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Our Special Care Dental Service has achieved an Autism Inclusion Award, which recognises its commitment to providing quality services for autistic people and staff.

The National Autistic Society Accreditation Programme is the UK’s only autism-specific quality assurance programme directed at support and development for those providing services to autistic people. The programme provides three different awards, with the Autism Inclusion Award being for general health providers.
 
Our Special Care Dental Service received the award after a rigorous reflective framework, which included gathering feedback from autistic individuals, their families and staff with lived experience.
 
The service provides personalised, safe, high-quality dental care for patients with additional needs and patients who would otherwise be unable to access dental treatment from a general dental practitioner. This includes patients with complex medical conditions, physical disabilities, severe or moderate learning disabilities and severe or moderate neurological conditions.

Consultant Sadie Hughes said: “As a Special Care Dental Service, we regularly see autistic children and adults and wanted to ensure we are providing the best service we can for our dental patients.

"The Autism Inclusion Award allowed us to take a deep dive into the service we provide, including analysing the clinical environment, the patient information we use and to discuss staff attitudes and beliefs as a whole service.

"The National Autistic Society staff were friendly and helpful throughout the process and helped us develop a plan for future improvements and projects.

"As an added benefit it gave staff a safe space to discuss their own lived experiences with neurodiversity, ensuring inclusion is at the forefront of our workplace."  

Find out more about the award.