Bedfordshire and Luton CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health service) has worked with young people with autism and local parent carers forums over the last year to co-produce the training film and supporting slides that are available for all CAMHS practitioners.
It has been produced as an introduction for practitioners to working with children and young people with autism.
The CAMHS neuro-developmental team (NDT) has worked closely with the CAMHS SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) lead and with parent carers and young people to design the slides.
The video features young people, a parent carer and a clinical psychologist from the NDT.
It emphasises the importance of adapting approaches to the individual needs of each autistic child or young person. The film is very much from the perspective of autistic young people and three young people with lived experience share their views in the film.
“We hope that this video helps promote the message which sits at the heart of our work – that co-production and listening to the needs of service users is fundamental to providing genuine person-centred care,” said Jo Meehan, Associate Director for Bedfordshire and Luton CAMHS.
“Bedfordshire and Luton CAMHS want to ensure that all CAMHS practitioners are fully equipped with the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of autistic children and young people we are supporting.”
The film is being released to CAMHS practitioners during World Autism Acceptance Week 2024 which is April 2-8.
The film sits alongside a programme of training being rolled out across Beds and Luton CAMHS through the National Autism Training Programme and mandatory Oliver McGowan training.
World Autism Acceptance Week 2024
The National Autistic Society promotes the week to raise awareness of autism and encourage people to hold fundraising events.
Autistic people face discrimination and barriers across all sectors of society – in the health and social care systems, in education, in employment, and everywhere in between. It is crucial that autistic people, and their families and carers, can access tailored information, guidance and support to overcome those barriers, along with opportunities to explore their interests, develop skills and build friendships for fulfilled lives.
Visit the National Autistic Society website for more information.