Sharing Good Practice in Autism and Neurodiversity

New work to tackle mental illness earlier and to value mental and physical health equally is being undertaken in West Yorkshire and Harrogate with support from the Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network.

The Partnership’s Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Programme  wants to find out more about initiatives and programmes across the region that demonstrate a positive impact on the physical and/or mental health and wellbeing of young adults (people aged 14-25) and adults who have Autism and/or Neurodiversity.

This new project will help the Partnership to:

• gain a holistic view of the day-to-day experiences from families, services and service users
• understand the challenges and potential opportunities for people with Autism and/or Neurodiversity
• work collaboratively with partners to optimise health and care outcomes across our region.

Organisations in the Partnership are invited to participate by completing an online case study by 31 July 2020, and attending a Sharing Good Practice event later in the year.

Brent Kilmurray, Chief Executive, Bradford and District Care NHS Foundation Trust said:

“Many young adults with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) have difficulties accessing the support they need, which leaves them isolated and vulnerable at a critical point in their lives. We know that sometimes this lack of support can result in mental health deterioration and limit their potential for to live a fulfilling and rewarding life.

Capturing the real life experiences of young people who have been supported in the right way at the right time will help us to share good practice across the region and inform our future service models across the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership”.

Ruth Wilson, Mental Health Programme Lead, Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network said:

“We are excited to be working with the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership to identify examples of good practice initiatives supporting young adults with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC), across a wide range of local partners. 

These will be used to support the Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Programme to understand the challenges and potential opportunities to work collaboratively with partners to maximise the best possible health and care outcomes across the region for young adults with ASC.”

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