New autism lead for Lincolnshire

Emma Dominey-Hill has been appointed as the new Autism Programme Lead for the Lincolnshire health and social care system.

Emma brings with her a wealth of experience having spent many years supporting autistic children and young people with learning disabilities in specialist and mainstream schools and adult and child community learning disability teams, in addition to time in adult forensic hospital services at Rampton Hospital where she supported the development of an inpatient autism pathway.

Emma has also worked across the region, particularly within the East Midlands Forensic children and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS), supporting children and young people with neurodevelopmental needs within both community, inpatient and secure settings. She has also played a leading role in creating the community learning disability and neurodevelopmental pathways in Nottinghamshire.

Currently, Emma combines two roles – Consultant Speech and Language Therapist, and Lead for Transforming Care in LPFT-  where she is working to reduce inappropriate hospital admissions and improve access to mental health services with reasonable adjustments, for people with a learning disability and/or autism. 

On her appointment, Emma comments: “My primary aim is to make sure that autistic people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, sexualities and ages get the support they need to live full and happy lives.

“To make this happen, I will be working with partners to ensure we develop an all age autism pathway in Lincolnshire that reflects the values and themes of the new national autism strategy.

“This includes improving understanding and acceptance of autism within the community, reducing diagnosis waiting times, supporting autistic people with training and employment, delivering the right inpatient care and improving support within the criminal and youth justice systems.

“I will also be looking at ways to ensure we deliver an equal service across the county.

“These are steps I know will make a difference and help all autistic individuals and their families to live well, and to reach their full potential in a community and system that supports, accepts and embraces them.”

Emma will working in this role part time whilst also continuing her role as a Consultant Speech and Language Therapist and LPFT’s Lead for Transforming Care.

For more information about Autism, visit www.lpft.nhs.uk/autisticspectrumdisorder