Room One was developed as a 'one stop shop' for autistic and neurodivergent adults in the city. Having a strong peer support offer was identified as important, with one to one and group peer support being a key part of service.
The challenge: fragmented services and stigma
Research by the council co-produced with autistic people from May 2022 identified gaps in services for autistic people locally. Their experience of support from the public sector was poor. When there was useful support, they found it to be fragmented into limited areas of specialism, such as employment. Many of the people involved in the research reported experiencing stigma.
The solution: Room One
When the existing community support contract expired, the service was brought in house to enable the service and support offer to be redesigned in co-production with the autistic community.
Room One was developed as a 'one stop shop' for autistic and neurodivergent adults in the city. Having a strong peer support offer was identified as important, with one to one and group peer support being a key part of service.
The service started in one room in a community centre. It's success and the need for growth resulted in a new and bigger home being sourced for the service.
Funding came from the NHS, both locally and nationally, and from the council. A Transformation Lead was employed, using funding from Public Health budgets, to further develop support for neurodivergent adults and the service.
Initially the staffing for the service was one full time facilitator. As the service has developed and grown a social care practitioner and peer support worker have been recruited. The social care practitioner can provide advocacy support to help someone access the community and services, for example facilitating communication with housing and access to Care Act support assessments.
As well as 1:1 support, the range of group support has expanded. Peer support groups were part of the service initially. More recently a loved one’s group and a craft focussed group has started.
The impact
- There are 255 autistic adults on the mailing list, receiving information and updates on the services and relevant developments in the local community.
- The service was shortlisted for a co-production award in the Great British Care Awards 2024.
People using the service have said:
“I have been attending 6 months. Initially I was dragged here by my Mum: couldn’t even stay in the room: ran out to the car park and had to be talked back. Now I come at least twice weekly. I am talking much more than I ever did, I have found a group of close friends that I never had before. I have gone back to playing football: previously my reason for living. I have started a job. My anxiety isn’t as bad as before: previously it was uncontrollable."
“I have started to unmask since coming here. I never realised I was doing it before. I have found people like me who understand my world view. I have found people like me who struggle with life but have found how to get through. So, I feel I too can find a way to get through life."