Purpose

To continue the DAS service offer.
DAS has been an essential pillar of support for the Doncaster community since its inception in April 2022. It was established to fill a critical gap in post-diagnostic support, ensuring that families not only receive guidance after a diagnosis but also gain the confidence and knowledge needed to support their child throughout the assessment journey.
Workshops delivered by DAS offer more than information, they create empowerment. These interactive sessions help individuals deepen their understanding of autism, feel supported, and develop practical strategies to overcome challenges. Importantly, the group setting fosters a sense of belonging and connection, enabling families and individuals to share experiences and build supportive networks.
The one-to-one post-diagnostic offer provides highly personalised support. This service helps individuals process and reflect on their diagnosis, understand what it means for them, and develop confidence in sharing this understanding with others. Such tailored support is vital for emotional well-being and self-advocacy.
No other service in Doncaster currently offers this level of specialist, community-focused provision. The DAS team has spent three years developing unique expertise, combining strong community links through Doncaster Parent Voice (DPV) with educational insight via partnerships with the Educational Psychology Service and ASCETS. This dual perspective ensures that DAS delivers a truly holistic and bespoke service that cannot be replicated within existing local capacity or working practices.
In short, DAS is not just a service-it is a lifeline for families and individuals navigating autism.

Decision

The ICB have agreed to fund the below via a 256 agreement
The Grant for the Service shall be the total sum of £164,531 for each Financial Year from 2026/27 to the end of the Financial Year 2027/28, at which point a review of service will be undertaken.
Payment of the Grant by the SYICB to the Council will be made in annual instalments upon receipt of invoices from the Council and the SYICB will pay within 30 days of receipt of an invoice in respect of the Services.
This is: £114,531 for 3 ASCETS roles and £50,000 for Doncaster Parents Voice
There is some additional funding which the council has agreed to cover.
The annual costs would be estimated at £131,748 2026-27 (2 SASO £56,244 & Teacher £75,504) & £136,568 in 2026-27 (2 SASO £58,044 & Teacher £78,524).
Council would therefore be expected to cover £39,254 over 2 years, plus any additional cost linked to future changes in pay scales that are agreed.

Alternative options considered

Funding from the EPS budget was considered for a short-term measure to continue the DAS offer. There were vacant / upcoming vacancy posts at the time due to maternity leave or member reducing hours.
Funding from elsewhere was also explored.
A proportion of the offer is focussed on those above 25 years of age, young adults and adults. Funding could be sought from another budget for this aspect to support the ongoing work of DAS.