Dates: 1 September 2014 - 31 May 2018
Funder: National Institute for Health Research (Health Services and Delivery Research Programme)
Project description
The 2010 Autism Strategy was published by the government in response to high levels of concern about the health and well-being of adults with autism, including those with Asperger syndrome (AS). This condition is more common than previously thought; it is estimated that 1 in 200 adults have this diagnosis. Many experts believe the lack of holistic, autism specialist services is a key reason why so many adults with AS experience significant difficulties.
The Autism Strategy requires localities to improve support for adults with AS. It recommends specialist, community based, multi-disciplinary teams are set up to provide, coordinate and oversee services. Recent national guidance for the management of autism in adults called these teams ‘Specialist Autism Teams’ (SATs). However, no evidence exists about the staffing of these teams and how they should operate. As a result a number of different ‘service models’ have emerged among the small number of localities which have developed a SAT.
This project is investigating the different SAT service models which currently exist. It is comparing them in terms of their impact on the lives of adults accessing their services; their costs; and service user experiences.
Methods
Data on users’ well-being, psychosocial and economic outcomes is being collected at assessment and 3, 6 and 12 months later. The study team are also interviewing a sub-sample of service users and family members, as well as professionals working in, or with, the SATs. The study is estimating the costs of the different SAT models and investigating whether the cost of providing particular services (eg. diagnosis,social support) varies between teams.
Key Publications
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Project protocol
Principal Investigator: Professor Bryony Beresford, Univerisity of York
CPEC Research team: Martin Knapp, A-La Park
Collaborators: University of York, University of Newcastle, The National Autistic Society
Region: UK
Countries: England
Keywords: autism, Specialist Autism Team
Contact
Martin Knapp
m.knapp@lse.ac.uk