See answers to previous information requests

I am writing to request information regarding the authority’s arrangements for meeting expectations set out in statutory guidance issued under the Autism Act 2009.
The statutory guidance for local authorities and NHS bodies (2015) sets an expectation that areas establish and maintain effective multi-agency partnership arrangements for autism, commonly operationalised through an Autism Partnership Board. The national autism strategy (2021–2026) further reinforces the expectation that local areas have active partnership arrangements of this kind.

1. Please confirm whether the authority currently has:
a) an Autism Partnership Board: No
b) an equivalent multi-agency partnership arrangement intended to meet these expectations: Yes

2. If the authority does not have a dedicated Autism Partnership Board, please provide:
a) a description of how the authority maintains effective multi-agency partnership arrangements for autism: We have an Autism Strategy and annual action plan to ensure the partnership works together and delivers to outcomes.
b) an outline of how those arrangements have changed since 2015: We developed and agreed on a five year all age autism strategy in 2024 and our current strategy is published on our website at
https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/sites/wokingham/files/2025-02/All%20age%20Autism%20Strategy.pdf

3. For any Autism Partnership Board or equivalent arrangement, please provide:
a) Contact details: Chair of the Autism Joint Planning Group is our Director of Childrens Services (DCS) Emma Cockerell who can be contacted at emma.cockerell@wokingham.gov.uk
b) Terms of Reference: Our terms of reference and membership for the Autism Joint Planning Group are attached
c) Membership, including how autistic people and/or family representatives are included: Our terms of reference and membership for the Autism Joint Planning Group are attached
d) Copies of agendas and minutes for meetings in the last 24 months (or links where publicly available): Details of minutes of internal meetings are not publicly available.

4. Please provide the specification for any work currently commissioned or provided by the local authority and/or local ICB that offers low-level support for autistic adults without requiring a Care Act assessment/eligibility: Please see attached file
Low level support could include, for example, short-term coaching, peer support, drop-in sessions or group learning, and may aim to:
• prevent or delay the need for longer term or more intensive support: Details of local support for those with autism living in the community are available on our website at https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/care-and-support-adults/autism-support-all-ages/support-autistic-adults/community-autism-support including links to our partners in the Voluntary and Community sector
• improve wellbeing and independence: Details of local support for those with autism living in the community are available on our website at https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/care-and-support-adults/autism-support-all-ages/support-autistic-adults/community-autism-support including links to our partners in the Voluntary and Community sector
• support autistic adults to develop skills and confidence in areas such as accessing the community, social/support groups, relationships, managing household routines, managing bills/paperwork, taking part in volunteering/employment etc: Details of local support for those with autism living in the community are available on our website at https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/care-and-support-adults/autism-support-all-ages/support-autistic-adults/community-autism-support including links to our partners in the Voluntary and Community sector