1. Adult Autism Services in Westminster
Dr Andrew Greenhill
Westminster Adult Autism Assessment and Diagnosis Service

2. Aims What services should be in place locally
What we do in Westminster
Challenges of working with people who are homeless and have autism
Referral pathway for people who are homeless

3. What services should be in place
Autism Act 2009
Local authority and health services should have a referral “pathway” for assessment.
This could be a local service – or means to refer externally.
There should also be an autism specific pathway for accessing Care Act Assessments
Training and consultation

4. What we do in Westminster
Assessment and Diagnosis clinic – for people +18, not learning disabled. Standard referral processes
Follow on work – e.g. individual/ couples work
Consultation and training
Commissioned specialised voluntary sector Asperger’s Service

5. Challenges of working with people who are homeless and on the spectrum
Difficulty with engagement
Lack of trust and contact with services
Entrenched behaviour patterns
Need to move out of the clinic
Lack of context to raise the issue
Services not designed with their specific needs in mind – e.g. housing
Lack of evidence about interventions

6. How we work with people with AS and who are homeless
Light touch/ background work – emphasis more on consultation
Consultation clinics specifically for homeless services – solution focused rather than diagnostic
Using professional status to influence other organisations – e.g. DWP, and supporting letters
Triggering research into prevalence and maintaining factors
Provision of training

7. Summary
A specific, local referral pathway for people who are homeless and possibly on the spectrum has been helpful
Emphasis on consultation and training
Less emphasis on diagnosis and more on outcomes and possible solutions