How services will communicate with you
Autism assessments
Your initial Autism Assessment with Community Paediatrics (South and West Hertfordshire)
You will be sent a letter letting you know whether your child or young person's referral has been accepted or rejected. The letter will have a contact phone number and email address in case you have a concern.
Those waiting for assessment receive a text every 2 months with links to support groups and methods for feedback.
Your follow-up Autism assessment (South and West Hertfordshire)
You will get a letter to tell you that your child has been placed on the waiting list for an autism assessment.
We will need to ask your child's school to complete a school questionnaire (if this is not already on record). We will contact you to ask for your consent for us to contact them.
We will call you when we are planning to book your child’s appointment. A clinician will ask you for an update on the current situation and explore with you if any reasonable adjustments are needed for your child to access their appointment. They will share information about the assessment and answer any questions you have.
You will then be called by an administrator to offer an autism appointment. You will also receive a confirmation of this by text message. You will get an email with pre assessment information, to outline what will happen during the assessment with the appointment details and location map. Any additional information needed to prepare your child is also sent as needed.
Your initial Autism Assessment with Community Paediatrics (East and North Hertfordshire)
This service is staffed by Consultant Community Paediatricians.
You will be sent a letter letting you know if your child or young person's referral has been accepted. The letter has a phone number and email address for contact in case you have any concerns.
You will receive a text message at 6 months asking if you wish for your child or young person to remain on the list.
The initial assessment takes place, and your child is then added to the ASD waiting list if appropriate. Some children or young people may be diagnosed at the first appointment, however for others further information may be required.
Your child may be added to the ADHD assessment pathway and a follow up appointment will be booked. Further information may be required prior to the follow up appointment.
Your follow up Autism Assessment (East and North Hertfordshire)
We will let you (or your GP or the person who referred your child or young person) know when your child has been placed on the waiting list for an autism assessment and a letter confirming this will follow.
If it is not already on record, you will be required to confirm your consent for the team to liaise with school. The school will be required to complete the school questionnaire.
You will be called by an administrator who will offer an autism appointment and this will then be confirmed by text message and/or letter.
You will be sent the pre-assessment information by email outlining what will happen during the assessment, along with the appointment details and location map. Any additional information needed to prepare the child is also sent as needed.
Following the assessment, the report will be sent out to you or your GP (or the person who referred your child) within 8 - 10 weeks. This letter will also contain details of support services available.
The service aims to follow up with a telephone call 6 - 8 weeks after a diagnosis, after which your child or young person will be discharged from the service.
ADHD Assessments
Your ADHD initial screening with Step2 (South and West Hertfordshire)
Within 4 weeks of us receiving your referral, we will send you a text to let you know whether the referral has been added to the ADHD screening waiting list, or else we will signpost you to other support.
We will also send you a letter with the outcome of the pre-screen process. The letter is also sent to the referrer and the HPFT single point of access (SPA), stating that further assessment is needed.
You will receive a confirmation by text which will include contact information.
If the pre-screen does not identify that your child needs an ADHD assessment, you will receive a letter with recommendations for further support.
You can also request an ADHD call back if you need additional information.
Your ADHD assessment (South and West Hertfordshire)
You will be sent a letter letting you know if your child or young person's referral has been accepted or rejected. The letter has a phone number and email address for contact in case you have any concerns.
You will then receive a letter approximately every 6 months with a list of resources that are available and a reminder of our contact details.
Your follow up ADHD Assessment (East and North Hertfordshire)
You (or your GP or the person who referred your child) will be informed when your child has been placed on the waiting list for an ADHD assessment and a letter confirming this will follow.
If it is not already on record, you will be asked to give your consent for the team to liaise with the school to receive a completed school questionnaire.
Your child will be booked onto a follow up appointment for ADHD. Your child may receive a diagnosis at this appointment, however, it may take further appointments.
If your child or young person is diagnosed, and medication is not required, your child will be discharged. If medication is required there will be ongoing follow up appointments with the Consultant, the ADHD Specialist Nurse and GP, as part of your Shared Care agreements.