Advice on return to work

I've recently came across this forum after doing some research online. 

For the first time in my working life (I'm nearly 40) I've been on sick leave from work. I work for the Civil Service, never worked a single day from home but work on a public counter dealing with customers relating to applications for the department I work on. Shifts are rotated so one week I do 8-4, the following week it's 8:45-5 but I'm always in at 7 to avoid the rush of people and to have some quiet time before the rush of the day starts and I've worked there for 9 years. 

Over the last 3-4 years I've been struggling more and more in the workplace and sought advice from my doctor. Initially believing it to be social anxiety disorder I went about my work as normal trying to deal with my issues each day.

After a while I was referred to a specialist for a discussion over my issues as I wasn't improving, this was completed early last August and they ruled out ADHD, Social Anxiety Disorder and other things but said there was clear evidence/experiences of autism. Was told it was a 4 year wait for an official assessment and that the local mental health team would be in touch every 6 months for a checkup. 

A month after this appointment I had a breakdown on department, just felt like I was being used by colleagues as my performance and output is in the top 3 on the department. On this day I had served 35 customers by midday, the second highest person had done 8.

I pulled the manager (he didn't know my medical issues and my actual manager was on leave), told him he needed to sort things out before I said 'why am I even bothering with this' then took half days leave. Went home, tried to calm down but it took hours. I did return the next day but went after half day as I just couldn't cope any longer. 

The following Monday I phoned in sick and haven't returned to the office since. Had multiple doctors appointment, was prescribed Sertraline since September and on Talking Therapies course. From my discussions they believe I've suffered from possible autism burnout from masking my traits for all my life.

My manager has been great and managed to get me an autism assessment through work which I completed last Thursday so awaiting final results. 

Deep down I've always believed I had autistic traits and masked instances throughout my life. I'll take things literally, have a set routine, struggle with certain environments or places I'm not familiar with. I hate using the phone, will do everything to avoid it. On my department we are supposed to call every customer if a problem arises, I'll avoid this every time through means I've developed over the years. Even when in the house I will delay any phone calls I have to make until the last moment. 

My workplace for example is very small, nearly 40 staff with about half a metre between us in the back office and when on the counter you are closely seated face to face with the customer. Customers can be as many as 400 a day, very fast paced. I've always struggled with temperature, department is minimum 22 degrees but gets to over 25 as the day goes on with no windows/doors available to open as its supposedly aircon controlled (its not). My house is usually around 15 degrees and we have windows/doors open most the time to allow fresh air in. 

My issue at the moment is trying to sort out my return to work. I'm on reduced pay as they say my sickness doesn't fall under the criteria of full pay.

In the time I've been off my department has gone all digital so the job I've known for 9 years has completely changed. I've spoken to my manager and she knows my problems, what I struggle with and how I react.

I did a workplace assessment back in November but this felt like a waste of time. The person on the phone dismissed autism and said it was ADHD even though my report clearly ruled this out. She did state that they'd recommend I work from home 3/4 days a week but work said they can't accommodate this due to the new WFH policy in place by the Civil Service directors. 

My manager said off the record that if I extend my sick note that my sickness case will be referred to an independent manager to assess if I keep my job or not due to my length of sickness so feel that I have to return in two weeks time. 

I've been asked what I would like going forward relating to my work. I've said I'm happy to do a day on the public counter and WFH the other 4 days now that our work is paperless and this function is available. The other proposal she mentioned was working upstairs on production, which is paperless, in a large open plan office where each day the work streams are changed, people hot desk. I've sat up there before and I've been unable to function properly due to so many triggers. I've said if counter can't accommodate then I'd happily do full time WFH as other employees  have been given due to their health needs but this discussion doesn't go any further than me mentioning it. 

I feel like I'm being treated as a 'normal' employee to fit under the WFH policy of all CS must do minimum of 60% working from the office. I've read up on the Equality Act and think I've not been treated fairly in this respect as my specific issues are not being addressed and feel like I'm being pushed into returning to the office full time in an environment that isn't set up for my needs.

I've tried to see who I can contact in the CS for more advice but I can't seem to find any where like an HR department that could assist or give me advice on what I can do as my management chain have openly admitted they are unsure how to handle my case as its quite unique, which is understandable. 

I'm just wondering if anyone can give any advice or pointers on what I could do.