Support while you wait for an assessment
Help available from health services while you wait for an assessment.
When a referral is made to a health service, there will be a wait before the service decides whether to make an assessment. There will be another wait before the assessment can take place.
You may be sent additional information to complete and return to make sure that you are accessing the correct service.
Help is available to support you and your family while you wait. Below is a list of services that can support you categorised by the type of assessment you are waiting for.
Waiting for an Neurodevelopmental Pathway (NDP) assessment
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- Assessment and contact information for Mid Sussex, Crawley, Horsham and Chichester areas
- Assessment and contact information from Worthing Child Development Centre
- This animation from the Child Development Centre will help you talk to younger children about the autism assessment
- This animation explains the The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) autism and ADHD pathway for young people aged 11-18
- You can find assessment information from CAMHS and support information from other organisations at the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Wellbeing support, including specific support for neurodiversity and mental health from CAMHS and NHS Sussex Partnership at Info and Advice - e-wellbeing
- Videos available on Reaching Families Animations.
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- Information about referral, assessment and support while waiting from Adult neurodevelopmental services from Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Information about support for autistic adults over 18. This is from the Aldingbourne Trust’s LIMA Service. (Low Intensity Management for Autism)
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- This animation explains the The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) autism and ADHD pathway for young people aged 11-18
- Assessment information from CAMHS and support information from other organisations at the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Wellbeing support from CAMHS at Info and Advice - e-wellbeing
- ADHD resource guide from Healthline
- Information for families from the ADHD Foundation
Waiting for a speech and language therapy (SALT) assessment
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Information about assessments from Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
- Early years and pre-school complex needs: ages 0-5
- Mainstream school service: ages 5-16
- Special and complex needs in schools, special support centres and units: ages 0-19
- Specialist paediatric dysphagia service
- Stammering service
Information and support from Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust for those waiting for a SALT assessment
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Information and support from Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust for those waiting for a SALT assessment
Waiting for a physiotherapy assessment
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- Physiotherapy advice and support for parents from the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists
- Information about your new orthosis from the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
- General information about physiotherapy for children from the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
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- General information about physiotherapy for adults from the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Other assessments
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Occupational therapists support children and young people to take part in daily activities.
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust has created a series of videos and other resources for parent carers. These explain sensory needs. They offer information and advice to support children and young people at home and at school.
- Sensory videos - Introduction to occupational therapy sensory videos
- Children’s occupational therapy sensory strategies and resources
- Children’s occupational therapy resource for primary schools
(May also be of interest to parent carers) - General information and support about the children’s occupational therapy service
- West Sussex County Council information about housing reports, assessments for changes in the home environment and equipment provision
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- Community neurological rehabilitation for adults from the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
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- Children and young people's community nursing services from the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Health services support for all families and young people
- If you would like to request West Sussex Early Help services, you can contact the Integrated Front Door:
- Phone: 01403 229900
- Email: WSChildrenservices@westsussex.gov.uk
- More information about Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments
- Your child may be eligible to access the West Sussex Short Breaks service
- Support information for families from The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
Other organisations providing advice, training and support include:
- West Sussex Parent Carer Forum
- Reaching Families - a parent carer-led charity
- Reaching Families: support for parents to navigate the Neurodevelopment pathway
- National Autistic Society
- Aspens Family Support Service support for families caring for someone with autism, a learning disability or complex needs
- Coastal Mind
- Carers Support West Sussex
- Discovery College offers free courses to support young people aged 12-20 with their mental health, resilience and wellbeing.
- I-Rock Sussex is run by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation and offers mental health support for young people aged 14-25 who live in East Sussex
- Recovery College offers educational courses for adults that focus on mental health and recovery
- Benefits and financial support if you’re disabled or have a health condition (GOV.UK)