The Owl Centre is commissioned to deliver Autism Assessments for children and young people aged 3 years and above, living in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. In order to ensure assessments are carried out responsibly, the National Institute of Care and Excellence (NICE) advises that clinicians should consider the possibility of autism if there are concerns about development or behaviour, but be aware that there may be other explanations for individual signs and symptoms. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg128/chapter/Recommendations
Children Under 5
For children under 5 years, referrers should be mindful of previous support services that children and young people may have interacted with. Evidence of need from at least two health, education or social care professionals (in addition to the referrer) should be included as part of the initial referral. Referrals for patients under 5 years old who have not had contact with other health or social care services, may not be accepted for onwards assessment.
Children Over 5
Any professional working within an education, health, or social care setting can make a referral for NHS funded assessments. After referral, The Owl Centre will request further information from the child’s family and school to ensure that the referral is appropriate. If appropriate, the child will be accepted onto the waiting list.
My child has been accepted onto the waiting list. What happens next?
We will contact families when children reach the top of the waiting list to start their assessment process. Unfortunately, the waiting lists within Hampshire and Isle of Wight are extremely long. Children will be seen based on their length of wait and on clinical need.
We will contact you at regular intervals when on the waiting list. If any information changes, please could you update us using the telephone number and email link below? This may include changes such as:
- moving out of the area
- your child’s behaviour or presentation being significantly different to when the referral was accepted
- your child is now a Looked After Child (LAC)
- you have had a private assessment
- you no longer require the assessment
