Children and young people’s neurodevelopmental assessment service update

In order to improve the way that children and young people can be referred for a Neurodevelopmental Assessment (such as for ADHD and ASC), Kirklees Health and Care Partnership trialled a new process for referrals.

This trial was a success and this process is now the permanent referral process for all Neurodevelopmental referrals.

What has changed?

Previously anyone who knew the child or young person could refer, including parents or carers.  Referrals where first looked at by a different team to who did the actual assessments.  This meant that there was delays in the process before the assessment began and families where having to say the same things more than once.

Now referrals can only be made by professionals who know the child, such as education staff, GP's or other health professionals.  The referral is completed over the phone by a member of the Neurodevelopmental Assessment team, this helps to ensure that the right children and young people are being identified for an assessment.  It also helps when it is identified that a Neurodevelopmental Assessment is not appropriate as it helps to signpost to the correct support sooner.

Those using the service have found it much better than the old system:

“This new system is so much better than filling out the old forms. Being able to have a good conversation is so much more useful when making these referrals. The 45 mins spent talking on the phone was a good use of time, compared to spending hours completing paperwork. I’m really liking this new system!”

“Having done two in the last week this is a much better process than the old way when we filled in forms. It takes a lot less time for school to complete and the questions asked are probing and really make the teachers think, way more in-depth than the information given before.” 

You can find more information about the new process on the Local Offer:

Autism, ADHD and ADD support and assessment page (opens link in same window)