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Assessment help

GreenLlama

Hi all

my daughter is in year 7, she has been showing signs of neurodiversity for a few years now, and I have filled in the forms etc to try and get an assessment. However we were refused as she “didn’t have enough sighs”. I appealed and dispute being told by her mental health worker and school that she would get added to the waiting list this time, they have declined her again. Yet again they say that she does have some signs, but there is not enough warrant an assessment, eg she will look people in the eye when she talks to them! It doesn’t matter that she self harms and spends all day at school masking then is exhausted when she gets home, but still can’t sleep  

I genuinely don’t know what to do, she keeps asking why she is broken, and I try and explain that she isn’t, her brain is just wired differently. We think a diagnosis would help her manage things and reassure her that she isn’t broken. I’m at my wits end and don’t know where to go from here. We are in Suffolk if that makes any difference to any advice anyone can offer. Thanks. 

  • Dear GreenLlama,

    Welcome to the online community, I hope you find this a supportive place to be. It sounds very difficult place to be, both for your daughter and as a family. While we are waiting to see if the community has any advice they can give I have included our information on How to request an autism assessment (I have copied some of the information below on how to request a second opinion for referral. 

    Can I get a second opinion about a referral or make a complaint?

    A GP or health care professional may disagree that you or your child shows signs of being autistic and may not support you by making a referral for an autism assessment. If your doctor is dismissive of the evidence you share or does not offer you a referral, you can ask for a second opinion from a different doctor. Another option is to seek a private assessment that is independent from the NHS. 

    If you have concerns about how your GP or NHS health care professional has treated you or your child, you can complain. Further information on how to make a complaint in relation to your NHS treatment can be found in the ’Health services’ section of our page What can I do if formal support is not offered or is not enough.

    If you have sought a private assessment and have any concerns about how it was conducted, you should raise your concerns directly with the provider in the first instance. If you are unhappy with their response, you may be able to complain to the Independent Sector Complaints Adjudication Service (ISCAS). They have a Complaints Code of Practice, which includes an independent adjudication service (a service to help sort out disputes) as the final stage of the complaint process. You can find out whether the organisation you have a complaint about is a subscriber and get their complaint form on the ISCAS website.

     I have also included some resources from the NAS and other organisations that may be helpful:
    Self-harm

    Autistic fatigue and burnout

    How to Make a Self-Soothe Box | Young Person Blog | YoungMinds

    Well done for reaching out for support for your daughter, you are doing all the right things. Please reach out if you need any further advice or support,

    Best wishes,

    Olivia Mod