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Worried your child may be autistic or have ADHD?
You do not usually need a GP appointment just to start a referral if your child attends school.
We understand that seeking an assessment can feel complicated. The correct first step depends on whether your child attends school and whether you are choosing the local NHS pathway or an NHS Right to Choose provider.
Important if you are considering ADHD medication
Hollybrook Medical Centre will not accept new shared care arrangements for ADHD medicines initiated or recommended by Right to Choose providers. This means the chosen provider must be able to provide medication initiation, dose adjustment, ongoing prescribing, physical health monitoring and specialist reviews if medication is recommended. Please check the provider’s arrangements before choosing it.
Making or supporting a referral does not mean that the practice has agreed to prescribe or monitor medication later.
How to request an assessment and where to start
If your child attends school
Local NHS assessment
Contact the school SENCO or SENDCO.
Ask the school to complete the local neurodevelopmental SPOA referral form and school questionnaire with you.
The school can send the completed referral directly to the NHS Autism/ ADHD assessment service.
A GP appointment is not needed to complete the referral.
NHS Right to Choose
More information regarding Right to Choose and local options available
Select the Right to Choose provider you would like to use, download their referral forms and fill in any section that is for you to complete.
Make sure you tell us the Right to Choose provider name.
We can arrange for the school sections to be completed and for the pack to be reviewed by a clinician and sent.
A GP appointment is not needed solely for the paperwork, although a clinician may need to confirm that referral is appropriate.
If your child is home educated
Please contact the practice for a routine GP appointment. Because school information is unavailable, the GP will discuss the concerns, how they affect your child, any evidence from other settings or professionals, and the most appropriate referral route.
If your child is not yet at school
Please contact the practice. A clinical review is usually needed. Depending on your child’s age and needs, the most appropriate route may involve the health visitor, early years team, community paediatrics or the neurodevelopmental service.
What to tell us
- Your child’s full name and date of birth.
- Whether they attend school, nursery or are home educated.
- Whether you want the local NHS route or Right to Choose.
- For Right to Choose, the provider’s name and its forms.
- Any completed school forms or relevant reports you already hold.
Support does not need to wait for a diagnosis
Schools can consider support according to your child’s needs while assessment is being considered or while your child is waiting. Derby City also has neurodevelopmental support information and a community NeuroHub that families can access without a formal referral.
Please tell us promptly if there is an urgent concern
Ask for clinical help rather than relying only on referral paperwork if your child has:
- lost previously acquired skills;
- possible seizures or new neurological symptoms;
- severe distress, self-harm, suicidal thoughts or risk to others;
- a safeguarding concern;
- a sudden or serious deterioration in health or daily functioning.
In an immediate emergency, call 999 or attend the Emergency Department.
National Support
National Autistic Society
Founded in 1962, they are the UK’s leading charity for autistic people and their families. Their goal is to help transform lives, change attitudes and create a society that works for autistic people.
Autism Independent UK
Autism Independent UK helps to increase awareness of autism to the notice of all, together with well established and newly developed approaches in the diagnosis, assessment, education and treatment.
Dimensions
They support people with learning disabilities and autism to have a louder voice, choice and control in their lives.
ASD Helping Hands
ASD Helping Hands will support all service users affected by an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) regardless of age or what stage of life they are at. We aim to offer guidance, practical advice and support whether you are personally affected or you are an associated family member, carer, friend or professional. We will actively champion the rights of all people affected by an ASD and aim to make a positive difference to their lives while delivering a service that is accessible, reliable and trust