Children's Autism Assessment Pathway

How are referrals made?

First referral

Re-referral

Referral process

What are we doing about these waits?

As indicated, you may initially be seen by a Community Paediatrician.

Then, if the Community Paediatrician refers you to the Autism Assessment team for further assessment, you may be seen by: Clinical Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Co-ordinators (Assistant Psychologists or Assistant Speech and Language Therapists) and administrative staff. 

As we are a Teaching Trust, there may sometimes be a student Speech and Language Therapist or Trainee Clinical Psychologists involved in, or observing, part of the assessment.

The assessment process: what to expect

1. Social Communication Clinic Appointment

If your referral is accepted, you and your child will meet with a Community Paediatrician at the Social Communication Clinic. During this appointment, the Paediatrician will ask about your child’s development, strengths, and any challenges they may face. This helps the Paediatrician decide if further assessment for Autism by a specialist team is needed.

They may also offer suggestions for helpful services or support for you and your child while waiting for the next stage of the assessment.

2. Autism Assessment Team

If your child is referred for a specialist autism assessment (either from the 12+ pathway or by the Paediatrician), they will be placed on a waiting list. To ensure the assessment is right for your child, we’ll match them with the most suitable professionals. The assessment will involve several steps, which may include:

• A detailed parent/caregiver interview: This helps us understand more about your child’s development, strengths, and challenges.
• The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2): This is a structured assessment that looks at your child’s social interactions, communication, play, and behaviours that may be repetitive or restricted.
• Observation or consultation with your child’s school: We may observe your child at school or speak with school staff to gather more information about their behaviour and experiences.

With your permission, we may also gather information from other services or professionals who are involved in your child’s care to ensure the assessment is as complete and accurate as possible.

The specific steps of the assessment will depend on your child’s unique needs. For example, if your child has worked with other services (like Speech and Language Therapy), we may use that information to reduce the number of appointments needed.

3. Outcome of the assessment

After the assessment, the professionals involved will conclude whether your child meets the criteria for an Autism diagnosis, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).

There are three possible outcomes:

• Your child meets the criteria for an autism diagnosis
• Your child does not meet the criteria for an autism diagnosis
• The assessment is inconclusive, and further assessment or a follow-up in the future may be needed.

The outcome will be shared with you (and with your child, if appropriate) in a feedback session. Afterward, you will receive a detailed report outlining the assessment results and the next steps.

The report you receive detailing the assessment and outcome will include a plan containing recommendations and resources you may wish to access. The professionals involved in the assessment will also consider whether a referral to another service would be beneficial.
 
Once you have received the report, you can also opt-in to a post-assessment follow-up appointment irrespective of diagnosis, to discuss the assessment and outcomes and formulate an action plan with ongoing referrals and signposting as necessary. This is facilitated by the coordinators (Assistant Psychologists/SLTs).
 

While a specialist neurodevelopmental assessment can be helpful in developing understanding of a child's strengths and needs, as well as informing recommendations and support, Wakefield is a needs-led locality. This means children and young people should be able to access support based on their identified needs, regardless of whether they have had a clinical assessment or received a diagnosis.

There are a range of local services, organisations and resources that may be helpful for your child, young person or family. These are available whether you are waiting for an assessment, have chosen not to pursue an assessment, or have already received a diagnosis.

Targeted support

The services below offer more specialised support for children and young people with neurodevelopmental needs, and for their parents and carers.

Support Call Clinic

While you are on the waiting list, we offer a Support Call Clinic to provide you with guidance and connect you to helpful resources and services. We are here to listen to your concerns and support you in finding the right information and services for your family.

To schedule a call, please email midyorks.asccoordinators@nhs.net with your child’s name, date of birth, and a brief overview of your concerns. This will help us prepare for the call and ensure we can assist you effectively. Once we receive your email, we’ll reach out to you with our availability.

 

 

2. Autism Assessment Team

What will happen after my assessment?

What is it like to be autistic?

1. What is Autism?
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition which impacts how people communicate and interact.
  
