Support while you wait for an assessment
There is support in the community that you can access without a diagnosis, whilst you wait for an assessment, or before a referral has been made.
Support for Parents and Carers
Local Offer
A Local Offer gives children and young people, who have Special Educational Needs (SEN) and/or a disability, information in one place. It provides information about services and provisions that are available for parents, children and young people.
Supporting your neurodivergent child: This booklet has been created by parents, for parents, of neurodivergent children, which includes Autism ADHD. It has been designed by Essex Family Forum alongside local charities, NHS and Social Care organisations.
Essex Family Forum: The parent/ carer forum in Essex for families whose children and young people, up to the age of 25, who have special educational needs or disabilities.
National Autistic Society: A national charity providing support and information for Autistic People and their families.
ADHD Foundation: Provides health and education services for people with ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions.
Autistic Girls Network: Support and education to help Autistic girls, women and gender diverse people.
Financial Support: You may be entitled to apply for financial support to help pay for additional equipment or activities your child may require in order to help them thrive. Access information:
Ambitious about Autism: A charity supporting Autistic people and their families.
Support for Young People
Spectrum Gaming: UK based charity where autistic young people connect with others and develop friendships in a safe space with the support of autistic adults.
Teen Sleep Hub: Advice, support and strategies to support teenagers who are experiencing sleep difficulties.
MYOTAS (My Own Time and Space): A charity supporting neurodivergent children and their families. They provide groups for children and young people including Woodland Warriors, Mindful Crafts and Yoga.
Young Minds: A national charity providing support to young people with their mental health.
Support at School
School SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator): If your child needs more support at school, please speak to the school’s. A child does not require a diagnosis to receive support in school.
Essex SENDIASS: Provides free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support about Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) for children and young people (0-25) and their parents/carers living in Essex.
IPSEA: Helping children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) get the education they are entitled to by law
Support at home (meltdowns, sleep, eating etc)
Emotional Regulation: This is how people experience and respond to their emotions. Some neurodivergent people can experience their emotions more intensely or have difficulty interpreting and describing how they feel. Sometimes people will bottle their feelings and emotions and then have big outbursts then they get home.
A ‘meltdown’ is often an external expression that could include shouting, crying, hitting out, and a ‘shutdown’ may look like complete withdrawal. When a person is experiencing a meltdown or shutdown it is important to keep them safe and let them know you are there for them.
This video offers ideas and strategies to support your understanding of emotional regulation.
Further resources for emotional regulation include:
Anxiety: Anxiety is a feeling that some people will experience at some point in their life.
This video offers ideas and strategies to support your understanding of emotional regulation.
Further resources for Anxiety include:
National Autistic Society: Anxiety in Autistic people
Autistic Girls Network: Autism and Anxiety with Dr. Luke Beardon (video)
Sleep: Some neurodivergent children find settling and staying asleep difficult. This video provides advice and support around sleep strategies.
Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing
The Autism and ADHD assessment pathway is not an emergency service. If you have your child is experiencing a mental health crisis they will most likely appear very distressed and worried and you require urgent support to help them:
- They might want to hurt themselves or someone else
- They might be feeling actively suicidal
- They might hear strange noises or feel that people are watching them or wanting to hurt them.
SET-CAMHS are a 24 hour, 7 day a week service. Use the following details to contact the service –
Monday – Friday 9.00AM – 5:00PM
Call SET CAMHS on Freephone 0800 953 0222
After 5:00PM: If your concerns escalate about your child outside of these hours, please call Mental Health Direct on freephone 0800 995 1000 (Out of Hours / Weekend or Bank Holidays).
If it is an emergency, immediate danger to life/safety dial 999 or visit Accident and Emergency (A&E).
If you feel concerned about your child/young person but do not feel they need immediate/emergency intervention, please phone the SET-CAMHS day time number during work hours.
Resources to support mental health and wellbeing
Anna Freud advice for children who self-harm
Referrals
