Services

Children’s Social Communication and Autism Assessment Service (SCAAS) and CAMHS Neurodiversity Team

We are a team of clinical psychologists, paediatricians, psychiatrists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. We offer assessment of social communication to understand if a child is on the Autism Spectrum and, for children in secondary school, assessment of attention to understand if a child has ADHD.

Introduction

We are a team of clinical psychologists, paediatricians, psychiatrists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. We offer assessment of social communication to understand if a child is on the Autism Spectrum and, for children in secondary school, assessment of attention to understand if a child has ADHD. As part of this assessment we may identify other differences in a child’s presentation (such as Developmental Language Disorder, learning needs, Autism or ADHD). Assessments are tailored for each child. Some limited post diagnostic support is offered to families, typically in the form of a group.

We accept referrals for children aged from birth to 18 years of age and are registered with a Gloucestershire GP. Referrals are accepted from any health, education or social care professional who knows the child well, however we cannot accept referrals from parents or self-referrals.

Signs of autism

In children they can include:

  • not responding to their name
  • avoiding eye contact
  • not smiling when you smile at them
    getting very upset if they do not like a certain taste, smell or sound
  • repetitive movements, such as flapping their hands, flicking their fingers or
  • rocking their body
  • not talking as much as other children
  • repeating the same phrases.

Signs in older children can include:

  • not seeming to understand what others are thinking or feeling
  • finding it hard to say how they feel
  • liking a strict daily routine and getting very upset if it changes
  • having a very keen interest in certain subjects or activities
  • getting very upset if you ask them to do something
  • finding it hard to make friends or preferring to be on their own
  • taking things very literally – for example, they may not understand phrases or expressions such as ‘break a leg’.

Signs of ADHD in children can include:

Inattentiveness:

  • having a short attention span and being easily distracted
  • making careless mistakes – for example, in schoolwork
  • appearing forgetful or losing things
  • being unable to stick to tasks that are tedious or time-consuming
  • appearing to be unable to listen to or carry out instructions
  • constantly changing activity or task
  • having difficulty organising tasks.

Hyperactivity and impulsiveness:

  • being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings
  • constantly fidgeting
  • being unable to concentrate on tasks
  • excessive physical movement
  • excessive talking
  • being unable to wait their turn
  • acting without thinking
  • interrupting conversations
  • little or no sense of danger.

Making a referral

Guidance for professionals

Making a referral

Referrals can be made to SCAAS or the CAMHS Neurodiversity Team by any concerned health, education or social care professional who knows the child well – this may include early years professionals, health visitors, SENCOs and GPs.

The section on the form relating to observations of the child is an important part of the referral process, so please complete as fully as possible. Additional information will be required from parents.

There is no requirement for specialist education professional assessment (educational psychologist/ advisory teacher) prior to referral. If an assessment has already been undertaken, the report should be shared with our team.

Please note

  • SCAAS and CAMHS Neurodiversity Team are not risk management services, so are not able to prioritise children based on escalating need.
  • Please also be aware, due to administrative pressures we are currently unable to respond to queries about the position of specific children on our waiting list.

If you are worried about your child but unable to complete our online referral form, please contact us.

Referral guidance

Before making a referral please ensure you consider the following:

  • Discuss your thoughts and concerns with the child’s parents or carers and, if appropriate, with the child
  • If they do not agree with a referral being made, continue to monitor and support the child through the Graduated Pathway as required
  • If they support a referral to our service, discuss the child with the other professionals who are involved and place the child on the Graduated Pathway to ensure that they have appropriate support in place. If the child is 5 or younger, and has language needs, please consider a referral to Speech and Language Therapy with details of your concerns around the child’s language
  • If all professionals and parents or carers agree a referral to SCAAS or the CAMHS Neurodiversity Team is required, complete the online professional referral form and support the parents and carers to compile the Family Information Form.  This form will need to be added to the professional referral as an attachment.
    When completed, email the referral form to: SCAASNeuroReferrals@ghc.nhs.uk and ensure you also include the following:

     

    • MyPlan/MyPlan+, My Assessment or EHCP (or equivalent). We would expect all children to be on the Graduated Pathway prior to referral. This should have been discussed during a professionals’ meeting held before the referral. If a child is not accessing education, please contact us to discuss
    • School Report Form or Nursery information form and any reports if in a setting.
    • Therapy reports (if involved)
    • Reports from Educational Psychology/Advisory Teaching Service if available

What happens after your referral

We will aim to make contact within two months of your referral. Assessment will follow research into the child’s presentation across contexts and will depend on the demand for assessments and this may take time.

Once discussed and agreed at our multi-disciplinary team meeting, we will write to the family and referrer to explain what will happen next and, where possible, the anticipated timeframes. The Graduated Pathway will continue to offer monitoring and support whilst the child is awaiting further assessment through our service.

If you are worried about your child, but unable to follow the process above for some reason, you are welcome to contact the team to discuss your child further.

The Graduated Pathway

The Graduated Pathway is Gloucestershire’s response to ensuring Early Help is available to all children, young people and their families with additional needs, whether these are educational, social or emotional needs or a disability.

Support through the graduated pathway, including requesting an EHCP, is not reliant on a diagnostic assessment. Find out more here>

Further information and support

  • SENDIASS provides information, advice and support on matters relating to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities: sendiassglos.org.uk
  • Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum is a Parent Carer led organisation which brings together families of disabled children.  The Forum offers opportunities for families to meet (online and in-person) for social and peer to peer support whilst gathering their feedback on services.  The Forum can also signpost you to local support groups and activities for your child. Visit: glosparentcarerforum.org.uk
  • Family Information Service (FIS) provides a wide range of advice on things like family support, education, childcare and activities either on the directory glosfamiliesdirectory.org.uk or you can contact them on: 01452 427 362 or email: familyinfo@gloucestershire.gov.uk
  • Children and Families Front Door, if support is needed from Gloucestershire County Council services call: 01452 42 65 65 or email: childrenshelpdesk@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Contact details

Telephone:

0300 421 4690

Address:

SCAAS, Rikenel, Gloucester, GL1 1LY

Locations

Accessibility