CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) REFERRALS
This document outlines the options, responsibilities (of patients/parents/guardians and GPs) and referral process for children and young persons ASD referrals, including the Right to Choose (RTC) referral process. It aims to provide clear guidance for patients/parents/guardians, ensuring an efficient and safe referral process.
Your child does not need an appointment with a GP to be referred for an ASD referral.
NHS Local Pathway
You can be referred within the NHS, and this will provide you with a local, comprehensive face-to-face assessment. Unfortunately, the waiting time for an NHS referral is currently more than 2 years. If you feel that this is too long to wait, you have the ‘Right to Choose’(RTC) an assessment from a provider in the private sector, under the NHS (info on the RTC pathway is in the next section under Right to Choose Pathway).
Providers:
Listed below are the providers that NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB have directly commissioned and hold a contract to deliver ASD services to residents with a Lancashire and South Cumbria registered GP.
Due diligence has been undertaken against each of these providers and monitoring against quality standards is in place. Assurances can be provided that each provider alignes to local agreements, including shared care guidance.
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals FT (Community Paediatrics) Central and West Lancashire
Due to long waits, all existing referrals that have been sent to the above Community Paediatrics team but not yet been triaged, will be transferred to Blackpool Teaching Hospitals. All new referrals to the local provider are now being sent to Blackpool Teaching Hospitals team. See details below.
Families do not need to take any action. Those affected by these transfers for both pathways will receive a letter from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust advising of next steps.
For frequently asked questions and further information, including local support offers, please see the neurodevelopmental webpage - LSC Integrated Care Board :: CYP neurodevelopmental pathway
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Services commissioned: 5-16y
Service information: Children and Young Persons Learning Disability and Neuro team :: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Telephone number: 01253 951995
Email: bfwh.cypldteam@nhs.net
Notes: BTH suggest that any further families seeking referral should be advised to speak to their school SENCO about a referral to BTH, unless the GP has sufficient knowledge of the child to complete the referral form here. The service is working to provide local venues for assessments so you won't have to travel to Blackpool.
LSCFT (Learning disability and CAMHS) North Lancashire, Central and West Lancashire
Services commissioned: 4-17 years ASD
Service information: https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/services/service-finder-z/learning-disability
Telephone number: 01772 520 202
Email:
Online: See link above
NOTE: Long waiting times
Right to Choose Pathway
Right to Choose (RTC) allows patients to choose their preferred NHS-contracted provider for an ASD assessment. This process is designed to ensure referrals are handled quickly and consistently while maintaining patient safety and minimising administrative burdens. RTC providers are typically private companies with NHS contracts and are based all around the country.
GPs cannot select a provider on a patient’s behalf. You must research your options and choose a provider that meets your childs needs.
Exclusion Criteria for the RTC provision:
- If you're already receiving mental health care for the same condition.
- If you're under urgent (or crisis) care.
- If you're receiving highly secure psychiatric care.
- If your referral comes from your local health service commission (exceptions apply for cases from the Better Care Fund 'BCF' or Section 75).
- If you're a serving member of the armed forces.
- If you're already receiving in-patient care via the NHS, you may not qualify for the RTC provision.
Points to consider when choosing a RTC provider:
- Most RTC providers conduct assessments remotely or online only.
- Local commissioned providers within Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS may not accept diagnoses made by RTC and could require their own assessment process.
Providers:
The following providers are based in England and have been approved by the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) to deliver ADHD and/or ASD services under the Right to Choose policy. Please note the specific age ranges that each provider caters for.
Mantle Psychology
Services commissioned: CYP Autism all age children
Service information: Right to Choose – Mantle Psychology
Telephone Number: 01484 500 232
Email: office@mantlepsychology.com
The Aspen Clinic
Services commissioned: CYP Autism
Service information: About The Aspen Clinic | A Private ADHD & Autism Clinic
Telephone Number: 0161 560 5905
Email: NHSenquiries@theaspenclinic.co.uk
Online: Right to Choose – The Aspen Clinic
Evolve Psychiatry
Services commissioned: ASD CYP
Service information: Autism Assessments for adults and children (evolvepsychology.org)
Telephone Number: 01423 637818
Email: enquiries@evolveps.co.uk
Online: Contact Us – Evolve Psychology (Online enquiry form)
Help4Psychology
Services commissioned: ASD CYP (Under 18 years old)
Service information: Right to Choose – Help for Psychology
Telephone Number: 01603 482503
Online: Contact Us – Help for Psychology
* Please note that this provider is unable to offer treatment for ADHD (only assessments) and this should be considered in deciding whether this is an appropriate provider for the patient seeking to be referred.
Oakdale Centre
Services commissioned: CYP ASD (Yorkshire)
Service information: Neurodevelopmental Service (Autism/ADHD) – Oakdale Centre (oakdalegroup.org)
Telephone number: 01423 503080 (Harrogate), 01422 652652 (Halifax), 0113 8314433 (Leeds)
Email: reception@oakdalecentre.org (Harrogate), reception.halifax@oakdale.org (Halifax), reception.horsforth@oakdale.org (Leeds)
Provide Wellbeing Ltd
Services commissioned: Eligible for CYP ASD (Essex)
Service information: Autism Assessment | ASD Services in Essex | Provide Wellbeing
Telephone number: 0300 303 9966
Email: hello@providewellbeing.co.uk
Online: Contact Provide Wellbeing | Book an Appointment | Provide Wellbeing (online enquiry form)
RTN Mental Health Solutions
Services commissioned: CYP ASD assessment
Service information: Diagnostic Assessments | RTN Diagnostics
Telephone number: 0333 772 1164
Email: enquiries@rtnmedical.com
Online: Right to Choose | RTN Diagnostics
Held Health
Services commissioned: CYP ASD
Service information: CYP Autism & ADHD self-assessment forms (AQ-10 & SNAP IV). Share with your GP, for RTC referral. — Held Health
Telephone Number: 01392796491
Email: info@held.health
Online: Contact 1 — Held Health
TeleDoctor / Problem Shared
Services commissioned: CYP ASD
Service information: Right to Choose | Autism & ADHD assessments | ProblemShared
Telephone Number: 020 3835 2900
Email: help@problemshared.net
Online: Online autism assessments for children | ProblemShared
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REFERRAL PROCESS
If you would like your child referring for an ASD assessment, please follow the process below.
No GP appointment is needed.
Print out the form (age appropriate for your child) and ensure it is completed fully.
Once completed, please send them to the secretary email blmcsecretaries@nhs.net with the following information:
Email subject: Child ASD Referral request
Name
Date of Birth
Name of parent or guardian
Contact number (parent or guardian)
Email address (parent or guardian)
Chosen provider and whether your choice is via the RTC pathway or local provider pathway
** Specific providers may require additional details, they will request this from you directly once they receive the referral from us. This may require duplicate completion of forms **
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By opting for a RTC referral, you understand and accept the following:
-
Most RTC providers operate remotely and conduct online assessments.
- Your RTC provider may ask your GP to take over your ongoing care (this is called a Shared Care Agreement between the service provider and your GP practice). This is reviewed by your GP on a case-to-case basis. Your GP does not have to agree to this request. If a shared care agreement is accepted by your GP, you may require ongoing annual physical health monitoring.
- If a RTC provider ceases trading or loses its NHS contract, continued care may be suddenly discontinued. It is not the GP’s responsibility to automatically take over your care.
Note:
The information given above has been provided by the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (LSC ICB)
Useful Links: