Autism diagnostic service delivered on behalf of West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Autism diagnostic service delivered on behalf of West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Your child has been referred for an autism assessment by West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, and their referral has been passed securely to us – HG Mind Works – to carry out. This guide explains what the assessment is, what will happen, and how to help your child feel ready.
There’s no rush. Take your time, read what’s useful, and come back to the rest whenever you need to.
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s team has reviewed your child’s referral and decided a full assessment is the right next step. The assessment is a chance for us to understand your child properly – how they communicate, how they play, what they find easy and what they find hard. We’re not looking for what’s wrong; we want to build a full, rounded picture of your child as an individual.
Being referred does not mean your child will be diagnosed with autism. It means the team felt it was worth looking more carefully.
Who will we meet?
Your child will have a short health check with one of our nurses at a separate appointment beforehand.
On the main assessment day you will meet a small team, including a specialist who spends time with your child in a play-based session, and a clinician who will talk through your child’s development with you.
The wider team then reviews all the evidence together, and the report is signed off by the lead clinician who assessed your child.
We've emailed you a link to a short registration form. It takes about 10 minutes, works on a phone, and needs to be completed by the date in your email. It asks for up-to-date contact details, your child's school and GP, anything that would make the appointments easier for your child, and any dates or times you can't manage. We use your answers to choose appointments that work for you, so the more you tell us now, the less likely you are to need to change them later. If we don't hear from you, we'll remind you and try to call. If the form still isn't completed by the final date in our email, your child's referral goes back to West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. If your child no longer needs the assessment, you can tell us at the start of the form.
Once we've checked your registration form, we'll phone you to book two appointments: the health check and the assessment, at whichever site suits you (Bury St Edmunds or Ipswich). If we can't reach you, we'll leave a message and try again, so please call us back on 020 8126 8767 (option 3). We'll email you a confirmation for each appointment. We can't easily move appointments once they're booked, so if you need to change one, we'll offer the next available appointment, which may not be until 2027.
When we've booked the assessment, we'll email you a second form about your child's development, pregnancy and early years, and family history. It takes about 25 minutes, and you can choose "Not known" for anything you can't remember. You can also upload reports from school, a speech and language therapist, an educational psychologist or an EHCP. It must be completed at least 2 working days before your child's first appointment, online or by phone with us. If it isn't, we'll have to cancel both appointments and your child's referral will go back to the Trust.
A 20-minute appointment with one of our nurses. The nurse will measure your child’s height, weight, pulse, blood pressure and temperature, and ask you a few questions about their health. The nurse will go at your child's pace, so tell us in the registration form if anything might be difficult.
Around two to two and a half hours with two clinicians. One talks with you about your child's development from birth to now, while your child spends time with a clinician doing play-based activities and conversation. Please arrive 15 minutes early.
Only for some children, where the information you give us or the assessment shows it would help. It's a normal part of the process for those children and doesn't point to any particular outcome. We'll email you the appointment. It's face to face and takes about an hour and a half.
Our multidisciplinary team, including a senior clinician who didn't see your child, reviews all the information together in line with NICE guidance. That's why you won't get an outcome on the day.
Includes the outcome and recommendations for home and school. You'll receive it by a secure link on email, and copies go to West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. We can also post you a printed copy if you'd like.
We'll email you a link to book an online video appointment with one of the clinicians who assessed your child, usually about a week after you receive the report. It helps to read the report beforehand and note anything you'd like to ask.
After feedback, we'll email you a letter confirming the assessment is complete. Our part ends there, but the recommendations in the report explain the support your child can get next, and your child's school SENDCo and GP can help you put it in place.
A clinician will sit with you and talk through your child’s life from the very beginning — how they were as a baby, how they developed, how they communicate now, what they enjoy, how they get on with other children, and how they manage day to day at home and at school.
It’s a relaxed conversation, not a formal interview. There are no trick questions and nothing you can get wrong. Many parents tell us this is actually a really valuable hour or two — it’s not often you get to talk about your child in depth with someone who is genuinely listening and taking notes.
Can’t remember everything? That’s completely fine.
The clinician will guide you through it gently. There’s no pressure to have every detail at your fingertips.
