Before applying for assessment
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Consent: If you are referring someone over the age of 16 and are not the person seeking the assessment, you must confirm you have their written consent. This can be:- A signed letter
- An email from the person’s own email address
If the person is unable to consent, you must provide evidence such as:- A health and welfare power of attorney
- A formal capacity assessment
We will request copies of these upon receipt of the form.Funding: If the assessment will be funded by someone else, we will require proof of funding. This may include:
- A letter from your GP
- Written confirmation from an external organisation
We will not progress the referral until this has been received.Developmental History Contact (Adults): For adult assessments, we aim to gather a developmental history from someone who knew the individual during childhood. This could be:
- A parent
- A family member
- A friend or relative
This person does not have to attend the assessment but you may choose to bring them with you. If there are difficulties in identifying someone and/or providing their contact details then please advise us when you complete the form.
Parent/Carer Details (Children & Young People): We ask for contact details of a parent or carer.
Educational Setting Contact (Children & Young People): Please provide details of a professional at the child or young person’s educational setting. This helps us gather useful supporting information.
Reports: If you have relevant documents (e.g. speech and language therapy reports, psychological assessments, or hearing and vision tests), please indicate this at the relevant section of the form and we will contact you to request these.
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Cost: £1,800 to £3,800 depending on your needs and the services required.How to make a referral: Through your GP – you need to speak directly with your GP about a referral to our service and your GP may agree to commission a referral through the NHS by making a case to your local Integrated Care Board (ICB). This is a specific pathway and not part of Patient Choice or Right to Choose.
- Through your Local Authority who may commission and fund an assessment in specific circumstances.
- Through a self-referral which can be self-funded or paid for by a private healthcare provider with their agreement.
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We work with a small number of trusted partners who meet our high clinical and ethical standards. These partners have been rigorously vetted to ensure they meet the same high-quality standards as the National Autistic Society Diagnostic and Assessment Service, and they align with our commitment to providing expert, person-centred care. If you consent and, and we feel it is appropriate we may pass your details to one of our partners to ask they progress the assessment request. These partnerships help us:- Increase assessment availability
- Reduce waiting times
- Operate more sustainably
We currently partner with:Community Assessment Therapy Services (CATS) based in Bungay, Suffolk and Thetford, Norfolk
Normally have appointments available within 6 weeks.
AYC psychology and assessment services based in Warrington, Cheshire
Normally have appointments available within 6 weeks.
Acorn Autism Specialists based in Colchester, Essex
Normally have appointments available within 6 weeks.
If you would prefer not to be offered an assessment with one of our partners, you can indicate this on the request form.
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What information do we keep about you and how do we use it?
Under the Health & Social Care Act 2008 and the Records Management Code of Practice (2021) we are required to keep an accurate, complete and contemporaneous record in respect of each service user and to maintain this securely. Our GDPR guide in PDF format provides answers to some of the questions you might have about your own or your family member’s record.Safeguarding guide
The Diagnostic and Assessment Service prioritises safeguarding, requiring Enhanced DBS checks for staff and escorting visitors to ensure safety. Parents and carers advise on managing their child's safety needs during assessments.
View/download the guide
Request an autism assessment
The form typically takes 30–40 minutes to complete. You are unable to save your progress so please make sure you have plenty of time and the information detailed above to hand before starting.
Request an autism assessmentIf your enquiry is not about an autism assessment, you may find helpful information on a wide range of topics in our Advice and Guidance section.