Why did you register with the Autism Accreditation programme?

In collaboration with the PEACE service, our NHS Community Eating Disorder Services for children and young people in BOB (Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire) wanted to engage in the Autism Accreditation programme to build on good practice and demonstrate a commitment to providing high quality and inclusive eating disorder treatment for autistic/possibly autistic young people and their families.

How did you find the process overall?

The National Autistic Society provided clear and helpful information about the accreditation process, including how to complete the self-audit, what to prepare for the assessment days and what to expect throughout.  We invested time and focus into completing the self-audit, which enabled us to reflect on good practice and opportunities for further development, in collaboration with colleagues and experts by experience.  It was encouraging to have our positive work recognised by the National Autistic Society and achieve accreditation, and we valued their suggestions for building on good practice.    

How did the best practice framework support your self reflection and developments for your service?

The best practice framework encouraged us to think about four areas of difference where autistic young people may experience difficulties within our current services.  With reference to the indicators, we reflected on examples of good practices, improvements already made and ideas for further development.  The self-audit encouraged us to set up quality action groups within our eating disorder teams to explore multiple perspectives and generate actions based on our collaborative work and learning with autistic young people and their families.  Within existing participation groups with autistic young people, we worked on key tasks to improve understanding and good practice within the eating disorder teams.       

If you received additional support from your consultant, how did this benefit the process?

Our consultants were really supportive in answering our questions about the self-audit document and assessment days, which was reassuring and helped us prepare well for the accreditation assessment.  

Can you provide any examples of change that were made to practice as a result of your team undertaking the accreditation process?

The accreditation process complimented work already being implemented by the PEACE service within the eating disorder teams. The PEACE service is focused on increasing awareness and understanding of co-occurring autism and eating disorders, and promoting inclusive treatment for autistic young people affected by eating disorders.  

BOB Eating Disorder teams have introduced screening for possible autism at initial assessments, which then inform tailored care and treatment, including further consideration of autism with young people and families when recognised.  

Staff have access to training to support their knowledge and confidence in working with autistic young people with eating disorders.  

The PEACE team have led on the implementation of helpful approaches and resources for clinicians, young people and families, including the availability of sensory tools in sessions, guidance on reasonable adjustments and psycho-educational information and interventions.  

Participation and co-production has been an integral part of the work of PEACE within eating disorder teams and following a suggestion from the National Autistic Society, we are sharing stories from our autistic Experts By Experience to inspire other young people in their eating disorder treatment and recovery.      

Can you provide any (anonymous) positive outcomes that have occurred for the autistic people you support as a result of undertaking the Accreditation process?

As shared above, the accreditation process has complimented the work already being implemented by the PEACE service within the eating disorder teams.  Young people and families have benefited enormously from a focus on best practice for autistic individuals, including earlier recognition of possible autism, timely access to useful information and resources about autism, use of communication passports, and care that respects autistic needs and preferences while promoting the best chance of eating disorder recovery.

What does it mean to you as a service to have achieved the accreditation kitemark?

We are delighted to receive an accreditation award with the National Autistic Society, which demonstrates to young people, families and other stakeholders that we understand autism and can be trusted to provide inclusive care and treatments.  We feel proud and hope that we inspire other services to further reflect on the experiences of autistic young people, improve practice, and pursue accreditation.  

What benefits do you see the programme having to other mental health support services, and would you recommend others undergo the process?

The accreditation process is an incredibly beneficial process for spotlighting areas for improvement, encouraging collaborative thinking and innovation, and driving change to ensure better experiences of services for autistic individuals.