Neurodevelopmental Assessment Pathway

This has changed in recent years, and we will only accept referrals from schools or education settings.  If the child/young person is electively home educated the Electively Home Educated team or Education Inclusion Services can refer.  If the child/young person is not currently accessing education (NEET – not in education, employment or training) please contact us for additional guidance. We believe the best approach for referral into the service is for schools/ education provisions and parents/ carers to work together to complete the referral pack. We no longer accept referrals from doctors. If a Paediatrician would like to refer a child, they would need to liaise with the school to make this 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.

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.

We have introduced weekly consultation slots. These are available to schools and education settings when they wish to discuss a potential referral. This may be where there is uncertainty about the appropriateness of a referral or where parents/carers have raised queries. Please phone the Neurodevelopmental Service to book a consultation slot if needed on 01302 796191.