SSD 23 11 Autism - Information and Advice Service

The Derbyshire Autism Information and Advice Service will be available to residents of Derbyshire County and Derby City for the first 2 years, and it will provide two main functions,
• Autism information, advice, and signposting
• Autism awareness raising and the development of a ‘Derbyshire Autism Engagement Network’
Autism Information, Advice, and signposting elements of the service will include,
• Different contact methods, including, a free telephone helpline, an ‘out of office’ voicemail, an email enquiry service, and a social media presence on various websites with methods of contact.
• Information resources relevant to autistic people (aged 16+) and their families, support networks, and carers
• Maintaining a database of local provision across Derbyshire within the statutory and voluntary sector
• A website providing a range of information, advice, and downloads in various forms of media (such as written and videos), covering topics such as,
o Employment and training related issues
o Rights and reasonable adjustments
o Access to Adult Social Care support, including accessing a carers assessment
o The Autism Diagnostic pathway and pre and post diagnostic support
o Support for parents and carers
o Voluntary Sector support and social groups
o National organisations such as the National Autistic Society
The autism awareness raising and the development of a Derbyshire Autism Engagement Network element of the service will include,
• Engaging with a variety of universal and targeted services to provide autism awareness raising, including within Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council.
• Monthly drop-in sessions within varied locations, attending each of the Derbyshire County districts at least once per year
• Monthly ad-hoc autism information and awareness sessions, as requested by Public Sector services
• Monthly face-to-face parents and carers autism information and advice session held at varied locations, attending each of the Derbyshire County districts at least once per year
• Autism awareness raising sessions for Public Sector services, to include a guide to communication and support approaches for autistic people in different fields of work
• To support the ‘Autism Alliance’ of autistic adults and their families, parents/carers, professionals, and other support services to help shape future autism services.
• An annual face-to-face autism information and advice event during World Autism Acceptance Week
The contract has a maximum annual contract value of £100,311.63 for the fixed-term only (2 years), which will cover Derbyshire and Derby City, however any possible extensions used may exclude Derby City until further funding is confirmed and may therefore have a reduced contract value.