Children Autism & ADHD

The normal NHS referral pathways for a child autism or ADHD assessment are below on this webpage. Due to the long waiting times you may wish to use the Right to Choose scheme were you can have a referral to a NHS partner. The NHS will fund it.

Please refer to the table of providers. Once you have selected your provider, please scroll down to find their logo. A direct link to their website is contained within the logo. Please then print and download their referral requirements. Please be aware, each provider is different. Some providers will have a referral form only, others may have a covering letter and a questionnaire. Please download, complete, and hand into the surgery.

Please visit Right to Choose - ADHD UK. Here you will find information about children and adult right to choose schemes for Autism and ADHD assessments.

Having an Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) means that the person has a different way of understanding other people & the world around them. ASC is a lifelong developmental condition, not an illness or a disease so there is no ‘cure’ but there are many ways that difficulties can be managed. To learn more please visit NHS/Autism

If appropriate you can refer your child for a diagnosis assessment:

Via CAMHS/Referral if they are aged 5 and above who have mental health difficulties and/or risk to self/others, alongside possible Autism Spectrum 

Via the The Owl Centre for ages 5 and above & under 18 who require an Autism Spectrum Condition assessment only. Any professional within an education, health, or social care setting can make a referral.

• To help us submit a referral we would appreciate if you can go to the make a referral section & complete the sections on the online form in as much detail as possible but do not submit. Then please print this off and return to Holmwood Health Centre. Alternatively you can print the page first and fill in by hand.
• We will then review your child's medical record and use details you have provided to submit a referral, if appropriate.

Via PATCH Referral if they are under the age of 5 , or 

If your child is over the age of 5 & has one of following histories:

• Ex-premature infants (< 34 weeks) or those with significant neonatal disease

• Genetic syndromes such as Down syndrome, Prader Willi syndrome etc

• A significant degree of learning impairment

• Visual or hearing impairments

• Neuro-muscular disorders, such as Duchenne’s Muscular dystrophy, Cerebral palsy

If you have a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) this means that you can struggle with paying attention, have high levels of energy & react quickly to things. This can get in the way of everyday life such as school, hobbies and making friends, although how much it affects someone can vary from person to person

To learn more & how to refer your child for an assessment, if appropriate, please visit CAMHS

If you or a professional have concerns about your childs development or behaviour then they maybe suitable for referral to the PATCH meeting

This includes

• Children with complex needs who live in, or have transferred in to the patch and need ongoing follow up

• Vulnerable children with significant health needs

• Children born under 30 weeks gestation who require a developmental assessment at 48 months

Coming soon! The Hampshire Neurodiversity & Wellbeing Multi-Disciplinary Team

We are pleased to share an important update regarding the transformation of support for neurodivergent children and young people across Hampshire.

As part of the NHS England South-East All-age Neurodiversity Programme, Hampshire County Council are working closely with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board in adopting a new strength and needs-led support pathway. This marks a shift away from diagnosis-led models towards a more inclusive, proactive, and child-centred approach.

Why This Change Is Happening

Children and young people often face long waits for diagnostic assessments, which can delay access to the support they need. The current system has placed diagnosis as a gateway to services, resulting in missed opportunities for early intervention and increased pressure on families and professionals.

The new pathway will:

• Provide early and equitable access to support, regardless of diagnostic status.
• Promote holistic, strengths-based care tailored to individual needs.
• Reduce stigma by recognising neurodivergent needs as differences, not a deficit.
• Improve educational, social, and emotional outcomes.
• Enhance system efficiency by reducing reliance on diagnostic services.

Changes to the Hampshire Primary Wellbeing Service and Referral Process

We want to ensure that children and young people with presenting neurodevelopmental needs, and their families, receive timely support based on need not diagnosis. This “right help, right time” approach is central to our new model.

To support this transition, we will be repurposing the current Hampshire Primary Wellbeing Service and securing additional resources to increase capacity and ensure consistent delivery across Hampshire for children and young people aged 0–19.

The new Hampshire Neurodiversity and Wellbeing Multi-Disciplinary Team (ND MDT) will bring together professionals from a range of backgrounds to deliver both universal and targeted support for families, schools, and the wider workforce. This includes advice and signposting, early identification, practical strategies, and access to specialist input where needed.

As part of this change, the current Wellbeing Service referral system will close on 31st October 2025. This pause will allow us to:

• Continue working with families currently on the caseload, as well as those on the waiting list, during the transition period.
• Ensure we can build capacity within the existing team.
• Establish new processes aligned with the strength and needs-led approach.
• Launch the revised pathway and referral mechanisms from January 2026.

Further information will be shared in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your continued commitment to inclusive education and for supporting this important transformation in how we care for neurodivergent children and young people.

Ages 5 to 17 years old. Autism Hampshire offers workshops for families of autistic children and young people, which are funded by the local councils.

The aim of each course is to provide insight, advice and support to family members of autistic children. Each session will explore a child’s unique experiences and suggest practical ways in which their differences can be accommodated and supported.

Vist Parent Workshops | Autism Hampshire

Provides evidenced based skills building programmes for parents and carers who have children aged 3-17 who:
1. Have a diagnosed Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC)
2. Have a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
3. Have Autism or ADHD traits
4. Are experiencing mild-moderate conduct disorder
5. Have behaviour that challenges
6. Are teenagers displaying anti-social behaviour including child to parent violence

Visit Hampshire and IOW Support for Neurodiverse Families | Barnardo's (barnardos.org.uk)