Neurodiversity
In this section
This Pathway helps children and young people in Devon (excluding Plymouth) with neurodevelopmental conditions such as:
- Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), where the young person has co-occurring mental health needs
- Tics and Tourette’s Syndrome, where the young person has co-occurring mental health needs
This may be to provide an assessment of those conditions or specialist evidence-based interventions.
CFHD specialists you might receive care from in this Pathway
- Psychiatrists
- Occupational Therapists
- Clinical Psychologists
- Speech and Language Therapists
- Mental health professionals
- Assistant Practitioners
- Non-medical prescribers
You can take a look at our frequently asked questions below:
Autism assessment waiting list project
NHS Devon and local health providers are working together to ensure that children and young people who are waiting for an autism assessment, receive this as soon as possible. For more information, click the blue button below:
Neurodiversity Navigators
In January this year, CFHD and Livewell introduced the role of Neurodiversity Navigators.
The Navigator roles are to provide support and guidance to Families and Young People that are on waiting lists for a neurodevelopmental diagnosis or those presenting with neurodivergent needs across the entire Devon County footprint. They can provide some general guidance and support to access services that are already available. They can provide information and, if needed, they can physically support people to complete forms and attend workshops etc. For those unable to access these resources, the Navigators are to be adaptable to provide individual advice and guidance around their presenting needs, for example sleep, school difficulties, low level anxieties, positive behaviour strategies.
Further evidence of needs will be gathered via questionnaires completed at drop ins, coffee and chat sessions and other promotional events.
For more information regarding Neurodiversity Navigators, please contact livewell.devonndnavigators@nhs.net
CYPFS Neurodiversity Navigator Key roles:
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- Support with navigating the complex networks of health, education, social care, community and voluntary services
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- Active listening
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- Informed Advice and Guidance
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- Connecting people to community groups, parent/carer forums and statutory services for practical and emotional support
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- Support completing forms
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- Targeted support with simple personalised support plans
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- Advocate when required but not in place of other advocacy services
Understanding autism: Our introduction
The Autism Assessment Team have developed the following resources to help you understand the process of being on our autism assessment waiting list and what happens following a diagnosis. We have also developed some One Minute Guides on specific topics related to autism and neurodiversity.
To find out more and to watch out information videos, click the button below:
Support while you wait: Autism resources
MHST PINs Project film
A Neuro-affirming approach to supporting autistic children in the classroom. MHST Devon in collaboration with the Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS). You can watch this video here: