Agenda item

The Panel received a report which provided an update on the implementation of Haringey’s Autism strategy, which was a 10-year, all age strategy to improve outcomes, experience and inclusion for autistic people, and was agreed in 2021. The report outlined the area of improvement to date and future improvement plans. The report was introduced by Tim Miller, Assistant Director of Place, Integration, Transformation and Delivery (Haringey), North Central London ICB, as set out in the agenda pack at pages 7-16. Ann Graham, Corporate Director of Children’s Services, Jackie Difolco, Director Early Help, Prevention and SEND and Cllr Zena Brabazon were also present for this item. The following arose during the discussion of this item:

1. The Panel welcomed the work that was being done to support young people in this cohort into paid employment, including supported internships. The Panel queried whether there was any data on the number of people in supported internships that go into employment. In response, the Panel noted that officers had supplied this information via email in January. In 2023/24 there were 34 people in supported internships, 12 of which ended up in employment. In 2024/25 there were 45 supported internships, 6 of which ended up with an employment outcome. The Chair sought clarification about the drop in the number of employment outcomes over the two years. In response officers commented that there had been a pre supported internship programme introduced in recognition that many of the young people were not quite ready to go on to employment., and that that this likely accounted for part of the reduction. Officers agreed to look into the reasons and provide a more detailed response in writing. (Action: Jackie Difolco).
2. The Panel queried the extent to which the Council was able to offer supported internships in the employment pathway that the young person was interested in. It was suggested that this could be a contributing factor to the reduction in the number of employment outcomes. In response, officers acknowledged the importance of being able to offer the types of internships that young people wanted and that they had received specific feedback on this point from young people. Officers set out that a lot of work had already been done to offer internships in non-traditional sectors, such as the Youth Justice Service, at the local airport and placements in the arts. Officers commented that work would continue to expand on the type of internships available.
3. The Panel sought clarification about the type of disparities identified at page 16 of the report, and the targeted interventions that were used to improve equity oversight. In response, Mr Miller set out that NCL had looked at ethnicity and deprivation groups and that some of the work done was to improve drop-in services and to develop different ways to access support. Mr Miller agreed to go back to colleagues and provide a more detailed response via email. (Action: Tim Miller).
4. The Chair sought clarification about the report referencing the launch of a support line, querying who would be staffing the support line and what their level of expertise would be. In response, the Panel was advised that the line would be staffed by NHS providers’ therapy teams that provided diagnostic services in NCL.

RESOLVED

Noted.