To ask the Minister of Health to outline any plans his Department has to develop and fund a transition framework to support young people with autism, aged 18 to 25, in moving from children to adult autism services.

Mr Nesbitt (The Minister of Health)

We are progressing a number of pieces of work to improve transitions for autistic children as they move into adult services, particularly a new learning disability service model that is currently out for consultation. It is fully applicable for autistic adults with a co-occurring diagnosis of learning disability.

In relation to transitions, the model sets out a framework to support people transitioning into day services, carers support, independent living, healthcare and specialist mental health services. In addition, a transitions protocol has been developed to standardise the planning process across the trusts. In the draft children’s emotional health and well-being framework, transitions are a key area of focus. I want to ensure that young people with a range of neurodevelopmental needs, including autism, are supported and prepared as they navigate the shift from child to adulthood. A public consultation for that framework closed on 26 September 2025, and responses are currently being collated and analysed. Transitions are a long-standing challenge, not just in the Department of Health.

Mr Nesbitt

I thank the Member. I am not particularly keen on committing to timelines, because, as the Member may be aware, there have been a number of initiatives, such as the cancer research strategy, where we have said that we had put a timeline on it but then have not delivered on it, so I do not want to continue to raise expectations. However, in this case, particularly with adults — the Member mentioned adults — I meet parents of children with learning disabilities and parents of children with autism or ADHD, and one of the common themes that keep them up at night, as the Member will know, is, "Will they be OK after I am gone?", so it is a matter of urgency.

Ms Brownlee

Minister, parents and carers are really struggling. One of the main barriers that I hear about is access to support and access to direct payments. Can you provide an update on how that is progressing?

Mr Nesbitt

I thank the Member for the question. I was not particularly aware of direct payments when I took up post 18 months ago, but, very quickly, I was made aware that it is a pretty complicated process. It puts a huge onus on those who are receiving direct payments, because, effectively, they become employers. That is maybe the last thing that they want to do when they feel vulnerable. Therefore, I have asked for a review and am actively chasing that up. Members will know my view: the public sector — I include the Department of Health — is not necessarily built for speed on such issues, and, yet, if you are looking for help, speed is, of course, of the essence.

Ms Hunter

It is really important that we do all we can to support young people with autism. Minister, will you agree to establish a cross-departmental work group to address this cross-cutting issue? As I understand it, there are many sectors and aspects to the issue and to supporting children with autism from Communities and Education etc.

Mr Nesbitt

I am afraid that I will not dream up policy on the hoof. However, I certainly accept the logic of what the Member seeks to address. I hope that she knows that I am looking for standardised regional services that take a holistic approach and that we want to end the silos, whether it is over diagnoses, procedures or postcode lotteries. All those things need to be addressed so that we smooth things out and people know that, if they have to wait, it is not a longer wait than that of anybody else and, if there are difficulties that need to be overcome, they are not bigger difficulties because they have autism compared with some other condition.