Neurodevelopmental pathway referrals

ADHD medication supply disruption: for the latest updates and information on the national supply shortage of medication prescribed to help manage ADHD symptoms, visit the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System website.

How to make a referral

For the community paediatrics team to consider a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD),attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or tics/Tourette's, only schools, GPs and other professionals are permitted to make a referral.

If you are a parent or carer concerned about your child's neurodevelopment, please speak to your GP, SENDCO or other professional. You can find more information about the pathway for parents and carers via the link below:

The referral must be started by an education or health professional using the initial referral form below. If the child is accepted onto an assessment pathway, their parent/carer and school will need to submit further information for ADHD/Tics and Tourette's/ASD assessment as outlined below.

The referrer is responsible for ensuring all required forms are completed in full and submitted. Referrals cannot be processed if information is incomplete or missing.

To refer a child or young person to the neurodevelopmental diagnosis pathway, please use the referral form.

This form is for health and education professional use only. We cannot accept self-referrals from families.

The professional who knows the child or young person best should make the referral. If the child is in education, this will usually be their school or nursery, rather than their GP.

Schools: Use this link to download the initial referral form. Please send the completed referral form to us via email: epunft.seechs.singlepointofaccess@nhs.net

GP/SystmOne Users: Please complete the referral form via SystmOne eConsult Referral. Send a task to Administration, Community Paediatric Service at The Lighthouse Child Development Centre.

Next steps: ADHD/Tics and Tourette's/ASD questionnaires

The child's initial referral will be processed and reviewed by our team.

If the child is accepted onto an assessment pathway, the child's parents/carers and education provider will need to complete a screening assessment questionnaire. You may also need to submit additional documents - click the next tabs to see requirements for ADHD, Tics and Tourette's, and ASD referrals.

Please note our referral questionnaires have changed as of 6 November 2023. If you have already completed the old pre-assessment supplementary questionnaires, please send these to epunft.seechs.singlepointofaccess@nhs.net

Current process - from 6 November 2023

Please send these questionnaires to the child's parent/carer and school if they have been referred and accepted on the ADHD diagnosis pathway. It is important we gather as much information as possible from the child's home and school in order to help our team decide the best course of action. Please ensure all questions are answered accurately and in full.

Screening assessment questionnaire (school) - to be completed by the child's pre-school, school or education provider. Use this link to download the questionnaire.

Screening assessment questionnaire (parent or carer) - to be completed by child's parent or carer. Use this link to download the form.

For school aged children or young people, the school must also submit a recent progress report and any SEN plans the pupil has in place.

Please email the completed questionnaires, school progress report and SEN plans to epunft.seechs.singlepointofaccess@nhs.net

Conners 4 Assessment

Conners 4 provides a comprehensive assessment of symptoms and difficulties associated with ADHD. The referrer (education or health professional) should send the following details to epunft.lighthouse.adhd@nhs.net

the child's name
date of birth
NHS number
parent/carer name and email address
school currently attended
SENCO name and email address
confirmation of the parent/carer's consent to receive texts and emails from the ADHD service, and for the child's school to be contacted

We will set up the parent/carer's and school's access to the Conners 4 assessment and send them the link.

To refer a child or young person to the Tics and Tourette’s pathway, please use the referral form.

Schools or Parent: Please send the completed referral form to us via email: epunft.seechs.singlepointofaccess@nhs.net

GP/SystmOne Users: Please complete the referral form via SystmOne eConsult Referral. Send a task to Administration, Community Paediatric Service at The Lighthouse Child Development Centre.

Tics and Tourette's questionnaire to be completed by the child's parent/carer and teacher/pre-school teacher. Use this link to download the questionnaire.

For school aged children or young people, the school must also submit a recent progress report and any SEN plans the pupil has in place.

Please email the completed questionnaires, school progress report and SEN plans to epunft.seechs.singlepointofaccess@nhs.net

Current process - from 6 November 2023

Please send these questionnaires to the child's parent/carer and school if they have been referred and accepted on the ASD diagnosis pathway.

Screening assessment questionnaire (school) - to be completed by the child's pre-school, school or education provider. Use this link to download the questionnaire.

Screening assessment questionnaire (parent or carer) - to be completed by child's parent or carer. Use this link to download the form.

For school aged children or young people, the school must also submit a recent progress report and any SEN plans the pupil has in place.

Please email the completed questionnaires, school progress report and SEN plans to epunft.seechs.singlepointofaccess@nhs.net

What to do if the child's mental health deteriorates

If there is a deterioration in the young person’s mental health while waiting for their assessment, please see the Southend, Essex and Thurrock (SET) CAMHS website for advice and information about mental health services: https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/set-camhs-get-in-touch/

You can also call 0800 953 0222 to speak to someone from the SET CAMHS team of healthcare professionals.

Consent and confidentiality

It is very important to us that confidentiality and consent are respected at all times. Please ensure that consent is obtained from the child’s parent/carer prior to submitting the referral – you can state that consent has been obtained on the form.

Parents, carers and young people:

Please call 0344 257 3952 or email
epunft.lighthouse.reception@nhs.net

Healthcare and education professionals:

Please send referrals to epunft.seechs.singlepointofaccess@nhs.net

The Lighthouse

For the latest information and updates from The Lighthouse Child Development Centre, visit our keeping you informed page.

Additional links

The Lighthouse: keeping you informed

Information for parents and carers

Neurodevelopmental service

Resources for parents/carers

ADHD Information Leaflet