Reviewed on : 7 Jun 2024

Reviewed by : GP Gateway Editor

Expires : 7 Jun 2026

All-Age Autism strategy

‘Autism touches the lives of many people living in Coventry and Warwickshire and can affect many aspects of life, from school to healthcare to employment, housing and social lives. As such, the strategy takes an all age and whole life approach and encompasses children, young people, adults, older adults and their parents and carers with the following vision:

Autistic people and their families are able to live fulfilling and rewarding lives within a society that accepts and understands them. They can get a diagnosis and access support if they need it, and they can depend on mainstream public services to treat them fairly as individuals, helping them make the most of their talents.‘

There are 5 priorities within the strategy as below:

New route to referring to the Dynamic Support Register

What is the Dynamic Support Register (DSR)?

Coventry and Warwickshire’s DSR brings together health, social care, education and other system partners to support people with a learning disability and autistic people

The goal of the DSR is for people to have good quality support at the right time and in the right plan. It also aims to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions for people with a learning disability and autistic people

Building the right support and the C(E)TR policy and guidance (2017) asked that local health commissioners work with their local partners, including social care and education, to develop and maintain a register of all people with a learning disability and autistic people, including those considered to be at risk of admission to a mental health hospital. This is now known as the dynamic support register (DSR)

Referral of patients

A self-referral form is now available via the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care System (ICS) website, so that autistic people or those with a learning disability, their parents/carers or a health professional can refer someone to the Dynamic Support Register

The DSR Team does not provide an emergency crisis response service and works 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)

If you are referring a patient, please ensure they are made aware that:

• We will contact you within 5 working days to take further information to understand their current needs and help us to manage your referral
• Information submitted will be shared with colleagues from health and social care to discuss current needs, levels of risk and potential sources of support
• If the person is added to the DSR, their information will be shared with organisations who may be providing support, depending where they live including:

– Coventry City Council or Warwickshire County Council
– Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board
– Coventry and Warwickshire Mind
– Fine Futures

Urgent Referrals

Please note that if the person being referred needs an urgent or immediate response from mental health, they should look here: Find Help Now | Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust  

Referral Information

When referral decisions are being made, it is important that all relevant information about the DSR is shared with the person the referral is for, plus those with parental responsibility (if applicable) and services that support them

Consent:

Information about the DSR is available in various formats to ensure that the person can understand, retain and weigh up information about this decision, so that they are able to give informed consent. Consent can be withdrawn at any time

If a person is assessed as not having the capacity to give informed consent, a best interest decision can be made under the Mental Capacity Act to be referred to the DSR

It is important to know that not consenting to join the register will not affect the person’s current support

For a referral to be accepted it is essential that:

The person has capacity to give informed consent or
A best interest decision has been made on behalf of them if they don’t have
capacity and
The person has a diagnosis of a Learning Disability or Autism

For further information about the DSR, please visit the Coventry and Warwickshire DSR webpage

Coming soon: