The team marked the achievement during their Away Day in May 2026, where colleagues reflected on the dedication, teamwork and innovation that led to the accreditation, and celebrated the positive impact their work has on autistic patients and their families. The celebrations included a group photograph of the team proudly showcasing their Autism Accreditation Award.
The accreditation was formally awarded in April 2026 and recognises the ward's commitment to creating a supportive and autism-friendly environment where patients feel safe, understood and empowered to be themselves.
Achieving Autism Accreditation reflects the hard work of the ward's multidisciplinary team, including colleagues from Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Medicine, Speech and Language Therapy, Art Therapy, Education, Nursing and Social Work.
Together, the team has implemented a range of autism-informed approaches to support patients, including adapting communication styles, developing sensory-friendly environments, building trusting therapeutic relationships and recognising each person's individual strengths, preferences and needs.
The accreditation is an important external recognition of the quality of support provided on the ward. It demonstrates the team's ongoing commitment to understanding and responding to the unique needs of autistic patients, while continuously improving experiences and outcomes for those in their care.
The award also provides reassurance to families, carers and partner organisations that the service is delivering compassionate, personalised and evidence-informed care within an inclusive environment that promotes wellbeing and opportunity.
Michael Adams, Clinical Nurse Manager for Aldgate Ward, said:
"We're incredibly excited and proud to share that we have achieved Autism Accreditation from the National Autistic Society. This is a fantastic achievement and a true celebration of the passion, creativity, teamwork and dedication shown across our team every single day.
This accreditation recognises the hard work and commitment of our Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Medical, Speech and Language Therapy, Art Therapy, Education, Nursing and Social Work teams, who work together to create a positive, supportive and autism-friendly environment for every patient in our care. From adapting communication styles and creating sensory-friendly spaces, to building trusting relationships and celebrating individuality, every team member has played an important part in making this possible.
Most importantly, this achievement reflects our commitment to ensuring autistic individuals feel safe, understood, respected and empowered to be themselves. We are proud of how far we have come together and excited to continue learning, growing and creating opportunities for every individual to thrive."
The team's achievement highlights ELFT's ongoing commitment to providing compassionate, personalised care that meets the diverse needs of the communities it serves, while creating environments where autistic people can flourish and achieve the best possible outcomes.