Autism diagnostic service delivered on behalf of West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Resources & FAQs
A single place to find your guides, useful organisations and answers to common questions – at any stage of the journey.
Why is my child being assessed?
Your child has been referred to us by West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. Their team has already reviewed the 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 doesn’t mean your child will be diagnosed with autism. It just means the team felt it was worth looking more carefully.
Before
Getting Ready
What the assessment is, who you’ll meet, how to prepare and how to talk to your child about it.
During
Assessment Day
Everything you need to know for today, including where to go, what to bring and how the day will flow.
After
Information & Support
Understanding the outcome, talking to your child about a diagnosis and where to find support.
GUIDANCE
Living with Autism Guide
Practical advice for day-to-day life, building routines, and supporting your child at home and at school.
Where else to find help
These organisations offer information, support, and community for families at any stage of the assessment journey.
National Autistic Society
autism.org.uk | 0808 800 4104
Ambitious About Autism
ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk
Contact
contact.org.uk
IPSEA
ipsea.org.uk
Suffolk Family Carers
suffolkfamilycarers.org
Autism Anglia
autism-anglia.org.uk
NHS
nhs.uk/conditions/autism
Meet the team
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 a senior doctor, in line with NICE guidance. Here are some of the people who may be involved in your child’s assessment:
Dr. Chris Smith
Dr Christopher Smith is a Consultant Psychiatrist with more than 20 years' NHS experience in psychiatry. As Clinical Director for our neurodiversity and psychiatric services, he provides clinical leadership and oversight across every assessment pathway. With a longstanding interest in neurodiversity and complex presentations, Chris is committed to thorough, person-centred assessments that help children and families understand their needs and reach the right support.
Dr. Garrett Kennedy
Dr Garrett Kennedy is a Chartered, HCPC-registered Counselling Psychologist with over 15 years' experience across the NHS, independent practice and higher education. He specialises in autism assessment, trauma-informed care and psychological assessment, using the gold-standard ADOS-2 and ADI-R. Garrett combines clinical depth with a compassionate, person-centred approach, delivering evidence-based autism assessments in line with NICE guidance.
Benton Robertson
Benton Robertson is HG Mind Works' Managing Director and Nominated Individual. He holds overall responsibility for the safe, well-led delivery of our services and for our partnership with West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, making sure the autism pathway meets NHS and CQC standards.
Stephen Goss
Stephen Goss is HG Mind Works' Registered Manager and Caldicott Guardian. He is responsible for the day-to-day running of the service, its clinical governance and safeguarding, and for protecting the confidentiality of your child's information.
Brighton Mumuri
Brighton Mumuri is an experienced CAMHS clinician and Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) with over 25 years in mental health, specialising in neurodevelopmental assessment for children and young people. With deep expertise across autism and ADHD pathways, he has a strong track record of comprehensive diagnostic assessment using the gold-standard ADOS-2 and ADI-R.
Sindisiwe Hove
Sindi Hove is a Registered Mental Health Nurse with nearly 20 years' NHS experience across acute, community, crisis and psychiatric liaison services. She brings particular strength in comprehensive, person-centred diagnostic assessment. As an ADOS-2 assessor, Sindisiwe pairs clinical expertise with a warm, compassionate approach, delivering autism assessments in line with NICE guidance.
Marks Mokwena
Marks Mokwena is a Registered Mental Health Nurse with over seven years' experience across CAMHS, community psychiatry, forensic and acute inpatient settings. He has a strong background in neurodevelopmental assessment, risk management and family-focused care, contributing to diagnostic formulation, psychoeducation and care planning for young people and families. Trained in the ADOS-2 and ADI-R, he brings real strength in structured assessment, clinical observation and collaborative MDT decision-making.
Antonia Aldous
Matt Chalk
Mzinga Akinshengun
Sibte Zahra
Chris Abraham
Olivia Steeb
Claudia Dunning
Assessment Day FAQs
Information about appointments, assessment structure, reports and what to expect from the process.
Who is HG Mind Works?
HG Mind Works is a CQC-registered provider of neurodevelopmental assessment services. We have been commissioned by West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust to deliver autism assessments for children and young people currently on the Trust’s waiting list. Our clinicians are experienced specialists in childhood neurodevelopmental conditions, and all assessments are carried out in line with NICE guidance (CG128: Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s).
Why is my child's assessment being carried out by HG Mind Works rather than the NHS Trust directly?
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has partnered with us to reduce waiting times for autism assessments. Your child’s care remains under the NHS. We deliver the assessment on the Trust’s behalf, to the same clinical standards, and the outcome is shared with the Trust and your GP in the usual way.
