No advocacy service exists for those with Aspergers / High Functioning Autism in Essex. Disability discrimination?

The request was partially successful.

Dear Essex County Council,

There are (as far as we are aware, and after recent researches) NO advocacy services AT ALL for those with High Functioning Autism or Asperger Syndrome in Essex.

Therefore, when Essex citizens (voters) with Aspergers have problems finding accommodation, or are having difficulties in a work situation, for example, they have NOWHERE to go for INFORMED & UNDERSTANDING help, advice and support specifically to meet their needs. Officials often have no Asperger awareness at all.

Although very much wanting to work and be independent many with Aspergers end up unemployed, with mental health problems.

Benefits remain - (despite what the anti-benefits claimants propaganda says) - EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ACCESS.

This appears to be disability discrimination?

Does Essex County Council have plans to set up / fund such a service?

Yours faithfully,

[P. Smith]

Dear Essex County Council,

I would also like to know please:- where an Essex CC employee has diagnosed & declared Aspergers / HF autism, and problems arise in the work situation - what currently happens?

Who can the employee contact for help? Essex Occupational Health? Human Resources? Who else would deal with this please to ensure there is no disability discrimination?

What autism awareness training do Essex CC managers, Human Resources and ECC Occupational Health (or other relevant posts) receive?

Yours faithfully,

[P. Smith]

Ruth Byford Research & Analysis Officer, Essex County Council

3 Attachments

Please find attached an acknowledgement of your Freedom of Information
request.

Ruth Byford
on behalf of ISIS
Internal Audit & Risk Management
Essex County Council | telephone: 01245 435944 | extension: 55944 | email:
[email address]
EssexWorks
For a better quality of life

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Ruth Byford Research & Analysis Officer, Essex County Council

3 Attachments

Please find attached an acknowledgement of your Freedom of Information
request.

Ruth Byford
on behalf of ISIS
Internal Audit & Risk Management
Essex County Council | telephone: 01245 435944 | extension: 55944 | email:
[email address]
EssexWorks
For a better quality of life

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Claire McCarthy Analyst and Admin Support, Essex County Council

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Smith,

 

Thank you for your request for information, which was received by Essex
County Council on 21 November and given reference ECC-016099-11.

Please find attached information, which I believe satisfies your request:

I would also like to know please: - where an Essex CC employee has
diagnosed & declared Aspergers / HF autism, and problems arise in the work
situation - what currently happens?

 

Where an employee has been diagnosed with and declared aspergers/HF autism
managers should work with the employees to make appropriate reasonable
adjustments. We provide managers with guidance on understanding reasonable
adjustments and they are able to seek advice from the Occupational Health
team where appropriate.

 

If a problem arises in the workplace the situation would be managed
through the relevant Essex County Council policies and procedures. ECC
remains committed to overcoming barriers to work faced by
disabled employees and job applicants. A key part of our process is to
make reasonable adjustments. The first step is to talk to the
individual and Occupational Health. ECC has access to the national Access
to Work (ATW) Scheme who has specialist assessors who will visit the
employee at work.   

    

 Who can the employee contact for help? Essex Occupational Health? Human
Resources? Who else would deal with this please to ensure there is no
disability discrimination?

 

All employees including those with aspergers/HF autism can contact the HR
Advice and Support team and the Occupational Health team for help and
support.

    

What autism awareness training do Essex CC managers, Human Resources and
ECC Occupational Health (or other relevant posts receive?

 

There is currently no autism awareness training being offered to managers
however all social work practitioners will be required to undertake
awareness training on Autism and those with a greater interest/need to
fulfil their role will be required to undertake a more in-depth training
programme. By the end of December 2011, 188 staff members will have
completed the awareness course.  Further training is currently being
tendered for and will be available in 2012. 

 

I can confirm that Human Resources employees do not undertake autism
awareness training and there is no specific training identified for
Occupational Health advisors in Autism/Aspergers, just as there is no
specific training in all other identifiable conditions that individuals
may have. However, the medical professionals we engage will have some
training in autism/aspergers and have access to specialists who can supply
them with more specific information as required.

 

I can also confirm that should an employee who has specific needs with
aspergers/autism be referred to Occupational Health, depending upon the
nature of the difficulties, we would make contact with their individual
specialist for any further information before offering a medical opinion.

You may reuse all or part of this information free of charge in any format
or medium.  You must reuse it accurately and not in a misleading context. 
The material must be acknowledged as Essex County Council copyright and
you must give the title of the source document/publication.

If you are not satisfied with my response to your request, please let me
know.  If I am unable to resolve the issue immediately, I will explain our
complaints procedure.

If, after following our complaints procedure, you are still not satisfied,
you are entitled to ask the Information Commissioner to review our
decision.  You can contact him at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF, telephone 01625 545700.

Yours sincerely,

 

Claire McCarthy

Analyst & Admin Support

Corporate HR Services

 

Essex County Council | telephone: 01245  431679 | extension: 21679 |
email: [email address]

 

[1]EW7

 

P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

 

 

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ASC Information Governance, Essex County Council

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Smith,
 
Please find the attached letter in response to your recent Freedom of
Information request.
 
Kind Regards
 

Stephen Hassett

Informatics Officer

Adults Health and Community Wellbeing

 

Essex County Council | mobile: 07788301605 [1][email address]
| [2]Intranet: Informatics

 

EssexWorks

For a better quality of life

 

 

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