4.2. Identify formal and informal support networks for an individual with an autistic spectrum condition

This guide will help you answer 4.2. Identify formal and informal support networks for an individual with an autistic spectrum condition.

Supporting an individual with an autistic spectrum condition involves understanding the different networks available to them. These networks can be split into two groups: formal and informal. Each plays a role in supporting their needs and helping them engage in day-to-day life.

Formal networks are organised, structured, and often funded or managed by professional services. Informal networks are based on personal relationships, friendship, and community support without official organisational structures. Both are important for promoting wellbeing and independence.

In this unit, you are asked to identify these networks clearly. This means recognising what each network is, how it works, and how it benefits the person.

Formal Support Networks

These are services with trained staff who follow policies and procedures. They may be provided by government departments, local authorities, charities, or health and social care organisations.

Health Services

Health services offer both diagnosis and ongoing medical support. They include:

• General practitioners (GPs) for routine health needs
• Paediatricians or specialist doctors for children
• Psychiatrists for mental health assessment and treatment
• Occupational therapists to help with sensory processing and daily living skills
• Speech and language therapists to improve communication

These services work under the NHS in the UK. They follow set referral processes and often use a care plan tailored to the person’s needs.

Local Authority Services

Local councils can provide access to social workers and care coordinators. These professionals can:

• Assess needs through formal care assessments
• Arrange respite care to give families a break
• Provide funding for support workers
• Offer advice on housing and adaptations

These services require an application or referral. Eligibility is often assessed under the Care Act 2014.

Education Support

Schools and colleges may be a formal network if the person is in education. Support can include:

• Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCO) who manage learning support plans
• Learning mentors who help with skills and confidence
• Specialist autism teaching assistants
• Educational psychologists for cognitive assessments

Education services are a key formal support for young people with autism as they provide structured learning environments.

Specialist Autism Charities and Organisations

Some charities offer direct services and advice, such as:

• The National Autistic Society (NAS) providing helplines, advice centres, and training
• Ambitious about Autism offering youth programmes
• Autism Together supporting community living

These organisations may run support groups, workshops, and training for individuals and families.

Mental Health Services

Autism can be linked with co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Formal mental health services include:

• Counselling provided by trained therapists
• Community mental health teams
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) adapted for autism
• Crisis intervention services

Formal mental health support helps manage emotional wellbeing and can be accessed through GP referral or self-referral.

Employment Support Programmes

Adults with autism may access formal employment support, including:

• Access to Work schemes
• Job coaches who help with workplace adaptation
• Specialist recruitment agencies focusing on neurodiverse people

These services aim to match job roles with a person’s strengths and provide workplace support.

Informal Support Networks

Informal networks are non-professional supports provided by people the individual knows personally or in their community. They are not bound by formal contracts or policies but play a significant role in day-to-day life.

Family

Family members often support with daily routines, emotional reassurance, and transportation to appointments. Examples of family support include:

• Parents helping with organisation and planning
• Siblings offering companionship
• Extended family providing respite care

Family members understand the person’s needs and personal preferences. This helps create a safe and familiar environment.

Friends

Friends can provide social contact, encouragement to take part in activities, and help reduce feelings of isolation. Informal peer support is very important for developing communication and social skills.

Community Groups

Local clubs or activity groups may be informal networks. Examples are:

• Sports clubs that welcome neurodiverse members
• Art or music groups providing creative outlets
• Community centres offering inclusive activities

These groups often have a friendly atmosphere and less rigid structure than formal networks.

Neighbours

Neighbours can offer informal help such as:

• Checking in regularly
• Helping with errands or small household tasks
• Providing companionship or casual conversation

Neighbour support tends to be more spontaneous and based on trust.

Peer Support Groups

These are groups where people with autism meet to share experiences. They are often self-led or supported by volunteers rather than by professionals. Peer groups are helpful for building confidence and sharing coping strategies.

Online Communities

Informal online networks can give a safe space to communicate with others who understand autism. Examples include:

• Social media groups for autistic individuals
• Forums that allow discussion of personal experiences
• Peer mentoring through online platforms

Online support can be helpful for those who find face-to-face socialising more difficult.

How Formal and Informal Networks Work Together

Formal networks often link with informal ones to provide comprehensive support. For example, a GP may refer someone to a specialist service but rely on family members to provide day-to-day care. Similarly, a social worker may arrange community group participation but count on friends or neighbours to encourage attendance.

This combination provides structured help when needed and relaxed support when professional input is not required. Formal networks address complex or specialist needs. Informal networks maintain everyday stability and provide emotional comfort.

Benefits of Formal Networks

• Professional expertise backed by training and qualifications
• Access to specialised equipment or therapy
• Legal protection and rights through structured provision
• Consistency in care and record keeping

Formal networks are especially useful for diagnosing needs, creating care plans, and monitoring progress against professional standards.

Benefits of Informal Networks

• Flexibility and quick response without lengthy processes
• Emotional closeness and personal knowledge of the individual
• Social contact in familiar settings
• Reduced feelings of isolation and loneliness

Informal networks often help the person feel part of a community without the pressure of formal appointments.

Barriers to Accessing Formal Networks

Sometimes formal networks are harder to access. Common barriers include:

• Long waiting lists
• Geographic limitations in service availability
• Language or communication difficulties during assessments
• Limited awareness of available services

Overcoming these barriers may involve advocacy, persistence, and support from informal networks.

Barriers to Building Informal Networks

Barriers to informal support can occur when:

• The person experiences social anxiety
• Community awareness of autism is low
• Families live far apart
• The individual has difficulty initiating or maintaining relationships

Addressing these barriers often requires open communication and community education.

Role of the Worker in Supporting Access to Networks

In health and social care, workers help link individuals to the right networks. This includes:

• Listening to the person’s wishes and concerns
• Providing clear information about options
• Helping with referrals to formal services
• Encouraging participation in informal support opportunities
• Monitoring how effective the networks are in meeting needs

Workers can act as a connection point between formal professionals and the individual’s personal network.

Examples of Combined Support in Practice

Consider a person with autism who struggles with social situations and mental health. Their support network could include:

• A psychologist providing therapy
• Family members supporting appointments and daily routines
• A local autism group meeting once a week for social interaction
• An online peer group where they share coping tips
• Employment advisers guiding them through workplace adjustments

This combination ensures professional assessment of mental health while encouraging everyday social engagement.

Encouraging the Person to Use Networks

Workers can support the individual to try new networks by:

• Explaining what each network offers
• Addressing worries about joining new groups
• Offering to attend initial sessions together
• Introducing them gradually to new people or settings
• Respecting their pace and comfort levels

Confidence often grows as the person sees positive outcomes.

Supporting Long-Term Use of Networks

Networks work best when engagement is sustained. Long-term support can involve:

• Regular check-ins to see if the network is meeting current needs
• Adjusting the mix of formal and informal networks when situations change
• Celebrating achievements gained through network involvement
• Encouraging self-advocacy so the person can request help independently

Sustaining networks builds stability and resilience for future challenges.

Final Thoughts

Formal and informal networks offer different strengths. Formal networks provide structured, professional input to address medical, educational, and specialist needs. Informal networks bring flexibility, emotional closeness, and community connection.

For an individual with an autistic spectrum condition, a balance between the two is often most helpful. Linking them together creates a strong circle of support that can adapt to changing circumstances. By recognising and identifying these networks, health and social care workers can make sure the person has access to both the resources they need and the relationships that make life meaningful.