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Mrs. Betty Williams: Does my hon. Friend acknowledge that the important step that a child takes when leaving school and going into further education, or wherever the path might lead, is crucial? At the moment, that is where the weakness is. Education, social services and prospective employers do not seem to be working together for the benefit of those children and young people.
Caroline Flint: There has long been a problem for children with special needs, in relation to their transition from children's services to adult services and the adult world. We are attempting to improve that position, certainly in mental health services, and considerable work has also been done in social services. I agree with my hon. Friend, however, that more needs to be done. Young people with degrees will be valuable members of whichever work force they enter, and it is important to ensure that people, whatever their disabilities, can have a crack at having as independent and fulfilling a life as possible. I shall pass on the point that my hon. Friend has raised about the transition from childhood to adulthood. We identified earlier the support that we wanted to give to children and young people. We do not want to see all that investment lost if, in adulthood, they are unable to use that support to good effect as they grow older.
I am aware that Cheshire and Merseyside strategic health authority has proposed the retention of a single PCT for Warrington. I am advised by the SHA that the PCT has well-established joint working with Warrington council through the health and well-being partnership. I understand that Warrington council sees provision for children with ASD, including those with Asperger's syndrome, as an area of development. It recognises that this is an area that has more potential in regard to delivery.
I know that the local authority is also exploring developing its specialist provision in its schools for those with ASD. The development of a range of educational provision for children with ASD is encouraged by the ASD good practice guidance. However, the PCT recognises the need to work more closely with Warrington council, and it intends to strengthen joint commissioning for mental health, learning disabilities, children, older people and child and adolescent mental health services, with a view to improving them.
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I am aware that my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, North has been raising concerns locally about the provision of services to children with Asperger's syndrome, and that she has met representatives of the Warrington Asperger's support group, and of Warrington PCT. I understand that, following that meeting, the PCT wrote to her about the development of a new tier 2 service, which will provide a service for children and young people whose symptoms and/or behaviours are indicative of an emotional or behavioural problem. That would include children with Asperger's syndrome. The service will be delivered in line with standard 7 of the children's national service framework and "Every Child Matters" by a multidisciplinary team. I am further advised that Warrington PCT has prepared a local delivery plan bid for a key worker role to support young people with a suspected diagnosis of autism, including Asperger's syndrome.
Helen Jones:
I am pleased to hear what my hon. Friend is saying, but will she ensure that the PCT, in doing these things, communicates with the parents of children with Asperger's syndrome? As she has rightly
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said, they play a key role in developing these services, but so far as I am aware, the PCT has not even let them know that it is putting in a bid for a key worker.
Caroline Flint: I am sorry to hear that, as I have obviously been authorised to announce that in this public forum. I hope that there will be a constructive relationship between the PCT and the parents of children with Asperger's syndrome. This is part of recognising the partnership that I mentioned earlier.
There will always be more to be done. The whole range of autism presents a number of complex issues, but some are not beyond resolution: as was pointed out by my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash, there are some excellent examples of very good work.
I urge my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, North to continue to involve local stakeholders in discussion on the best way of helping services locally. I hope to see not just enthusiasm, but recognition that talking about the issues, listening to accounts of the problems and finding practical solutions is all that families really want.
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