What is an APB?

APBs are an integrated strategic planning forum that is responsible for developing autism provision across health and social care. These multi-agency forums bring together different agencies and stakeholders to identify local commissioning priorities and enable a more strategic approach to developing better outcomes for people with autism.

Across the country, there are a number of these groups already in place, although they are called different things in different areas, including 'autism planning groups', 'autism steering groups' and 'autism services development groups' (ASDGs).

Why are these groups needed?

Other than the obvious reason that the strategy says that such groups are important, there are strong practical arguments for setting them up too.

It is well documented that there is a lack of clarity over whose responsibility it is to provide support for adults with autism. This results in many adults with autism being unable to get the support they need. We need to change from a culture of passing on responsibility to one of sharing responsibility. More effective joint working between health and social care is critical to improving outcomes at a local level.

It is therefore necessary and essential that each local area develops an integrated planning forum that is responsible for developing autism provision across health and social care. Such forums do not require additional funding to set up and they are a key mechanism for addressing the need for a more collaborative approach to public services, where agencies join up resources, both financial and human, to provide a more coherent response to local needs.

How are they formed?

APB members could include:

  • a chairperson - a local lead on autism with responsibility for autism (if one has been appointed) or individual with relevant commissioning responsibilities
  • commissioners (eg mental health, learning disability, NHS and local authority)
  • local clinical leads (if one has been appointed, other local clinicians if not)
  • relevant local authority and NHS service managers
  • family members/carers
  • meaningful representation from people with autism
  • voluntary sector representatives
  • representatives from local children and young people's services and/or local authority and primary care trust (PCT) representatives with responsibility for transition
  • local authority personalisation leads
  • heads of training in the local authority 
  • equality and diversity officers in the local authority
  • Supporting People, housing, employment, health (eg occupational therapists) and other agencies as required.


APBs should be organised to:

  • meet at least quarterly, if not more frequently
  • consider the need for working groups on specific issues that could feedback to the main group.


The terms of reference of APBs may include:

  • review and consider current guidance and policy at the local and national level relating to autism
  • map local needs, resources and identify gaps to inform the joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA) and commissioning of future services
  • identify local commissioning priorities and develop a local commissioning plan
  • oversee the development of a clear pathway to diagnosis, assessment and support following assessment
  • improve multi-agency working, with particular attention to boundary management issues
  • oversee the development of a multi-tier training framework
  • develop an action plan to deliver the strategy
  • oversee the development of a long-term strategy to improve local support services for adults with autism
  • link with and feed into regional plans for strategy implementation.


APBs should link in with the following forums:

  • learning disability partnership boards
  • carers partnership boards
  • children and young peoples partnership boards
  • mental health joint commissioning boards
  • health and wellbeing boards
  • transitions boards.