North and West Cumbria Adult Autism Assessment Service – patient information leaflet

This leaflet provides you with information that you will find useful about the Autism Assessment Service which covers the area of North and West Cumbria. If you are not sure about anything in this leaflet please get in touch with the administrator, Adult Autism Services. Contact details can be found in this leaflet.

We assess people over the age of 18 years old for potential Autism Spectrum Condition. This includes:

• Adults who find social interaction and communication difficult
• Adults who have longstanding difficulties managing change
• Adults who may have additional sensory differences

 
The service is available to people living in North and West Cumbria.

If you would like to be referred to this service you need to ask your GP (doctor) to refer you or if you receive support from a professional who works for Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS trust then they can also refer you. Referrals should be made to the Adult Autism Assessment Service using the referral form available from the administrator:

Cumbria Adult Autism Assessment Service
Unit 9, Lillyhall Business Centre, Jubilee Road Workington Cumbria CA144HA
Tel: 01900 705 836
Email:[email protected]

In order to progress the assessment we will send you various questionnaires for you to complete and return. We also encourage, where possible, contribution and involvement from someone who knows you well and can tell us about your childhood and early development.

A friend or partner can also support the assessment for moral support and also to provide an outside view of how you cope on a day to day basis.

It is also helpful for us if you have any school or medical reports.

We will discuss and explain with you the options of a telephone consultation or a video call for your appointment. Your appointment may involve a Nurse, Psychologist or an Assistant Psychologist. This appointment will last up to two hours, working together with you we will decide how the assessment will progress. During the assessment process trainee practitioners or a student nurses may be involved as part of their training; we will always ensure you are aware of this and that you are agreeable.

Following the appointment the we will decide if there is enough evidence to make a diagnosis using established diagnostic criteria .

There will be three possible outcomes at this point:

• There is enough evidence to confirm a diagnosis
• We will need to undertake more assessment to gain further evidence to determine diagnosis.
• You do not meet the criteria of Autism Spectrum Condition.
 
You will then receive a letter detailing the outcome of your assessment and, if we give you a diagnosis of autism we will offer a further appointment to complete a profile and think about whether there are any other services that might be able to help you. All of this information will be copied to the person that referred you and /or your GP.

North and West Cumbria Adult Autism Assessment Service
Unit 9 Lillyhall Business Centre
Jubilee Road
Workington
CA14 4HA

Tel: 01900 705 836
Fax: 01900 608 127
Email: [email protected]

Alternatively, you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) Freephone: 0800 328 4397 or Email: [email protected]

If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:

• talk to the people directly involved in your care
• ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website
• telephone the Complaints Department Tel: 0191 245 6672
• email [email protected] Please note that information sent to the Trust via email is sent at your own risk

 
We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention. You can provide feedback in the following ways:

• the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at www.cntw.nhs.uk/poy
• complete a Points of You survey, available on wards, reception areas or from staff
• other options for sharing your feedback and experience www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourfeedback

 
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS provide confidential advice and support, helping you to sort out any concerns that you may have about any aspect of your or your loved ones care.

We act independently when handling patient and family concerns, liaising with staff, managers and, where appropriate, relevant organisations, to negotiate prompt solutions. If necessary, we can also refer patients and families to specific local or national-based support agencies.

North of Tyne
Tel: 0800 032 0202
Email: [email protected]
Post: FREEPOST PALS

South of Tyne
Tel: 0800 328 4397
Text: 07825 061 035
Email: [email protected]
Post: Patient Advice and Liaison Service, Garden Lodge, Hopewood Park, Ryhope, Sunderland, SR2 0NB

9am – 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday
An answerphone is available at all times for you to leave a message. A member of the PALS team will aim to return your call as soon as possible.

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this booklet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (eg Braille, audio, larger print, BSL, easy read or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre Tel: 0191 246 7288

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2024 Copyright, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Ref, PIC/843/0224 February 2024 V2
www.cntw.nhs.uk Tel: 0191 246 7288
Review date 2027