Market Testing for Autism, ADHD and Learning Disability Coproduction Support

Warwickshire County Council on behalf of WCC, Coventry City Council, Coventry and Warwickshire ICB are conducting a soft market testing exercise to understand provider interest in provision of coproduction support to experts with lived experience, or Expects by Experience (EbEs), to inform future commissioning approach.

Our ambition is to ensure all aspects of commissioned support are co-produced with people with lived experience and who are supported to engage, contribute and inform services planning, delivery and oversight. A tiered approach to coproduction of Autism and Learning Disabilities priorities has been delivered across Coventry and Warwickshire since August 2021, which introduced EbEs being paid for their time spent on coproducing health and social care partners' commissioning activity.

EbEs are people who have recent personal experience (within the last five years) of using or caring for someone who uses health, mental health and/or social care services. These can be:

• A parent or a family carer of child or young person (CYP) who has a learning disability, neurodevelopmental conditions and / or high support/complex needs
• CYP with a learning disability / neurodevelopmental condition
• Adults with a learning disability / neurodevelopmental condition.

This coproduction approach also supports priorities outlined in the Coventry and Warwickshire All Age Autism Strategy 2021-2026 around reducing inequalities for autistic people and making Coventry and Warwickshire autism friendly places to live. Enabling participation in coproduction facilitates improved access to employment, volunteering roles and supported internships for people with lived experience.

Similarly, it is aligned to the emerging key areas of focus of the Working Together in Partnership for Learning Disability Board. We are undertaking this market testing to engage with organisations experienced in working with autistic people, people with ADHD and/or with a learning disability or their parents and carers, to contribute their thoughts, views and expertise, in order to deliver strategic commissioning intentions for the Local Authority and/or NHS.

This market testing is not aimed at understanding capacity to deliver domiciliary care, supported living, day opportunities or residential care and support.