Autism Diagnostic Assessments for Children - Hywel DDa University Local Health Board

Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB) is awarding a single contract with Healios Ltd following the completion of a VEAT notice in line with a time-limited initiative by Welsh Government to help reduce waiting times to accessing a diagnostic assessment of autism for children and young people.

The service will provide key outcomes for the Health Board in terms of Improving Waiting Times for Children’s Neurodevelopmental Service. Subsequently improving the health and wellbeing of Future Generations through earlier identification of neuro-divergence and subsequent support needs.

Assessing Autism requires a highly specialist skill set and delivery partners must adhere to applying the following key principles:

Risk assessment to include risk of harm to service user, or service user’s risk to others

Risk management plan

Multidisciplinary team approach

Childhood development history

Clinical interview with informant

Clinical Interview with individual

Observation Assessment

Obtain School/College information

Use of a valid diagnostic tool(s) as specified in current NICE guidance

Diagnostic Threshold as set out in DSM5 or ICD-11

Comprehensive report detailing how diagnostic threshold has/or has not been met

Feedback of outcome to client.

In line with the funding requirement providers will need to:

Be able to provide services with immediate effect from December 2024 to March 31st 2025.

Service implementation meetings are expected to commence in December 2024

Must have extensive experience of diagnostic assessment in autism of children and young

Must have extensive experience of cross-sector working with HDUHB.

Must have a proven track record of successful partnership working outsourcing diagnostic assessments for Health Boards

Must have developed stabilised professional relationships with schools, colleges and parent carers across Hywel Dda University Health Board footprint to facilitate prompt engagement and receipt of relevant information required

Must have knowledge of the relevant services and established links with locally commissioned services for children’s neurodevelopmental (ASD) services.

The Delivery Partner must have knowledge and links to similar services the health provides (including contractual)

Have comprehensive knowledge of Welsh Government policy and legislation pertaining to neuro-divergence children and young people.

Conduct the bulk of the referral and processing services involving primary engagement with parent carers

Have established effective working relationships with Children’s ND (ASD) Service, Mental health services, Local Authority and Primary Health partners across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire