After a series of meetings between Moray Council and the service provider an agreement could not be reached and they have chosen to withdraw from the service in Moray.
As a result Moray Council will now transfer the service in-house, which will mean staff in the service being TUPE transferred to work for the Council.
Commenting on the news the SNP Opposition Spokesperson on Children and Young People’s Services, Cllr Sonya Warren, said:
“I have sought and received assurances that the service will continue to be provided and the staff currently providing the service will be TUPE transferred to the Council.
“There needs to be constructive work done with Scottish Autism to ensure a smooth transition of the service with stability and consistency being absolutely vital to the young people using the service.
“The Council has a team of dedicated and highly skilled staff who provide other autism services in Moray and with the addition of the skills and experience of staff being transferred I believe the Council can deliver good provision for service users.”
SNP MSP for Moray Richard Lochhead said:
“Clearly the uncertainty of the past few weeks has been unsettling for families in Moray who have been concerned about the future of autism services for their children. There will undoubtedly still be some concern about Scottish Autism’s decision to withdraw. However I am pleased that the Council are committed to continuing the service in-house, including the transfer of existing staff.
“It is unfortunate that Scottish Autism are withdrawing from Moray and we will keep a close eye on the transition but there is a strong commitment to making that transition as smooth as possible and maintaining stability for the young people. This may also present an opportunity to further improve the service once the transition period is complete.”
“It is unfortunate that Scottish Autism are withdrawing from Moray and we will keep a close eye on the transition but there is a strong commitment to making that transition as smooth as possible and maintaining stability for the young people. This may also present an opportunity to further improve the service once the transition period is complete.”
SNP MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast Stewart Stevenson said:
“There have been real concerns for families using autism services in Moray in recent weeks over the future provision of the service and while it has been announced that Scottish Autism are withdrawing from Moray I am heartened that the Council has no intention of dropping the service and will now transfer the provision in-house.
“The smooth transition of this service is obviously massively important and until that is fully resolved people will understandably be nervous about the service provision. However I acknowledge the Council’s commitment to maintaining the service and I know that the staff will be committed to making it work.”
“The smooth transition of this service is obviously massively important and until that is fully resolved people will understandably be nervous about the service provision. However I acknowledge the Council’s commitment to maintaining the service and I know that the staff will be committed to making it work.”