2. How would I recognise Autism in my child?
Autism is a part of who a person is, and every autistic child is unique. There are many different ways that autism can show itself in a child. Some of the things you might notice in your child could include:

• Communication differences: Your child might find it tricky to start or respond during conversations. They may prefer talking about topics they’re really interested in, and sometimes the conversation might feel one-sided.
• Non-verbal skills: Your child might have differences in their use of eye contact though this can vary, and not everyone feels comfortable making eye contact. They may also show differences in how they use gesture or facial expressions.
• Understanding feelings: They may find it hard to recognise and understand the feelings of others, which can make it difficult to form or keep friendships. This doesn’t mean they don’t care; they just might see and feel things in a different way.
• Repetitive movements or speech: Your child might repeat certain movements, like hand-flapping, spinning, or rocking, or they may use the same phrases or sounds over and over. These can be ways to feel calm or focus.
• Routine and change: They may feel uncomfortable with changes to their routine, whether it's big changes, like the school holidays, or smaller ones, like taking a different route to school.
• Focused interests: Your child might have intense interests in certain topics or activities, and they might enjoy spending lots of time learning or talking about those things.
• Sensory sensitivities: They may be more sensitive to certain sounds, smells, lights, touch, or tastes. This might mean they react strongly to things that others might not notice.

Every autistic person has their own strengths and differences, and the things listed above are just some of the ways autism can show up. It’s important to remember that no two autistic people are the same; what’s true for one child might not be true for another.
 
It’s also possible that other things, like ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), anxiety, or past experiences of trauma, could affect a child’s behaviour in similar ways. If your child is being assessed, the team will explore all of these areas to understand your child better.
 
3. When and who can make the referral?
The Children’s Autism Assessment Pathway is available to children and young people aged up to 18 years old who are registered with a Wakefield GP practice.

The Social Communication referral form is on the main page of the Children’s Autism Assessment Pathway. Referrals should be made with information from two settings, such as parent/carer information and school information. Where it is not possible to gather information from school, such as if the child is home-schooled or has left education, please ask that another professional who knows the child well provides information. 

4.   Who needs to consent to assessment?
Consent for referral must be provided by those with parental responsibility for children under 16. We encourage parents/carers of children of secondary school age to discuss the referral with their child/young person as their consent for assessment will be discussed with them later. Young people aged 16 and above are required to give their own consent to proceed with assessment.

5. Do we expedite Autism referrals?
We do not expedite or “fast track” any Autism referrals.

6. Is Assessment Compulsory?
No, assessment is not compulsory. If you feel that an assessment isn’t right for your child or if you believe that the outcome wouldn’t make a difference to your child’s development, you do not have to proceed with it. Every child is different, and some children may thrive without needing a formal diagnosis.
 
It’s important to keep in mind that Autism is a lifelong identity. While some families choose to pursue an assessment, it’s also worth thinking about how having an autism diagnosis might support your child in the long term, especially as they grow and transition into adulthood.

7.  Is there a treatment for Autism?
There is a lot of misinformation about treatments and "cures" for autism shared on social media. It's important to know that there is no single treatment or cure for autism because it is a natural and valuable part of human diversity.
 
Some methods may claim to help but have not been properly tested or approved by medical professionals. Using unproven treatments could be harmful to your child’s well-being. Always consult trusted healthcare professionals when considering any approach to supporting your child’s development.
 
For more information on how to identify or report misleading/fake treatment, please read the national NHS website.
 
8. Does Autism “go away”?
Autism is a lifelong condition. If you are autistic, you are autistic for your whole life. Autism is not a medical condition with treatments. It cannot “go away” or be “treated”, however there may be some strategies and interventions that can support in areas that someone finds challenging. 

9. Are there “levels” of Autism?
We do not use "levels" when diagnosing autism. Instead, we provide one diagnosis called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as per the DSM-5, which includes all autistic individuals, recognising that everyone experiences autism in their own unique way.
 
Some other NHS Trusts or assessment providers may use levels when diagnosing autism, however we focus on understanding each child’s individual needs. These needs can change over time, and the way autism affects a child’s daily life can vary at different stages.