If another parent, carer or family member knows your child well, it’s worth asking them to come too — two people often remember different things, and that really helps us.
Your child’s session uses a tool called the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition). All you really need to know is that it’s one of the internationally recognised gold-standard tools for autism assessment.
It’s not a test. It’s a structured observation – a set of activities and conversations that help the clinician see how your child communicates and relates to other people. Your child doesn’t need to perform well or say the right things; there are no right or wrong answers. The activities might include toys, picture books, puzzles, pretend play, or just having a conversation, depending on your child’s age and how they communicate.
The ADOS-2 is one important piece of the picture, but it’s never used on its own – national guidance (NICE) is clear that no single tool should decide a diagnosis. The clinician brings it together with your conversation and information from school.
The ADOS-2 has several versions, and the clinician chooses the right one before you arrive based on how your child communicates – you don’t need to do anything. For children of this age it’s usually one of the three below.
While your child has their session, one of our clinicians sits with you for an in-depth conversation about your child’s development, called the ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised). It’s a detailed, internationally recognised interview covering how your child was as a baby, how they’ve developed, and how they are now. It usually takes around 90 minutes.
It’s a relaxed conversation, not a test – there are no trick questions and nothing you can get wrong. You won’t be expected to remember every detail; the clinician will guide you gently. If another parent or carer who knows your child well can come too, that really helps – two people often remember different things.
For most children, we ask parents to wait nearby during the child’s session, because children often respond differently when a parent is in the room and we need to see your child’s natural responses. If your child is very anxious or needs you there to feel settled, tell us beforehand and we’ll work something out – they’ll never be made to stay in the room if they’re upset. If you do stay, we may ask you to sit to the side and not join in, just so we can see your child’s natural reactions.
Please don’t wear a face mask or covering during the session. The clinician needs to see your child’s face and your child needs to see the clinician’s – the session can’t be completed reliably if faces are covered.
With your permission, we may record part of your child’s session so the clinicians can score the assessment accurately afterwards. It’s only seen by the assessment team and isn’t shared outside it. You can say no, and it won’t affect anything about how your child is assessed.
Your child will be in experienced hands. Our assessments are carried out by clinicians who specialise in children’s neurodevelopmental assessment and are trained in the gold-standard tools used nationally – the ADOS-2 and ADI-R.
Every diagnosis is reviewed and agreed by the wider team together, never by one person alone, and signed off by the lead clinician who assessed your child, in line with NICE guidance. Here are some of the people who may be involved in your child’s assessment:
Children who have some idea of what to expect almost always find the day easier, so it’s worth saying something simple and reassuring beforehand. You know your child best – keep it honest, low-key, and matched to their age and understanding.
“We’re going to meet some friendly people who want to find out how you play and talk. You’ll do some fun activities and games. There are no right or wrong answers – you just be you.”
“We’re going to see some people whose job is to understand how your brain works – the things you find easy and the things you find tricky. They’ll chat with you and do some activities. There’s nothing to get right or wrong, and nothing to revise.”
“Everyone’s brain works a bit differently. This helps us understand how yours works, so you can get the right kind of help with anything you find tricky.”
It really helps to spend a little time before the appointment casting your mind back. In the days before, it’s worth trying to:
You give your permission in the registration form. By registering, you’re agreeing to your child being assessed by our team, the information gathered being used to reach a decision about diagnosis and the completed report being shared with West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. With your permission (we ask in the registration form), we’ll also contact your child’s school or other professionals if you agree to that separately.
Depending on your child’s age and understanding, we’ll also talk with them about what the appointment involves, and may ask for their agreement to take part too. You can change your mind and withdraw your permission at any time – before, during or after the assessment.
Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to make your visit more comfortable for you and your family. You can tell us in your registration form or give us a call before your appointment.
Whether you need an interpreter, help with transport, wheelchair access, documents in a different format or support with sensory sensitivities, we’ll do everything we can to accommodate your needs. Interpreters can be arranged when you book.
Phone lines open: Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
On assessment day
Everything you need to know for today, including where to go, what to bring and how the day will flow.
After assessment day
Understanding the outcome, talking to your child about a diagnosis and where to find support.
Resources & FAQs
Common questions, support organisations and answers you can come back to whenever you need them.