Community Paediatrics Clinics and 0-5 Autism Assessment Pathway

Referrals into the Community Paediatrics Clinics will be accepted from a number of sources including:

• Health Professionals (incl. Health Visitors, School Nurses, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists);
• Educational Professionals (specifically Teachers and SENDCOs);
• Early Years Providers;
• Out of area transfers;
• Other Medical Consultants (e.g. Consultant Paediatricians).

There is a referral pack which needs completing. This is split into 2 sections:

1. The school/setting to complete
2. The parent/carer to complete

All supporting information needs sending with any referral. This could be from school and home. Input from a parent/carer, is crucial to helping the pathway team understand the child and their needs. Parents/ carers will be asked to provide information about their child on the referral form. Once the referral form has been submitted to the pathway, this (and all supporting information) is reviewed by the Pathway Coordinator to ensure the referral has been fully completed and to check there is no information missing. If there is any information missing, the referral will be sent back to the referrer. Once the Pathway Coordinator is satisfied the referral has been fully completed and enough information has been provided, the referral will be sent to the Triage Panel to review.

Once a child has been referred into the Community Paediatrics Clinics, the referral will be discussed at the clinical MDT triage panel, these panels are held on a fortnightly basis.

The panel is chaired by Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) and panel members include representation from some or all of the following services:

• Consultant Community Paediatrician (DBTH)
• Doncaster School Nursing
• Doncaster Health Visiting
• Early Intervention and Localities Service
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy

The panel review all information provided and determine whether:

1. The information contained within the referral is insufficient or warrants additional detail; the panel will clearly define to the referrer any further information required, and the referral will require resubmission once this is completed.
2. The information contained within the referral does not indicate or suggest a need for an appointment in the Community Paediatrics Clinic; the panel will send a letter to the referrer, parent/carer and GP clearly outlining the rationale for the decision and detailing recommendations for onward support, information and advice. A new resubmission to Community Paediatrics Clinic will be required should a future need for further assessment be identified.
3. The information contained within the referral is sufficient for the MDT triage panel to identify the need(s) and support appointment in the Community Paediatrics Clinic.

The team has worked with professionals to ensure that relevant support is put in place prior to a referral and that this is evidenced in a referral. We want each child to be supported whilst they wait for an appointment. When provided with enough evidence, we can streamline the referral process to ensure each child/young person is placed on the correct pathway in a timely manner.

*Please note children who are awaiting review in the GDA clinic will be moved on the review list for the Community Paediatrics Clinics in review date order*

Referrals into the 0-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnostic assessment pathway will be accepted from a number of sources including:

• Health Professionals (incl. Health Visitors, School Nurses, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists);
• Educational Professionals (specifically Teachers and SENDCOs);
• Early Years Providers;
• Out of area transfers;
• Other Medical Consultants (e.g. Consultant Paediatricians).

There is a referral pack which needs completing. This is split into 2 sections:

1. The school/setting to complete
2. The parent/carer to complete

All supporting information needs sending with any referral. This could be from school and home. Input from a parent/carer, is crucial to helping the pathway team understand the child and their needs. The parent/ carer will be asked to provide information about their child on the referral form. Once the referral form has been submitted to the pathway, this (and all supporting information) is reviewed by the Pathway Coordinator to ensure the referral has been fully completed and to check there is no information missing. If there is any information missing, the referral will be sent back to the referrer. Once the Pathway Coordinator is satisfied the referral has been fully completed and enough information has been provided, the referral will be sent to the Triage Panel to review.

Once a child has been referred into the 0-5 Autism pathway, the referral will be discussed at the clinical MDT triage panel, these panels are held on a fortnightly basis.

The panel is chaired by Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) and panel members include representation from some or all of the following services:

• Consultant Community Paediatrician (DBTH)
• Doncaster School Nursing
• Doncaster Health Visiting
• Early Intervention and Localities Service
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy

Once a child has been referred into the 0-5 Autism pathway, the clinical MDT triage panel, held on a fortnightly basis, will review the referral and determine whether:

1. The information contained within the referral is insufficient or warrants additional detail; the panel will clearly define to the referrer any further information required, and the referral will require resubmission once this is completed.
2. The information contained within the referral does not indicate or suggest a need for further assessment by the 0-5 Autism pathway; the panel will send a letter to the referrer, parent/carer and GP clearly outlining the rationale for the decision and detailing recommendations for onward support, information and advice. A new resubmission to 0-5 Autism pathway will be required should a future need for further assessment be identified.
3. The information contained within the referral is sufficient for the MDT triage panel to identify the need(s) and support onward 0-5 Autism assessment.

The team has worked with professionals to ensure that relevant support is put in place prior to a referral and that this is evidenced in a referral. We want each child to be supported whilst they wait for an appointment. When provided with enough evidence, we can streamline the referral process to ensure each child/young person is placed on the correct pathway in a timely manner.