Prevention, and early intervention, is key to both improving the lives of autistic people and ensuring the sustainability of health and social care over the long term. But how do you demonstrate impact of early intervention?

Many local authorities and health teams are implementing great examples of coproduced, joined-up approaches to support. Whilst proving outcomes of an intervention at a local level is relatively straightforward, proving outcomes across the wider health and care system can be more challenging.

Why is this important?

58% of Autistic people say their mental health has declined in the past 12 months (1).

Many are 'hidden' from existing health and care services with 75% reporting difficulties accessing health or social care (2). Waiting lists for autism assessment are surging, with teams and budgets stretched to capacity. It is essential we think differently about how we support the autistic population.

In this interactive and educational webinar, we will cover:

• What evidence is needed to support prevention approaches.

• How to harness existing data for improved decision making.

• Practical steps you and your teams can take to demonstrate impact meaningfully.

• How to improve engagement with neurodiverse communities to demonstrate impact.

• How to think beyond purely local implementation and impacts.

Who is this workshop for?

Senior decision-makers, commissioners and budget holders within health and social care including:

Directors or Assistant Directors of Adult Social Care, Children and Young People or All Age Learning Disabilities and Autism Directors of Integrated Commissioning, Directors or Associate Directors of Integrated Care Partnership.

Chair and Speakers

Co-chair: Richard Parry, ADASS learning disability and autistic people policy group, Director of Adult Social Services Kirklees

Richard brings a vast range of expertise and experience having worked across local government, social care and the NHS in several roles including chief officer of a local clinical commissioning group. He has a career-long commitment to promoting better life chances for people and many years of experience of partnership working.

Co-chair: Dr Mary Doherty (MB BCh BAO, FFARCSI), Founder, Autistic Doctors International

Mary is a Consultant Anaesthetist, Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Medicine, University College Dublin and Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Exeter. Diagnosed as autistic over a decade ago, she is parent to two neurodivergent young people.

She is founder of Autistic Doctors International, an organisation dedicated to peer support, advocacy, research and training. Her research interests focus on autism and healthcare, including both autistic people accessing services as well as autistic healthcare providers, and she has developed the Autistic SPACE framework to address these needs.

Richard Blackwell – Associate Director of Insight – Health Innovation Southwest

A highly experienced data analyst and insight director, Richard has over 20 years’ experience working in the NHS in both commissioner and provider roles. He is the lead and champion for all knowledge management activities at Health Innovation Southwest, ensuring that the know-how, information, and experience is shared within and without the organisation. He believes strongly in systems thinking and supporting the local health and care teams to remove organisational boundaries to work better together.

Helen Guyatt PhD, Head of Research, Evaluation, and Insight at Brain in Hand (BiH)

Helen is a highly experienced research specialist with expertise in multiple sectors, subjects, and methodologies. Specialising in epidemiology and health economics, Helen has worked in academic, charity and private sectors, collaborating with local and national governments, United Nations, and other national and international decision-makers to inform evidence-based policymaking.

Proving the case for prevention approaches in autism services