Our main aim at this time is to support you through this difficult time. Therefore, we want to reassure you that our main objective is to continue to provide a neurodevelopmental assessment service for children and young people in North Lincolnshire within government guidelines.
At this time the Coronavirus is having an ever growing impact on our staffing levels and the way we are offering our service. Currently we will be starting the assessments by offering families the choice of the initial and developmental appointments over the telephone. If you do not choose this option you have the choice of remaining where you are on our waiting list, until we resume face to face appointments again. Following the telephone assessments, the overall neurodevelopmental assessment will be paused and additional components of the assessment such as observations and meeting the child will be resumed in line with government guidance.
North Lincolnshire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) provide a specialist assessment for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The assessment will look at all your child’s strengths and weaknesses to provide a full developmental profile. We may also assess their cognition and learning ability and their functional skills. As part of this assessment we aim to gather as much information to help with our assessment; this will include liaising with school and any other professionals involved.
What is an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autism Spectrum Disorder describes a set of specific strengths and difficulties that may affect how your child learns, communicates and builds relationships with others. It is a life-long condition and it affects how your child makes sense of the world around them. Whilst two children may have similar difficulties their ASD may also affect them in very different ways. Please find below a link to the National Autistic Society for more information
The National Autistic Society website has more information on what Autism is and provides useful information and tips for various factors, such as communication, behaviour, Education, transition and adult life. The website provides information on their services, for example their specialist schools, support in mainstream schools, community support, home and work life support. There is also information on conferences and training events for professionals.
What is an Attention Hyperactivity Deficit Disorder (ADHD)?
If your child has ADHD they may have lots of energy and find it difficult to concentrate. They may get distracted very easily and find it hard to control their speech and actions. ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and into adulthood. Symptoms often become noticeable between the ages of 3-7 years.
A related condition ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) has similar difficulties however it doesn’t involve constant movement and fidgeting and the main problem is a difficulty concentrating.
The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity website has more information on what ADHD is and provides useful resources and tips to help parents and carers, and young people understand and cope with an ADHD diagnosis. The website also provides links to training courses and other events for families, teachers and other professionals.
What we do?
Our assessment includes the following:
1. Initial meeting
An initial meeting will be held with your child and family to discuss concerns and to gather information on family background, medical information and details of who we can contact to get more information. We will also discuss any risky or challenging behaviours your child might be displaying. At this point we might discuss if there are any other agencies or pathways within CAMHS that may be able to support you and your child.
At the end of this meeting we will agree a care plan with you around what future assessments will be required.
2. 2nd Meeting with Parents and Caregivers
This is a meeting with parents/caregivers to complete a detailed developmental history. This involves asking questions about our children early years, toddlerhood and when they were at primary school. We will also ask you questions about their current behaviours.
If you have any past reports or your child’s ‘baby record book’ it may be helpful to bring copies along to the appointment.
3. Schools and Professionals
We will liaise with your child’s school and any other professionals involved in their care.
We will observe your child in an education setting, please be aware this may not occur with every child.
4. Assessments and Questionnaires
We will complete an Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. This is a play based observation assessment completed with the child.
Finally we may complete standardised questionnaires and psychometric assessments with your child. These tests may include a cognitive assessment and tests to explore various facets of attention.
5. Multi-disciplinary Team Discussion
Once the assessment process is complete all the information is carefully considered by the North Lincolnshire Neurodiversity Team. This team includes Clinical Psychologists, CAMHS Practitioners, Educational Psychologists and Colleagues from the Autism Spectrum Education Team and the Behaviour Support Service. The team will develop an understanding of your child’s strengths and difficulties, which may or may not include a neurodevelopmental diagnosis.
6. How we Feedback?
Your family will be invited to a feedback appointment to discuss the outcome of the assessment and the next steps. In some cases, there may be a role for continues support with CAMHS, for example where mental health concerns have been identified or medication needs to be prescribed. In these cases, the child will be referred to the most appropriate care pathway.
A report of the full assessment will be provided so that families and professionals have a copy of the information on which decisions have been based.
Watch – Chat and Chill Autism Film – Whistle Video
Find out about resources, services, support, activities and events for North Lincolnshire children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
North Lincolnshire Local Special Educational Needs and Disabilities offer
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Post Diagnosis Pathway
What happens after have I been diagnosed?
Once the Neurodevelopmental assessment process is completed a feedback appointment with your child / parent and or carer will be offered where we will discuss the outcome of your child’s/ young person neurodevelopmental assessment, including Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder diagnosis and create a holistic plan that addresses psychological, behavioural and educational needs.
We will advise you by offering and signposting you to education and information on the causes and impact of Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder along with additional resources and strategies. We will discuss referrals to appropriate organisations and services in North Lincolnshire and discuss in details the recommendations we will make in the finalised report.
If a diagnosis of ADHD has been given we will discuss with you the option of a referral to the Consultant Paediatrician at Scunthorpe General Hospital if you wish for your child/ young person to be considered for a trial of medication.
What happens once I turn 18?
When you/your child turns 17, the ADHD nurse at Scunthorpe General Hospital will begin to discuss the process of ‘transition’ to the adult service. This involves an appointment with the ADHD nurse to discuss a collaborative and person-centred plan of care with you and your parent/carer. This appointment will include what to expect from the adult service, where you can find it and who your new worker will be.
The last appointment will be a joint appointment with your CAMHS Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder nurse and the Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Nurse. This appointment will be led by the Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Nurse but your CAMHS Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder nurse will be there to support you.
Links to further information
The Family Lives website has advice & information for parents at every stage of a child’s life – Early Years Development, Primary and Secondary Education, Teenagers and Bullying. Specifically, they have a section on SEND which provides information and advice about Special Educational Needs, along with sleep advice and fun things to do. They also have confidential helplines, forums, parenting advice videos and online parenting courses.
This website explains the symptoms and causes of ADHD, how ADHD affects the brain, co-existing conditions and positive traits. It has a section around living with ADHD and an overview of this at each stage in life (childhood, adolescence and adulthood).
Free educational resource on children and young people’s mental health for adults, but can also be really useful for teenagers. It covers lot of topics.
Help for children and young people – gives specific advice for different types of worries.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
