CNAP Autism Summit in Belfast
This Strategic Policy Summit, which was targeted at Directors, Assistant Directors and Policy Leads focused on identifying and addressing the challenges of cross departmental collaboration within government in relation to Northern Ireland's Autism Strategy. This is to ensure that this Strategy is delivered in the most efficient and effective way for the Autism community in Northern Ireland. The conference also enables the Northern Ireland Executive Departments along with voluntary and community partners, to set and achieve the strategic goals that will make a lasting difference.
Northern Ireland's Health Minister Edwin Poots was in attendance, he said: “We recognise that people with Autism rarely need the services of only one Department or public service organisation. We must work harder at putting in place arrangements where we contribute to services jointly, improving the experience of the service users and making more efficient use of our resources. This is a key message for the various Departments and public sector organisations represented here today. Within the HSC joined up working is also required between Autism services and other aspects of treatment and care, such as paediatric services, family support and transitions planning.”
The Summit which was facilitated by the Celtic Nations Autism Partnership and sponsored by the DHSSPS, described the policy framework and development of national Autism Strategies currently in Wales and Scotland as well as initiatives in the Republic of Ireland and England (Adult Strategy). With a focus on shared learning and shared information by all partners, the aim of the Summit was to consolidate the development of the cross departmental strategy for Autism in Northern Ireland and to support the action planning and implementation phases.
Read more about the work of the Celtic Nations Autism Partnership in the latest edition of the Special Educational Needs magazine.
(L-R): Dr Pat Matthews, Irish Society for Autism, Dr Arlene Cassidy, Autism NI, Edwin Poots MLA, Alan Somerville, Scottish Autism and Hugh Morgan, Autism Cymru.
