Review & Report on:
ASD INFORMATION DAY
12th May 2011
10.00am to 2.30pm
County Hall, Cwmbran
Key aspects of this Report:
  • What did attendees think & feel about the event
  • A review of parents, carers and supporting agencies training requirements in Monmouthshire
  • Ideas Forum, in respect of what more Monmouthshire County Council can do to support ASD children, young adults, families, parents & carers
  • Secondary School – provision for ASD students
  • A year on year ( 2010 & 2011) comparison of ASD Information Day Events

Contents

1. Objectives for the Day: 3

2. Feedback from attendees 4

3. Requirements/expectations of the day 4

4. Overall Satisfaction via a Rating Review 4

5. Overview of Training Requirements 4

6. Suggestions & ideas from participants 4

7. Monmouthshire County Council Secondary Schools 4

8. Verbatim Comments from Feedback Forms 4

9. Year on year Comparison 2010 Vs 2011 Feedback 4

10. Helpline Numbers and “Stall Holder” details 4

1.  Objectives for the Day:

·  To enable participants to receive information about a variety of developments in ASD

·  To encourage participants to offer views and experiences to inform future developments

·  To provide social and networking opportunities

Welcome and Introduction to day / Monmouthshire County Councilor
- Geoff C. Burrows
and ASD Lead
- Shelley Welton,
Real Life Stores / Teenage Life – Ieuan Hale
An Adult Social Life – Karen Thompson
A parent’s Perspective – Dawn Rooke
Ask the Experts / Attendees questions to the presenters
What has been going on during the year in Monmouthshire / What it means for you – Teresa James – ASD Coordinator
Voices from the Stalls / Support Agencies give an overview of what their stands contain, full list in Section 10
Lunch break / Opportunity to visit the stalls
Recognising Achievements – for contributions in improving the lives of people with ASD in Monmouthshire / Julie Boothroyd, Head of Adult Services, Geoff C. Burrows, County Councilor and Christine Durn an ASD Champion - present certificates
Table Talk / Networking with other participants and time to complete Research and Feedback Forms
Close and thanks / Shelley Welton, ASD Lead

2.  Feedback from attendees

Feedback forms were distributed to all attendees, whilst 90 people actually registered on the day; it is believed that there were a greater number present, comprising a mixture of ASD professional service providers, ASD young adults, parents and carers.

Fifty nine Feedback Forms were returned; indicating that 67% of those registered wanted to express an opinion, which is an excellent response rate and a good indication of audience engagement.

3.  Requirements/expectations of the day

Fifty Six respondents said their expectations had been met, an overview of these expectations are listed below:

Question one: What did you hope to gain from the event?
Question two: Did we achieve this?
  • Expressed a desire to obtain more information on ASD and the support they could obtain/expect for their children and their families

  • Build up some professional and parental networks

  • More help re. transitional planning post-school

  • Wanted to know more about the Strategic Action Plan and how it was being implemented

  • Gain some positive input and feelings around the help that was available

  • Wanted to know what’s happening currently for ASD children & young adults

  • Meet Leisure Services personnel

  • Help with searching for jobs and housing

  • Help for adults with ASD

Two respondents indicated that the event did not meet all of their expectations, but only one commented further, as listed below:

  • More help transitioning from Education to Employment

Question three: How did you find the level of information provided?
  • Fifty Seven respondents selected “About Right”

  • Two respondent s selected “Too Basic”

4.  Overall Satisfaction via a Rating Review

Attendees and participants were asked to rate their experience of the event, on a scale from Poor – to – Excellent, in six key areas:

  • Clarity of Presentation
  • Use of Visual Aids
  • Use of Information Stalls
  • Facilitation of Discussion
  • Timekeeping
  • Venue

The graphical representation below reflects the overall rating of the event, taking a calculation of all scores from the six category areas listed above.

This indicates a very high satisfaction level; the later illustrations give a more in-depth view, highlighting both the areas where improvements would be beneficial and the current strengths of our event facilitation.

2010 and 2011 event comparisons can be reviewed in Section 9, of this document.

2011 Feedback - Category breakdown & analysis

5.  Overview of Training Requirements

Thirty Seven participants completed a review form, which asked them questions in respect of what training they have already received, whether it added value to their care responsibilities and more importantly what more can we do to support them.

