Manchester – Children – Ages 5 – 16

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Assessment

The list below shows you what services are available depending on where you are in your assessment journey. Whether you suspect you/your child may be Autistic, you are awaiting a formal diagnostic assessment, or you may recently have had such an assessment, there is a service to help.

Pre-assessment

Any information or activity offered to parents/ individuals as a pre-assessment service.

If your child or young person is awaiting an assessment for autism, you will be invited to an online webinar by the Social Communication Pathway team. This event provides some information about neurodiversity, explains what happens in an assessment and will provide links and information about what support is available whilst you wait.

The Social Communication Pathway

The diagnostic services.

Social Communication Pathway – Autism Assessment 

Post-diagnosis

Services / groups/ activities offered after diagnosis.

• The Social Communication Pathway.
• Autism &Learning disabilities team – post diagnostic support: Specialist Community Service – LDA, for parents. Scroll to the right to navigate this page! (padlet.com)

Communication

Autistic people often have some communication differences.
The resource below offer some general advice:

You can find out about the Social Communication Pathway Early Years workshops here:

The Social Communication Pathway

GM resources on communication

Community SALT:
You can access the Community Speech and Language Therapy Advice Padlet:
Speech and Language Therapy Advice Leaflets (padlet.com)

You can watch the series of pre-recorded online parent / carer advice videos.
These are accessed through the Speech and Language Therapy website:
Speech and Language Therapy (children and young people) - Manchester Local Care Organisation (manchesterlco.org)
Navigate to: ‘Speech and Language Therapy Online Workshops’.

Community Speech and Language Therapy – Resources and Signposting 

Sensory

Autistic people often experience their senses differently and understanding this can be the key to supporting the autistic person to self-regulate and understand themselves better:
Here are some useful resources about sensory needs and differences’.

You can find out about the Social Communication Pathway Early Years workshops here: The Social Communication Pathway

Children and Young People’s Occupational Therapy

GM resources on sensory

Physical Health & Co-occuring Conditions

Autistic children/adults may also develop a few co-occurring health issues. These may be physical or mental health conditions.

• Community Paediatrics Service
• School Health Service
• Children’s Special Needs Nursing Service
• GM resources on physical health

Attention & Activity

Autistic children may also have co-occurring conditions that affect attention and activity. Services below may be able to support you with these.

ADHD referral from 6yrs old

You can speak with your child’s GP or school Special Educational Needs Coordinator (Senco) about making a referral to the Children’s and Adolescents Mental Health Service CAMHS for an ADHD assessment.  

 You can find out some more information about ADHD here 

Eating

Due to sensory differences, many autistic children/adults have preferences with eating.

• Community Paediatrics Service
• School Health Service
• Community Eating Disorders Service

GM resources on eating

Sleep

Sleep difficulties are very common for autistic children. Not only can this have a massive impact on the autistic child, but it can impact parents, carers and other family members.

• Children’s Citywide Community Health Services – Sleep Padlet
• Children’s Special Needs Nursing Service – only if child or young person is in a specialist school provision

GM resources on sleep

Understanding Behaviour

Some autistic children have difficulties with communication, sensory experiences and thinking styles. 
This may lead to stress and anxiety related behaviour from the autistic child. Services below can support parents and carers with these behaviours.  

• The Social Communication Pathway.
• Children and Young People’s Occupational Therapy.
• Autism & Learning Disabilities Team Post diagnosis offer – Riding the Rapids.

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Some autistic adolescents may experience co-occurring mental health conditions. The information below lists support available where you live in relation to mental health and well-being support.

• Manchester Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) – Waiting Well Offer
• You can find additional support resources here
• The Social Communication Pathway Young Person’s Padlet – Mental health and wellbeing support

General Advice on Mental Health:

Advice on Mental health

Education

The information below relates to available services and support related to education where you live. 

Manchester Local Offer SEND Hub – SEND Education

GM resources on education

Rights & Entitlement

Listed below are some support services available for autistic people who need support with understanding their rights and entitlement.

Manchester Local Offer SEND Information Hub: Local Offer SEND Information Hub | Help & Support Manchester