Is there any cost to families?
No. This service is fully NHS-funded. There is no charge to you at any stage.
Can I refer my child to this service?
No. This service is for children and young people who are already on the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust waiting list for an autism assessment. We are unable to accept self-referrals or new referrals directly. If you believe your child may need an assessment, please speak to your GP, health visitor or school SENCO in the first instance.
How will I know if my child has been allocated to this service?
You will be contacted directly, by letter and telephone with details of your child’s appointments. If you have any questions about whether your child is included, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page.
Can I decline and stay with the Trust?
Yes. Taking part is your choice. If you would prefer your child to remain on the Trust’s waiting list, please let us know and your child will be referred back to West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.
What does the assessment involve?
The assessment follows NICE guidance and uses internationally recognised diagnostic tools, including:
- Basic health check
- ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule), a structured, play-based or conversation-based session with your child
- ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised), a detailed interview with you as the parent or carer about your child’s development and history.
We will also review existing information such as school reports, previous health records and any questionnaires we ask you to complete in advance.
Is the assessment face to face?
Yes. The clinical assessment is carried out in person. The parent or carer interview will also be carried out in person on the same day. We will confirm the arrangements for your child when we book the appointment.
Who will carry out the assessment?
Your child will be assessed by experienced clinicians working as a pair, which will include a clinical psychologist and specialist nurse. Every diagnostic decision is reviewed and agreed by a multidisciplinary team, including a senior psychiatric doctor, before the outcome is confirmed. Where clinically indicated, a speech and language therapy assessment will also be arranged.
Will my child see a speech and language therapist?
Where the assessment identifies a clinical need, a speech and language therapy (SaLT) assessment will be arranged as part of the diagnostic process, in line with NICE guidance. This helps the team understand your child’s communication profile in more depth. If the SaLT assessment identifies areas where support would help, the report will set out clear recommendations for speech and language intervention, including onward referral where appropriate. There is no additional cost to you for any SaLT input provided as part of this service.
How long does the assessment take?
The face-to-face assessment session typically lasts between one and three hours, depending on your child’s age and needs. The full assessment process, including the parent interview and information gathering, takes place on the same visit.
How should I prepare my child?
We will send you information in advance explaining what to expect, written for parents / Carers and where appropriate, for the young person themselves. You can also review information here. You know your child best: tell us about anything that will help the appointment go smoothly, such as sensory sensitivities, communication preferences, or things that help your child feel comfortable. Your child can bring a familiar item with them.
What if my child cannot attend the appointment?
Please contact us as soon as possible so we can rearrange. We understand that children have good days and bad days, and we will do our best to be flexible.
When will we get the outcome?
The outcome is confirmed once the multidisciplinary team has reviewed all the assessment information. You will receive a full written report explaining the findings, the outcome and recommendations. We will share this with you, your GP and West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. A feedback video session will be scheduled to help you understand the report.
What happens if my child receives an autism diagnosis?
The report will include recommendations to support your child at home, in education and in the community, along with signposting to local and national support services. The diagnosis will be shared with your GP and the Trust so that any ongoing NHS care continues seamlessly.
What happens if my child does not receive a diagnosis?
Not every child assessed will meet the criteria for an autism diagnosis. If this is the case, the report will explain why and will include recommendations for any other support or onward referrals that may help, based on what the assessment found. This can be discussed in the follow up session with the clinicians in more detail.
Does a diagnosis affect school support or an EHCP?
A diagnosis can help schools and local authorities understand your child’s needs, but support in education is based on need, not diagnosis alone. Our report can be shared with your child’s school or used as evidence within an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process if you choose.
How is my child's information handled?
We handle all personal and health information in line with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and NHS information governance standards. Information is shared only with those involved in your child’s care, including West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and your GP, under a formal data sharing agreement. Our full privacy notice is available here.
Is HG Mind Works regulated?
Yes. HG Mind Works Ltd is registered with the Care Quality Commission · Provider ID: 1-25757603783 and operates under the same clinical governance, safeguarding, and quality standards expected of any NHS-commissioned provider.
Who do I contact with questions or concerns?
You can contact our service team on 02081268767 option 3 or westsuffolk@hg-mindworks.com, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. For complaints, please contact the Integrated Community Paediatric Services team or West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).
What if my child needs urgent help?
This service does not provide urgent or crisis care. If you are worried about your child’s immediate safety or mental health, contact your GP, call NHS 111 or in an emergency call 999.
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
We’re always happy to help – get in touch and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Registered with the Care Quality Commission · Provider ID: 1-25757603783
