Local Offer - Autism and ADHD Assessment Pathways

In Doncaster, there are two assessment pathways for children and young people who show signs of autism. The pathway a child will be referred to depends on their age.

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 within the Doncaster boundary;
• ‘Looked after’ by City of Doncaster Council or placed in Doncaster, where practically possible and more appropriate for the child.

The Neurodevelopment Service provide autism assessments for children and young people aged 5-18 years who are referred to the Neurodevelopmental Pathway.

Please note: A child who has been referred to the 0-5 ASD Pathway before their 5th birthday but turns 5 years old before assessment takes place will stay on the 0-5 ASD Pathway.

The Neurodevelopment Service provide ADHD assessments for children aged 7-18 years. ADHD assessments are not provided for children under age 7.

Where appropriate, children aged 7-18 years who have identified autism and ADHD needs will receive a joint assessment delivered by the Neurodevelopmental Service.

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

• Early years providers
• Educational professionals (specifically Teachers and SENDCOs)
• Health professionals (including Health Visitors, School Nurses, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists)
• Other medical consultants (e.g. Consultant Paediatricians).

Referrals are also accepted via out of area transfers (i.e. when a child who has been placed on the assessment pathway in their previous area moved into Doncaster).

Referrals are not accepted from GPs or directly from parents/carers.

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.

Weekly consultation slots 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. Schools and education settings should visit the SEND Toolkit for more information. 

Once a child has been referred into the 0-5 Autism pathway, the clinical Multi-disciplinary Team (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 your child to be supported whilst they wait for an appointment. When provided with enough evidence, we can streamline the referral process to ensure your child/young person is placed on the correct pathway in a timely manner.

Once your 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 diagnosis assessment will take place over two appointments:

• The first appointment is to obtain a picture of your child's history and development. You will be given the option of a face-to-face, telephone, or video call appointment. Your child does not need to be present during this appointment.
• The second appointment will be an assessment of your child. This will be held face-to-face at Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI).

After these two appointments have taken place, you will be invited to a feedback appointment. For this appointment, you will also be given the option to attend face-to-face, via telephone, or via video call. The Autism assessment team will then write to you, your child's school/education setting and their GP to share the outcome of the assessment.

Please note: if your child is 7+ years when they have their assessment, and the clinician believes your child also has traits of ADHD, they may further refer your child to the Neurodevelopmental Service for an ADHD assessment.

The following leaflets explain the neurodevelopmental assessment process.

Neurodevelopmental Assessment Family Leaflet

Download (3.95MB - PDF)

Neurodevelopmental Assessment - Parent Leaflet

Download (668KB - PDF)

You can also find more information here: Neurodevelopment – Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH)

Contact the 0-5 ASD Coordinator if you wish to speak to someone about your child's autism referral, e.g. to find out what position your child is in on the waiting list

• Tel: 01302 642304

Contact the Neurodevelopmental Pathway if you wish to speak to someone about your child's autism referral, e.g. to find out what position your child is in on the waiting list

• Tel: 01302 796191

If your child's referral was made on or before their 5th birthday, please contact the 0-5 ASD Coordinator instead. 

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 to you so that you can take an active part in all the decisions that may affect you (as a young person) or your child’s education and disability needs.

• Tel: 01302 736920
• Email: sendias@doncaster.gov.uk 

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. Parents often make contact when they are at their most vulnerable and have no one to turn to. DPVoice offer support, information, advocacy, advice and peer support for families with similar issues.

• Tel: 01302 637566
• Email: Dpvoice@doncastercarers.org.uk 

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 enjoy. 

• Tel: 07536455292
• Email: das@doncastercarers.org.uk