Our service provides the following support during the diagnostic process:
- pre-assessment support and sign-posting
- diagnostic assessment for autism
- post-diagnostic support, sign-posting and onward referrals
- Consultancy and liaison with local services
Autism describes the way some people communicate and experience the world around them. It is a life-long condition that affects how people communicate, interact and process information.
Autism may affect three key areas of life:
- Social communication and interaction - for example differences in communication style, connecting with others and navigating particular social situations
- Restricted, repetitive patterns - for example a preference for specific areas of interests, predictability and repetitive movements
- Sensory differences - for example over or under-sensitivity to sound, touch, taste, smell or light
Watch the video below to learn more about Autism.
We provide diagnostic assessments for autism. We also support service users before and after the diagnostic assessment.
The service is for adults who:
- are aged 18 and over
- are registered with a GP in the three boroughs of Brent, Harrow or Hillingdon
- do not have a learning disability
- do not already have a diagnosis of autism
Our service is a multi-disciplinary team consisting of:
- A Clinical Psychologist and an Assistant Psychologist
- Two Allied Health Professionals (Speech and Language Therapist and Nurse)
- A Peer Support Worker
- Team Administrator
We are currently located in the borough of Brent:
Kingswood Centre
134 Honeypot Lane
Kingsbury
London NW9 9QY
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How to refer to our service?
GPs and health and social care professionals can refer to the service using our referral form. The referral form can be emailed to the service on cnwl.autismreferrals@nhs.net. Please note - we do not currently accept self-referrals.
What happens next?
The team will review the referral information and determine if an autism assessment is indicated.
If a referral is accepted a letter will be sent out confirming an acceptance onto the autism diagnostic waiting list. We will also contact you periodically while you wait for an assessment to check you have access to pre-assessment support.
If the referral is not accepted, we may request additional information or signpost to more appropriate services.
Waiting times
Our current waiting time for an assessment is approximately two and a half years.
Once a referral has been accepted, a number of pre-assessment support options will be offered.
These options will include support from a peer support worker in the service. The peer support worker has experience of living with autism which helps them offer you the right kind of support.
The peer support worker will contact you every few months to give you an update on waiting times, and check that you are receiving the right kind of support.
They will discuss how we might assist you before your assessment and the types of support you may be able to receive from some organisations who help those who are waiting for an autism assessment. These include Centre for Autism and ADHD Support (CAAS), Hillingdon Autistic Care and Support (HACS) for Hillingdon residents, and The Advocacy Project for Brent residents.
The diagnostic pathway typically includes 4 face to face or video appointments with a clinician and is completed within 4-6 weeks.
Prior to the assessment, detailed information about the assessment process and location will be sent, along with 2 self-report questionnaires.
Depending on the need, an additional assessment session may be completed by another clinician.
At your feedback meeting, we will discuss the outcome of the assessment and arrange support as required. Depending on the outcome, we might highlight sources of further support, outline appropriate recommendations or make onward referrals.
Where a diagnosis of autism is confirmed, post-diagnosis support may include the following:
- CNWL Post-diagnostic group focusing on understanding autism
- Individual post-diagnostic follow-up, with recommendations and support to access adult social care, physical health care and mental health.
- Sign-posting to appropriate autism-specific organisations that can assist with learning about autism, 1:1 support, social support and accessing services.
- Autistica - a research organisation focused on investigating issues related to autism, such as anxiety and sensory issues
- Centre for ADHD and Autism Support - a local organisation supporting autistic people
- Hillingdon Autistic Care and Support - an organisation supporting autistic people in the Hillingdon area
- National Autistic Society - the leading national organisation advocating for autistic people
- National Autistic Society Health Passport - a useful tool to help healthcare professionals understand the needs of autistic people during health appointments
- Neurodiverse Self Advocacy - a non-profit voluntary group that provides advocacy by neurodivergent people for neurodivergent people
- NHS Autism
- The Sunflower Lanyard scheme - this is an easily obtained, cheap method of communicating to others that you have a hidden disability
Contact us
For referrals and general enquiries:
Email: cnwl.autismreferrals@nhs.net
Telephone Number: 020 8238 0900
Address:
Kingswood Centre
134 Honeypot Lane
Kingsbury, London NW9 9QY
Clinical Lead:
Dr Sarah Blainey
Clinical Psychologist