Chair of STACS Recognised for Quality of Autism Training

For the past 12 months, Marilyn Jones has been co-producing and delivering autism awareness training to mental health staff across Shropshire/Telford and Wrekin CMHTs, and at The Redwoods.

As some of you may know, she has worked with mental health services for around 10 years, mostly around carer support and service delivery processes. Her co-trainer is a consultant clinical psychologist who trained at the NAS’s Lorna Wing Centre, so together they combine the clinical and lived-experience elements very well.

The sessions have been enthusiastically received, and they have now been asked to extend this training across to Staffordshire! Many staff reported that they had previously had no ASD training whatsoever, and this may explain some of the difficulties that crop up regularly. With this in mind, there are plans to design a more in-depth follow-on session.

Marilyn never fails to promote both STACS and our local Autism Hubs, so it is particularly pleasing that her hard-work and expertise has been officially recognised.

Well done Marilyn!

National Autism Programme Board

Our STACS member Peter continues to involved in the Department of Health and Social Care led review of progress of the governments adult autism strategy.

The slides shown below were produced by the carers and self advocate members of the national Autism Programme Board.  Peter Hopkins (STACS) and Eric Heath (Autonomy) were involved in their production.   The slides were presented at the first of the new Accountability meetings of the APB chaired by the minister Caroline Dineage on March 26th 2018.

Living Well

The following link explains the revised governance and accountability model in which Peter and Eric are involved:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/think-autism-strategy-governance-refresh-2018

 

 

REQUEST FOR PEOPLE TO HELP WITH RESEARCH AT CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY

We have received  an interesting email from the Autism Research Centre (ARC) at the University of Cambridge, headed by Professor Simon Baron-Cohen.
They are looking for more adults diagnosed with ASC to take part in their research. If you think it appropriate, please pass on the information to your cared-for.

 

From: Paula Smith <pls28@medschl.cam.ac.uk>
Subject: Request for people to help with research at Cambridge University

I am contacting you on behalf of the Autism Research Centre (ARC) at the University of Cambridge, headed by Professor Simon Baron-Cohen. The aim of the ARC is to understand the biomedical causes of autism spectrum conditions, and develop new and validated methods for assessment and intervention.

We are currently interested in recruiting additional participants for our research database. Registration is completed online (www.autismresearchcentre.net) and those who choose to sign up will have access to many different studies both online and in person. We were hoping that you would be willing to forward the attached flyer and this information to any adults (over 16 years old) diagnosed with autism spectrum conditions or parents of children (under 16 years old) with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. We are also able to provide printouts of the flyers to be put up on notice boards or so that you can hand them out to potential participants.

Some additional information –

Those who would like to register will be asked to provide some background information and can immediately take some questionnaires and psychological tests online. Participants can complete these at their leisure by logging in and out of their volunteer homepage with their chosen login details and will only need to complete them once.

We will also contact participants from time to time to tell them about new projects which might be of interest to them. The research projects carried out by the ARC are varied. Many of our research projects only involve filling in 5 minute questionnaires or doing tasks online. Some of our studies may involve being assessed by one of our team (such as brain scanning studies) or taking part in genetic studies.

All of our studies, whether psychological or biological, are carefully designed to protect participants’ confidential information and are governed by the University of Cambridge Psychology Research Ethics Committee, which approves all of our work.

We would really appreciate your support and help to advance autism research. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.

With many thanks and best wishes,
Paula Smith
Database Manager

On behalf of

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen
Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry
University of Cambridge

 

PREVENTATIVE CO-ORDINATED LOW-LEVEL SUPPORT FOR ADULTS WITH HIGH-FUNCTIONING AUTISM: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND SERVICE MAPPING

A report by York University and University College London on low-level preventative support for adults with Asperger’s Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism has just been published.

STACS Secretary, Peter Hopkins, has had a major input into the formulation of this Department of Health funded report; next steps include getting government departments to promote this type of support nationally, and Peter continues to lobby for this.

Fortunately, the study team for this report received input from local Shropshire and Telford folks passionate about this type of support: Peter, Sara and Eric Heath, Marion Youens (formerly of A4U) and Jane Hambleton (SSSFT).

