Autism: Secure Accommodation

(asked on 13th June 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of safe accommodations for children with severe forms of autism.


Answered by
Caroline Dinenage Portrait
Caroline Dinenage
This question was answered on 20th June 2019

The Government is committed to improving how care and support is provided for autistic people, including for autistic children and young people. We are reviewing our autism strategy to ensure it remains fit for purpose, and working closely with the Department for Education, we are extending the scope of the strategy to include children. The refreshed ‘all age’ autism strategy is due to be published by the end of this year.

It is essential that autistic children get the right care and support, in the right setting and at the right time to meet their needs. Under the Children and Families Act 2014, health, education and social care providers must work together to make this happen.

Autistic children should only be admitted to hospital where absolutely necessary, for assessment and treatment of their needs and for as short a time as possible. The Long Term Plan for the National Health Service in England continues the work begun in 2015 to implement the ‘Building the Right Support’ plan by building capacity and services in the community in order to reduce reliance on inpatient care for people with a learning disability, and for autistic people.

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