The Leadership Framework is the term used for a way of doing things at a national government level.
In March 2021 the Towards Transformation Plan said that:
“We will put in place plans for everyone to work together through new leadership arrangements and for this work to be led by autistic people and people with a learning/intellectual disability. National and local organisations need to be involved in this. We want the voice of autistic people, people with a learning/intellectual disability, and unpaid carers to be at the centre of work going forward.”
This work involves people with learning disabilities and autistic people being more closely and actively involved in policy development in Scotland. Most of the activity took place between 2021 and 2025 and the work is now being shared.
Three working groups focused on:
Training for GPs and health care staff (learning disability)
Training for GPs and health care staff (autism)
Autism Informed Services (autism)
Resources developed by these groups are now being be shared with health practitioners. The autism posters have been sent to every GP practice in Scotland with QR codes linking to the resources and a survey with a few questions about their impact.
You can find them here:
The autism resources are on a Health Practitioner Resources page on the Different Minds website.
The learning disability resources are on The Scottish Assembly website.
Turas is the digital platform developed by NHS Education for Scotland to support health and care professionals working in the public sector. The resources are linked on the neurodiversity page on this site. This includes the recording of a webinar on the autism resources.
Maree Todd MSP Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport officially launched all the resources in November 2024. Maree Todd recorded a video about the work and the resources.
Project reports, summaries and templates are here.
The main goal was to actively engage autistic people and people with learning disabilities in the development of policy that concerns them and directly impacts their lives.
After research was carried out, it was agreed that accessing mental health services was a top priority for both autistic people and people with learning disabilities. Three working groups were set up to focus on different aspects of this issue.
Drivers was the term used to describe the people with lived experience who were at the centre of the work.
The Autism Drivers were members of the Autism Advisory Forum. The Learning Disability Drivers were members of The Assembly.
The Drivers had an advisory role and informed all recommendations to the Scottish Government and COSLA.
Allies were people who have an interest or experience in championing the human rights of autistic people or people with a learning disability.
They were committed to working together with people with lived experience to highlight the issues affecting them and support them to make real, lasting change in their lives.
Engineers were either local or national decision makers or people who are connected to those. They worked as a bridge between the Drivers and Engineers by hearing the results of the engagement and consultation work and the suggestions of the Drivers. Engineers supported the partnerships between Drivers and Allies to make sure the solutions become a reality.
For all enquiries about the Leadership Framework, please email autismenquiries@inspiringscotland.org.uk
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