A summary of these demands is detailed below; where personal contact details were provided, these have been forwarded, under separate cover, directly to Monmouthshire County Council ASD Coordinator Teresa James.

Current Opinion of Attendees

It is noted that a high percentage of participants completing this questionnaire have not yet attended one of our training days. However where training has been given it is clearly articulating that it has added real value.

Many participants believe that more training would add value and further details are tabled below.

Training Requirements – grouped by similarities

Training Requested / Approximate Numbers
Help2 – Anger Management / 5
Helping with entry to further education, apprentiships & employment
(Few comments on under-training of Job Centre Staff) / 5
Teenage years and sexuality / 4
Behavioural issues – Compulsions, Sleep, Diet / 3
Issues around self esteem and coming to terms with your diagnosis / 3
More for support agencies with understanding aspects of ASD (teachers, doctors, employers etc) / 3
The most successful communication and social interaction strategies for parents/Carers / 3
More advanced training to understand current research and new developments in intervention and support / 2
The benefits system / 1
Next steps on from Early bird / 1

6.  Suggestions & ideas from participants

Attendees at the event were asked to complete a suggestion slip, under the heading of

“I THINK WE SHOULD …..” asking them to detail what other services or support they required or would like more information about.

Last year’s response rate meant that we had to break the mountain of suggestions into “Affinity Groups” to ensure we tackled the key issues. As a result, a considerable amount of work was driven through last year’s Action Plan using these suggestions.

It is not surprising therefore this year to see that “the mountain” has reduced considerably, until basically a few key themes remain apparent, as detailed below:

Þ  Education – How to get help, and speed up response times for education support

Þ  Employment – Many feel marginalised and employers and job centre staff show little understanding

Þ  Training and Information – by far the biggest response rate, in respect of having more Information Events, drop in services and training for parent/carers

Þ  Youth and Adult Services – very few “Youth clubs” and Adults not hearing about what can be done for them

Þ  Engagement – ask our ASD population what they want, as “no two people are the same”

Þ  Undertake more genetic research

Additional verbatim comments, taken from the feedback forms have been more fully detailed in Section 8 of this document.

7.  Monmouthshire County Council Secondary Schools

Feedback on ASD Provision

Parents and Carers were asked at the Cwmbran event to comment on the type of provision given to students on the Autism Spectrum that they care for.

Nine forms were returned for evaluation, the comments are tabulated below:

Age range of children / Thirteen to Nineteen
Diagnosis / Mainly Asperger Syndrome but a few had a dual diagnosis of ADHD or behavioural issues
Attendee of Mainstream / Six
Attendees of Special School or Unit / One
Attendee of University or College / One
Out of school / One
Other (Residential – out of county) / One
Would a Autism Resource Base for Secondary Schools add value in Monmouthshire / Nine
Best things about your child’s schooling
¨  Understanding support workers, good communication with parents
¨  Flexible provision to suit individual needs
¨  Good statementing
¨  Support staff are helpful and dedicated areas to go to for support
¨  Caldicot schools – Infants, Juniors and Secondary Schools have been excellent
¨  Being part of a small dedicated unit has given great friendly advice and understanding
¨  Our school shows tolerance and understanding but it is out of county
¨  After years of exclusion my school now helps to guide my child to succeed in his GCSE’s
¨  1:1 teaching assistant has been brilliant; he’s achieving all targets set. ASD teaching staff are brilliant
Ways in which your child’s education could be improved
¨  Print out material to help with lessons, so they don’t have to listen and write at the same time
¨  Homework to be written on board and clear steps of what the lesson will contain
¨  Better awareness of needs and access to support even if no statement
¨  Better awareness of ASD conditions by Head Teachers, so that it will filter down through whole school
¨  Whole school policy on social and home communication resources
¨  An Education support packs for parents and carers, so they know what to expect by way of support from schools
¨  LEA to listen to parents more in respect of their child’s schooling
¨  More help to keep my child in mainstream and in county
¨  Better facilities to “chill” and eat meals
Any other comments
¨  Information packs forwarded to Further Education Dpt’s, so they are aware of needs and contact details with school for first term as a handover
¨  Social skills training for ASD children as part of curriculum
¨  Specialised ASD co-ordinator at each school
¨  Without the excellent support received, my daughter would not have achieved so much
¨  Secondary schools still need more training about ASD and what it means for our children
¨  Secondary schools to share ideas on things like transition

