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Autism assessments
HCT are currently offering a hybrid service of virtual and face-to-face appointments depending on the needs of your child. The majority of our ASD assessments are face-to-face with some being undertaken as virtual video based assessments with the Multidisciplinary team. This means you and your child or young person can be seen at home via video link. A clinician will contact you in advance of an appointment to discuss the process and how the assessment will be carried out on the day. This way of working is in line with national and international expert guidance, and ensures our families and staff are kept safe. In addition, this model of working is helping the team ensure that children, young people and their families can receive support based on their individual needs. Virtual assessments have already helped us to reduce the time it is currently taking to review and assess each individual.
When your child or young person is nearing the top of the waiting list, we would be grateful if you and/or the school setting where appropriate could complete and return all the forms which we will send. The forms will typically be sent by email.
If your child’s needs have changed and you no longer require an assessment appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can offer the appointment to another family. You can contact the ASD Administration team by emailing hct.autism@nhs.net. If your child is under the care of the East and North Hertfordshire Paediatricians, based at Lister Hospital, QEII Hospital, Danestrete Health Centre and Hertford County Hospital, please email autism.enh-tr@nhs.net.
Whilst you are waiting for an assessment appointment, we suggest you review the information available from the Hertfordshire County Council Local Offer. The Local Offer includes a range of materials, bookable courses and workshops which can provide invaluable guidance on supporting your child or young person, both before and after their assessment. The Local Offer website is www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/localoffer.
There are an increased number of workshops for parents, carers and families awaiting ASD assessment. You can find the dates and details for the workshops by accessing the Local Offer website link above.
As part of the Local Offer, we are please to announce the creation of the Neurodiversity Support Hub.
The Neurodiversity Support Hub is an advice service offering support, signposting and guidance about a whole range of things relating to ADHD and Autism. The phones are answered by a team of parents and carers of neurodivergent children and young people and your child doesn't need a diagnosis for you to use this service.
You can call them on 01727 833963 (Open Monday to Friday 9am - 1pm, closed bank holidays) or email: supporthub@add-vance.org
Making a referral for ASD assessment
Please see "Making a Referral" section below. Updated referral forms and guidance are now live.
Click here for more information about ASD.
- Address: Lister Hospital, Coreys Mill Lane, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 4AB, Stevenage, SG1 4AB
Contact the service
You can contact the ASD administration team by emailing hct.autism@nhs.net.
- Tel: 01923 470600 (Peace Children's Centre, Watford)
- Tel: 01727 838995 (St Albans Health and Wellbeing Centre)
- Tel: 01442 275683 (The Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead)
If you have a query regarding your child or young person’s autism assessment and they are under the care of the West Hertfordshire paediatricians, please email hct.autism@nhs.net.
If your child is under the care of the East and North Hertfordshire paediatricians, based at Lister Hospital, QEII Hospital, Danestrete Health Centre and Hertford County Hospital, please email autism.enh-tr@nhs.net.
Please also look under useful Information on the Community paediatrics page for further advice and support.
Professionals’ referrals to Community paediatrics are through DXS and SystmOne as usual.
Advice and guidance is available through the Electronic Referral System (ERS).
For general information about the children’s community paediatrics team please click here.
How the service is provided
Autism assessments are delivered by a multi-disciplinary team comprised of Community Paediatricians, Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists and other Specialist Clinicians.
There are three assessment sites in West Hertfordshire:
- Peace Children’s Centre
- Marlowes Health and Wellbeing Centre
- St Albans Health and Wellbeing Centre
Your child will be seen at one of the above locations if you live in West Hertfordshire/Herts Valleys. This area includes Dacorum, Watford, Three Rivers, St Albans and Hertsmere.
Most children in West Hertfordshire will see a doctor and an autism clinician on the day of their appointment. To help prepare families for the assessment we have developed the following videos explaining what to expect at each location.
Autism Assessment Peace Guide Video
Autism Assessment Marlowes Guide Video
Autism Assessment St Albans Guide Video
There are two assessment sites in East and North Hertfordshire:
- QEII Hospital, Welwyn Garden City
- Danestrete Health Centre
East and North Hertfordshire includes: East Herts, North Herts, Stevenage, Broxbourne, and Welwyn and Hatfield.
Most children in East and North Hertfordshire will attend an assessment session with a clinician followed by a feedback session with a doctor at a later date. To help prepare families for the assessment we have developed the following videos explaining what to expect on the day at each location.
Autism Assessment Danestrete Guide ADOS 2 Video
Autism Assessment New QEII Guide ADOS 2 Video
Some young people in East and North Hertfordshire may be booked to see a doctor and an autism clinician on the same day. The videos below explain what to expect at a joint assessment.
Autism Assessment Danestrete Guide Video
Autism Assessment New QEII Guide Video
Sometimes, we may ask to observe your child in their nursery or school. This could happen at any point in the process and we will always contact you first.
Making a referral
Referrals can be made by a GP, health visitor, school nurse for children Attending schools in West Hertfordshire only, social worker in certain circumstances, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, Child and Adolescent Mental Health services (CAMHS) and consultants from other specialities.
For a referral from the GP to be accepted the service requires 3 sources of information:
- The autism spectrum disorder (ASD) specific referral form to be completed by the GP
- The parent questionnaire
- The school/nursery questionnaire
It is important that we have information from all three sources in order to determine the most appropriate from of assessment for your child.
For referrals from other professionals you may be asked to complete the parental questionnaire and your child’s school or nursery may also be contacted.
Parent Carer Guidance for Making Autism and ADHD Referrals for CYP in Hertfordshire
School Education Setting Guidance for Making Autism and ADHD Referrals for CYP in Hertfordshire
CYP Autism ADHD Parent Carer Questionnaire Herts:
CYP Autism ADHD School Educational Setting Questionnaire Herts
ENHT CYP Autism ADHD Complete Referral Form
East and North Herts includes: East Herts, North Herts, Stevenage, Broxbourne, Welwyn and Hatfield
Herts Valleys includes: Dacorum, Watford, Three Rivers, St Albans, Hertsmere
Our referral referral forms and information can be found on the link above and once complete should be emailed to the following:
Herts Valleys: HCT.CYPSpecialistServices@nhs.net
East and North Herts: refoutpatients.enh-tr@nhs.net
Or by post to:
Referral Admin Hub
Peace Children’s Centre
Peace Prospect
Watford
WD17 3EW
Following receipt of the referral you may be asked to fill out various questionnaires in relation to your concerns about your child. You may be asked to provide a report from your child’s school or pre-school. This will be shared with you.
Most referrals are discussed within a multi-disciplinary professionals team meeting to determine the most appropriate services to meet your child’s needs.
Once we have the relevant information an appointment will be sent.
Patient experience
If you would like to share your story, please contact the Patient Experience team on 01707 388036 or email hct.patientexperienceteam@nhs.net
We would also love to hear about your experience on our service, please complete a survey by clicking here.
