Staff training in relation to autism (FOI)

Request

I would like to know what training Social Security Staff receive before dealing with ongoing claims for autistic children?

My reasons for asking this is some members of staff dealing with claims appear to think autism will go away or have little understanding that associated problematic social skills with repetitive behaviours carry on into Adulthood. 

Response

Social Security now forms part of Customer and Local Services (CLS). 33 customer-facing staff at CLS (excluding the Library and Office of Superintendent Registrar) have received SPELL training.

Further courses are scheduled for 2021 including Introduction to Autism and SPELL Framework. Currently 20 people are booked onto these courses.

The SPELL framework was developed by the National Autistic Society in conjunction with people with autism, their families and professionals. It is a socially valid framework that supports the understanding of autism and the development of autism friendly environments and approaches.