Lead Member – Councillor Ruth Houghton, Portfolio Holder for Social Care

Lead Officer - Laura Tyler, Service Director - Commissioning

RESOLVED

3.1 To approve the Shropshire All-Age Autism Strategy 2025-2030  

3.2 To endorse the development of an All-Age Autism Strategy delivery plan to embed the recommendations included and inform policy overseen by the Service Director for Commissioning in consultation with the Portfolio holder for social care.  

3.3 To review progress and implementation at People Scrutiny in 12 months, December 2026  

3.4 To commit Shropshire Council to be a neuroinclusive employer 

The Portfolio Holder for Social Care introduced Shropshire Council’s All?Age Autism Strategy for 2025–2030. The strategy had been based on extensive engagement with autistic people, families, carers, and professionals and aims to make Shropshire an inclusive place where autistic people of all ages are understood, supported, and able to thrive.

The strategy aligns with the Shropshire Plan and the recent House of Lords report “Time to Deliver”, which reviews progress since the Autism Act 2009. It focused on early intervention, prevention, and person?centred support in response to rising autism prevalence both nationally and locally.

Key aims included reducing assessment waiting times, improving access to support, and enabling autistic people to live fulfilling and independent lives. The approach emphasised collaboration across health, education, employment, housing, social care, and the criminal justice system. It also highlighted the importance of lived experience, data?driven service design, and mandatory autism and neurodiversity training for staff.

RESOLVED

3.1 To approve the Shropshire All-Age Autism Strategy 2025-2030  

3.2 To endorse the development of an All-Age Autism Strategy delivery plan to embed the recommendations included and inform policy overseen by the Service Director for Commissioning in consultation with the Portfolio holder for social care.  

3.3 To review progress and implementation at People Scrutiny in 12 months, December 2026  

3.4 To commit Shropshire Council to be a neuroinclusive employer