PRJ1324 South East London Autism Screening

South East London Integrated Care Board serves an area that comprises of six local authorities and a number of NHS Trusts. At present, the neurodevelopmental assessment pathways vary in each borough. All boroughs experience challenges and concerns about lengthy and increasing wait times for autism assessments. Furthermore, localities experience a range of associated challenges in relation to issues such as pre- and post-diagnostic support and children & young people with additional mental health needs. Many of these issues combine and coalesce for a growing, specific cohort of young people: those young people who do not access full time education.

Missing school has a significant, negative impact on children's academic skills; well-being; mental health and can lead to adverse life outcomes. School attendance provides a safeguard for many children. Persistent school absence removes this safeguard. In addition, the challenges to the system outlined previously means that this cohort of children & young people can remain unsupported for many years.

In all 6 boroughs covered by the ICB, there are growing numbers of children who are unable to attend school due to social emotional and mental health reasons. Social communication difficulties that are typical in presentations such as such as Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) are frequently associated with negative school experiences and linked to higher rates of school non-attendance. A study conducted by Totsika et.al, found that 43% of autistic children experienced persistent absenteeism during the study period.

This project aims to support children & young people who are identified as emotionally based school avoiders by offering an autism assessment and, most importantly, developing a need led personalised plan to support reintegration of the child or young person into school.

This project aims to screen children who are persistently absent from school for Autistic Spectrum Conditions. The SEL LDA commissioning team will work with the school inclusion teams in all 6 boroughs of SEL, identify 90 children and young people (CYP) who have low school attendance due to social or emotional distress and undertake a NICE approved assessment for autism. Each C/YP will then be provided with a a written, personalised support plan that the provider will deliver via support workers working directly with the C/YP, their family, their school and community services.

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