comments can be made by emailing IntegratedCommissioning@derby.gov.uk.