8.  Verbatim Comments from Feedback Forms

What we did well:

  • Many people said the personal testimonies (Real Life Stores) were the best part of the day for them
  • Several “Thank You” notes, saying it was an excellent event
  • Welcoming and supportive atmosphere
  • Long may they continue
  • Great feeling that things are happening in Monmouthshire
  • First class organisation
  • A post-it note board would have been good throughout the day – for those too shy to put their hand up and ask a question
  • Excellent lunch – one vegetarian said best she’d ever had
  • We need more of these events – it mustn’t stop now
  • Enjoyed the chance to network

What we need to do better:

  • Would have liked more from Education Services
  • Not enough for Adult Services
  • Too long before dinner & toilet breaks
  • A high percentage commented on the room being too cold (which we did try to resolve on the day)
  • One speaker would have liked a microphone stand
  • Morning presentation was too long and went off at a tangent several times
  • We should use these events more to support those newly diagnosed

9.  Year on year Comparison 2010 Vs 2011 Feedback

The feedback forms have given us some remarkable data and verbatim comments to work with and all of this will be utilised to constructively shape our services throughout 2011 and beyond.

It is very pleasing to note that taking on board last year’s comments we have been able to deliver an even better event this year, as evidenced by some of the comparative data and information detailed below:

  • Attendees feedback response levels increased substantially, from 50% in 2010 to 67% in 2011, showing a high level of participant engagement
  • An increase in our ability to meet event expectations went up from 92% in 2010 to 95% in 2011, indicating that we have built on the 2010 feedback received
  • The level and quality of information has been sustained at almost 97%, rating it as about the same in both years

Summary of Overall Satisfaction:

ü  Increased scores in the Very Good & Excellent Ratings

ü  Reduction in those giving Poor to Fair ratings

10.  Helpline Numbers and “Stall Holder” details

ORGANISATION / ORGANISATION CONTACT DETAILS
ANEURIN BEVIN HEALTH BOARD PRIMARY MENTAL HEALTH / 01873 732732

ASD STAKEHOLDER GROUP / 01600 710049

ASD STAKEHOLDER GROUP / 01600 710049

ASD STAKEHOLDER GROUP PARENT/CARER REP /
AUTISM CYMRU / 02920 463263

BENEFIT CHANGES / 07970 422361
CAREERS WALES GWENT / 0800 028 9212
CIRCLES NETWORK / 07970 604165
www.circlesnetwork.org.uk
DIRECT PAYMENTS
Monmouthshire County Council / 01600 710053

DISABILITY SPORTS ADVISOR
Monmouthshire County Council / 01633 644658
DISABILITY SPORTS WALES / 029 20887325

EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Monmouthshire County Council / 01633 644 844
FACE TO FACE COUNSELLING / 01291 673937

FAMILY ANSWERS / 01633 215784
family.answers@actionfor children.org.uk
FAMILY PLACEMENT TEAM Monmouthshire County Council /
GWENT ASSOCIATION FOR VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS / 01443 863540
www.gavowales.org.uk
HOMESTART / 01600 715608

HOUSING SUPPORT ASSESSMENT OFFICER
Monmouthshire County Council /
INDEPENDENT LIVING ADVISOR (DIRECT PAYMENTS)
Monmouthshire County Council /
MENCAP / 0300 333 1111
Mencap.org.uk
NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY / 0808 800 4104
www.autism.org.uk
OVERMONNOW PRIMARY SCHOOL / 01600 713458

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
Monmouthshire County Council / 01633 644 528
PRIORY GROUP / 01495 762 609
SNAP CYMRU / 0845 120 3730
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITES TEAM Social Services / 01291 635721

THREE COUNTIES COMMUNITY PLAY / 01495 742466

TRAINING IN AUTISM SPECTRUM CONDITIONS /
TRANSITION PROJECT /

Attendees at the event (for information and advice please use numbers above)