The report contains a national mapping of support services. STACS and the Shropshire Autism Hub are referenced. Here is a link to the report:
https://eppi.ioe.ac.uk/cms/Publications/Systematicreviews/Autismsupport/tabid/3678/Default.aspx

 

HEALTHWATCH SHROPSHIRE ANNUAL REPORT 2015-16

Here is a message from our friends at Healthwatch Shropshire:

Dear Members,

Please find attached Healthwatch Shropshire’s Annual Report for the financial year 2015-2016.
If you have any trouble opening this attachment you can also read the report on our website:
This is quite a large document, we will be distributing a more accessible report in the shape of our Annual Review in the autumn.
With kindest regards,
Healthwatch Shropshire Team

UPDATE FROM A4U AND SHROPSHIRE AUTISM HUB

A4U wish to thank STACS officially here for organizing the Light Parade.

John Woodvine (STACS Deputy Chair) is transferring from a STACS volunteer who works in the hub every week to an A4U volunteer doing the same thing.

ALL A4U staff are undertaking a substantial distance learning course called Understanding Autism. This is a government scheme overseen by Learning Curve which will see each one of them personally accredited rather than the organisation as a whole. These are sizeable and comprehensive modules involving each member of staff in many hours of study in their own time which underlines A4U’s commitment to providing an excellent service for ASC.

One A4U worker is half-way through their City and Guilds Advocacy qualification.

Mary Walker, an existing A4U caseworker, is now a fully qualified SEND worker.

The hub is developing some commercial streams like attractively decorated plant pots and small wooden items that will be for sale in the foyer. To support this initiative, a lockable glass cabinet to display these works has been bought out of the Innovation capital fund of £18.5K issued to each local authority.

Louise House café will be re-opening on 10th May. A free taster session was held on 5th May, and if this food is a sign of things to come the café is sure to be a success.

A4U and Ignition are embarking on a 3-year strategy to provide 2 after school clubs for young people on the spectrum – one for 11-14 year olds and one for the 14-18’s. These will share the adult hub’s ethos and Ignition will be delivering key messages through their theatre work in a similar way to the very successful recent production ‘How Fish Climb Trees’. This project is expected to cost around £300k with funding coming from a number of sources including the Arts Council.

Marion Youens will be retiring in August. Part of her role will be taken up by Ann Wyatt, who is already employed by A4U, and the remainder split across other staff.

A4U will shortly be releasing a new policy defining the split between hub space and STACS space, and the reasoning behind it.

This is the first report arising from the hub facilitators’ monthly case meetings. STACS has always been excluded from these as it is deemed inappropriate for parents to be present when the progress or issues of their own or other’s children is discussed.

Due to time constraints, it has been decided that these meetings will now be bi-monthly.

Marilyn Jones (Chair STACS).

HOLISTIC THERAPIES TO BE OFFERED AT LOUISE HOUSE

A4U facilitate the Shropshire Autism Hub on Thursday afternoons at Louise House, Roman Rd, Shrewsbury, SY3 9JN.

They have arranged for a holistic therapist, Sue Robdale, to offer a variety of treatments, which will be available to STACS members and Hub service users. Initially, treatments will be offered on a fortnightly basis between 2.30 – 4.30 pm, but may become weekly if there is sufficient demand.

The treatments available will be Daoyin Tao ( Chinese massage & Acupressure), foot reflexology, Indian head massage, Bach Flower Therapy, and Reiki.

The cost will be £15 for a 30 minute session, which will need to be booked in advance with A4U,  on a first come first serve basis. A non-refundable deposit of £5 will be required at the time of booking – so only £10 to pay on the day of the appointment. There will also be a health form handed to the client to complete in advance and bring with them to their first appointment, to avoid imposing on appointment time; Sue will need to keep to very strict times.

Sue will be coming to Louise House at 1.00pm 16 June to talk to STACS members, and explain more about the treatments on offer.

She will also be offering 20 minute free taster sessions  on 23 June between 2- 4.30pm, by appointment. Treatment sessions proper will begin the next week on 30 June , between 2.30- 4.30pm.