Recommendation 5 update
Recommendation 5 - The local area partnership should ensure that appropriate support is in place from health services for children and young people who are awaiting health needs assessments, so that early intervention reduces the risk of any escalation of concern.
What we have done so far:
- The specialist community health provider has ensured their service web pages have information about routes to referrals, assessment and treatment pathways. Resources are also available to provide support and advice for families whilst waiting for assessment.
- A task and finish group was established and has completed an all-age Neurodiversity demand and capacity review.
- Waiting times for ASD assessment have reduced despite increasing demand.
- Work on pre and post diagnostic assessment support is progressing:
- The Lighthouse ASC Team are now hosting a series of post-diagnosis support group sessions across a wide range of community venues.
- Work continues with the development of The Essex Autism Project with children, young people, their families and professionals involved
- Regular sharing of additional service and support via Southend SEND Partnership e-newsletter
- Mid and South Essex Health SEND Champions forum was formed and beginning work on training needs analysis.
- Local support for mental health and wellbeing is communicated via the Local Offer
- Southend Essex and Thurrock (SET) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) website now has a number of resources available to support a range of difficulties as well as clear information on referral routes and what to expect next.
- CAMHS have established weekly multi-agency triage neurodevelopmental referrals and monthly joint CAMHS case discussions meetings to support children and young people with assessments and strategies to each individual health need.
The difference this makes:
- A number of services, such as the Lighthouse Service for neuro-divergent children, offer contact phone calls, signpost to advice on the Local Offer website and offer other meetings whilst families are waiting for assessment.
- Families receive a consistent offer and are effectively communicated with at key points.
- Correspondence is sent to families awaiting a diagnostic assessment, receive regular communication and are offered monitoring calls support and strategies.
- Families are also provided with details of further support via web pages and pre-support sessions.
What we need to develop:
- Support to families that are waiting for assessment is not consistent across all pathways yet.
- The Essex Autism project has identified some key areas in relation to pre and post diagnostic support for children, young people and their families.
- Further work to look at how children and young people could feel more supported whilst waiting.
Next steps:
- Rollout of the Neurodevelopment digital referral, advice and guidance portal.