Neurodevelopmental Assessment Pathway
This page contains information regarding the Neurodevelopmental Assessment Pathway.
On this page, you can find:
0-5 Autism Assessment Pathway
The 0-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Diagnostic Pathway Service provides assessments for children aged up to 5 years who are:
- Registered with a GP practice within the Doncaster boundary;
- ‘Looked After’ by City of Doncaster Council or placed in Doncaster, where practically possible and more appropriate for the child;
A child who has been referred before their 5th birthday but turns 5 before assessment takes place will stay on the 0-5 Autism pathway.
Who can refer?
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).
Referrals are not accepted from GPs or directly from parents/carers.
What is needed to make a referral?
There is a referral pack which needs completing. This is split into 2 sections:
- The school/setting to complete
- 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.
What happens once a referral has been made?
Once a child has been referred into the 0-5 Autism pathway, the referral will be discussed at the clinical multi-disciplinary team triage panel.
The panel is chaired by Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (DBTHFT) 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 will discuss the referral and decide on what will happen next. This could include:
- Accepting the referral for onward 0-5 Autism assessment because the information contained within the referral is sufficient for the MDT triage panel to identify your child’s need(s).
- Returning the referral back to the referrer because further information or additional support at home and/or school is required. If this happens, the referral will go back to the Triage Panel to be discussed again once the extra information is supplied. Please note the child/young person’s place will be held while this information is gathered.
- Declining the referral because 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 school and families which clearly outlines the rationale for the decision and details 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.
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.
When a child has been accepted on to the pathway and they have reached the top of the waiting list, they will be invited to an assessment. The diagnostic assessment will take place over two appointments:
- The first appointment is to obtain a picture of the child's history and development. Families will be given the option of a face-to-face, telephone, or video call appointment. The child does not need to be present during this appointment.
- The second appointment will be an assessment of the child. This will be held face-to-face at Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI).
On completion of the assessment, the Provider is required to conduct a comprehensive follow-up appointment with the parent or carer, and the individual if appropriate. This appointment should focus on the rationale for the diagnosis or non-diagnosis, discussion around any other identified conditions because of the assessment and, where required, the plan for next steps around the individuals care and support.
The Neurodevelopmental Service
- Provide autism assessments for children and young people aged 5-18 years who are referred to the Neurodevelopmental Pathway.
- Provide ADHD assessments for children aged 7-18 years. ADHD assessments are not provided for children under age 7.
- Provide joint assessments where appropriate for children aged 7-18 years who have identified autism and ADHD needs.
Who can refer?
Referrals can only be made by schools or education settings.
When a child does not attend an education setting:
- Referrals can be made by the Electively Home Educated team or Education Inclusion Services for children who are elective home education (EHE)
- If the child/young person is not currently accessing education (NEET – not in education, employment or training), parents should contact the service directly for additional guidance.
Referrals are not accepted from doctors/GPs.
What is needed to make a referral?
- We require the referral packs to be collated and submitted by the school/ educational setting.
- We do not accept referrals from parent/caregivers or self-referrals.
- The referral pack includes a referral form and additional information forms from parent/carer and young person’s and school/education setting to complete.
- Both the tree forms and the appropriate useful information forms (ASD, ADHD or both forms if the request is for an autism and ADHD assessment) must be submitted for the referral to be accepted. We would also encourage the completion of the young person useful information form if appropriate.
- If parents or young person require support to complete the pack, then we would encourage school and the young person’s setting to support them with this.
Referral Pack
Important: please be aware we are asking for new information. Before submitting the referral, please ensure that you have attached all the supporting evidence (see below checklist).
Without this evidence referrals will not be accepted.
Checklist – Before you submit check that you have included:
- Gained consent from all individuals with Parental Responsibility to make a referral to the service and this is evidenced on the referral form within the referral pack
- Ensure that the Child/ young person is aware of the reason for referral and has consented to the referral (if developmentally appropriate)
- Include the referral form (Tree form)
- Include the appropriate useful information forms – ASD, ADHD and Young Person views.
- SEN Support Plan or equivalent, which documents at least two cycles of Plan, Do, Review evidence. Please be aware that referrals will not be accepted without at least two cycles of Plan, Do, Review evidence
- Information about the agencies which are involved
- Any reports by involved practitioners – past or current
- Any completed Sensory Questionnaires or any other information that would support the referral
Please send the completed referral pack to: rdash.doncaster-neuropathway@nhs.net
On receipt of the fully completed referral pack, the referral will be reviewed by the team to assess whether further neurodevelopmental assessment is appropriate.
Consultation Slots
Resources
Neurodevelopment – Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH)
- Download (3.95MB - PDF)
- DP8724 Neurodevelopmental appointment information leaflet 03.25
- Download (668KB - PDF)
Contacts
0-5 Autism Assessment Pathway:
- 01302 642304
- doncasterasdpathway@nhs.net
Neurodevelopmental pathway:
- 01302 796191
- rdash.doncaster-neuropathway@nhs.net
If the child's referral was made on or before their 5th birthday, please contact the 0-5 ASD Coordinator instead.
SENDIAS service:
Doncaster SENDIAS Service provides independent information, guidance and support for young people aged up to 25 and/or parents/carers of children with any level of additional needs or disabilities.
They can offer impartial advice, information and support.
- Tel: 01302 736920
- Email: sendias@doncaster.gov.uk
Doncaster Parents Voice (DPV)
Doncaster Parents Voice (DPVoice) is run by parents of children with a variety of additional needs. They exist to support families with disabled children whenever they need them. DPVoice offer support, information, advocacy, advice and peer support for families.
- Tel: 01302 637566
- Email: Dpvoice@doncastercarers.org.uk
Doncaster Autism Service (DAS)
Doncaster Autism Service supports people with autism of all ages and their families. The service can support people who are going through the diagnosis process for autism, or who have been newly diagnosed with autism. They run regular information sessions for families, and also offer social activities which children and young people can take part in.
- Tel: 07536455292
- Email: das@doncastercarers.org.uk
Links
Introduction Image
Display your introduction over featured image?: No