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Single point of access referral

NAS36985

Hi, my daughter is 5 and has had an autism diagnosis very recently.  I had a GP appointment yesterday, mainly to do with her sleep problems but also as her anxiety, phobias and sensory issues have been getting worse recently.  The GP said she would do a ‘single point of access’ referral.  I didn’t get chance to ask much about it as the surgery was closing as I was the last appointment. When I looked it up online, all it seemed to indicate was safeguarding issues and social worker involvement - I’m hoping it doesn’t just mean this.  Can anyone provide any clarity on what this means and what will happen? Thanks.

Parents

  • A single point of access referral is generally a good thing with regards to treating someone with a variety of concerns as it means that, rather than getting conflicting advice from several different practitioners / advisers, the person has one main contact (eg. a Case Worker) who's job it is to liaise with all of the other professionals to ensure that everyone's on the same page. 

    This could be particularly important with regards to AS as many people on the spectrum do have several professionals involved in their care (as children) who may not all have a particular working knowledge of AS itself: teachers, doctors, therapists etc. A teacher may have an excellent strategy for dealing with a certain difficulty but not be aware that this conflicts with your daughter's individual AS traits / needs. Having a single point of access / Case Worker to bring all of these people together should ensure that the teacher, for instance, is able to discuss different strategies that would better suit your daughter with other professionals involved with her. 

    The Case Worker is usually part of the social work team but this shouldn't necessarily put you off! It doesn't mean AT ALL that anyone is saying there are safeguarding issues regarding your daughters home life. As part of the social work team, your Case Worker will have access to information re. further services that may benefit your daughter and which may not necessarily be the types of things which your GP would be aware of, such as local support services for parents of AS children.  

  • in reply to Endymion

    Thank you for your reply.  It has given me a clearer picture of what it is and some reassurance about the safeguarding.  It was just that everything online focuses on the referral being for child protection issues with only like a side note saying also for children with additional needs.  I agree it will be helpful and hopefully easier to access services.  I will wait and see what happens.  Thank you Blush 

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  • in reply to Endymion

    Thank you for your reply.  It has given me a clearer picture of what it is and some reassurance about the safeguarding.  It was just that everything online focuses on the referral being for child protection issues with only like a side note saying also for children with additional needs.  I agree it will be helpful and hopefully easier to access services.  I will wait and see what happens.  Thank you Blush 

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