Paloma Health | NHS Autism assessment

What to expect during the assessment

If you suspect your child is autistic, we understand how emotional and overwhelming this time can be. Here's what you can expect during the assessment.

Access to the online platform

Once you start the assessment, you’ll access an online platform with valuable autism-related information, curated by our clinicians. You’ll find easy-to-navigate resources on mental health, autism, diet, and lifestyle, available anytime to support and guide you.

Online questionnaires

1 hour

You and your child’s school will answer questions covering development, behaviour, strengths, and needs. This helps us understand your child’s unique profile.

Video call with you

90 min

We’ll have a detailed discussion about your child’s behaviour, communication, and social interactions to better understand them.

In-person observation with your child

45 min

Our specialist clinicians will observe your child during tasks, questions, and play, tailored to their age. This in-person session will be held at one of our centres in Norfolk or Devon*, or remotely*.

Outcome meeting

20 min

You’ll receive a clear report with recommendations from a multidisciplinary team. You then meet on a video call with your clinician to review the results, address questions, and discuss home, school adjustments, or next steps.

*If you want to be referred to the Devon or remote service, make sure your GP submits your referral after the 27th. Referrals sent before the 27th will only be for current services. Once you start your pathway, switching won't be possible and requires a new referral.
You can get notified about the new services here.

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Frequently asked questions

Why are your wait times for an autism assessment so much shorter than with the NHS?

The Government is dedicated to giving patients in England more choice and control over their healthcare. With the 'NHS Choice Framework', you have the freedom to choose your assessment provider. As an independent NHS provider, we are able to quickly adapt and keep waiting times to a minimum. Currently, we are proud to have no waiting list.

How fast is the assessment?

The speed of the assessment depends on how quickly we receive responses from you and your child’s school, and your availability for appointments. From referral, a diagnosis could be provided within 2-3 weeks.

How can I get a referral from my NHS GP?

Your NHS GP will need to refer your child to Paloma Health for an autism assessment. Please book an appointment with them and direct them to complete our referral form.

Please note, we can currently only accept referrals for children between the ages of 6 and 18, living in England.

Click here to read useful tips for the conversation with your NHS GP.

How long is the wait?

We currently have no wait.

Once we have received your referral, you immediately get access to our Patient Portal. You can complete your questionnaires and book your appointments in there.

My GP is hesitant to provide a referral because they are not familiar with Paloma Health. What should I do?

If your GP has any questions they can speak to Dr Kate Bennett, our Lead Clinical Psychologist. Please ask them to email support@paloma.health directed at Kate, and we will answer all their questions.

Who will conduct the assessment?

Each assessment is completed by two trained clinicians, specialising in diagnosing autism in children and young people.

How much does the assessment cost?

There are no costs for our service for parents. People in England are able to ask for a referral at an NHS registered GP. Our partnership and funding from the NHS allow us to provide this service at no charge to you.

Where will my child’s observation appointment take place?

The in-person observation will take place at one of our clinics in Norfolk. The rest of the assessment will be done remotely via video call (or phone if needed).

From 27th January onwards the observation can take place in Devon or remotely. If you want to be referred to the Devon or remote service, make sure your GP submits your referral after the 27th. Referrals sent before the 27th will be for the Norfolk services. Once you start your pathway, switching won't be possible and requires a new referral.

I'm not in Norfolk or Devon, is my child still eligible for the assessment?

Your child is eligible for the assessment if you have a referral from your NHS GP in England and can attend the observation session in Norfolk, or remotely* or Devon* from late January onwards.

*If you want to be referred to the remote or Devon service, make sure your GP submits your referral after the 27th. Referrals sent before the 27th will only be for the Norfolk services. Once you start your pathway, switching won't be possible and requires a new referral.

What will my clinician ask me?

The clinician and parent appointment will cover your child's strengths, needs, preferences, dislikes, and developmental history.

The observation appointment is with you and your child, and the clinician observes your child’s behaviours and mannerisms.

Using this information, we will review the DSM-5 criteria to determine if a diagnosis is appropriate.

Once completed, the results and any recommendations for further support or treatment will be shared with you.

What if the clinicians don’t observe the same behaviours I do?

Our clinicians are experienced in, and trained on, recognising the diverse ways autism can present. Our assessments are carefully designed to identify more subtle traits and symptoms, how autism can be different in females, and to look out for masking and camouflaging.

Will my GP get the outcome report and diagnosis (if applicable)?

We will securely share the outcome report with your GP as an approved NHS partner.

We always take the school’s observations into account, as this is an integral part of the assessment. To diagnose autism, it must be clear in multiple environments. As school is very structured, it is often a great place to be able to see it. However, if school does not report any observations of autistic traits, it does not mean there will be no diagnosis, as there can be other reasons for this. Autistic children can be ‘model’ students as they follow rules very well and quietly get on with their work. They can mask and make it seem like all is well but then have a ‘meltdown’ as soon as they get home. Our team are very familiar with this and will take everything into account when assessing.

What happens if my child is too anxious in the assessment?

Our team are very experienced in working with young people and understand that sometimes an assessment can be a stressful experience for the family. As experts in the field and trained in working with children, we will do our very best to put your child (and the whole family) at ease and are very skilled at engaging even the most shy and anxious children.

Will my child's diagnosis be accepted by the NHS/school?

Our assessments fully comply with NICE guidelines and we are NHS-approved. We use the highest quality and well-regarded clinical model within our service. Importantly, your child will be seen by a doctor as part of the assessment, which isn't always the case with private assessments. This means a diagnosis made by our service will be accepted by the NHS, schools/colleges, and any other governmental support entities.

What happens if my child is not diagnosed with autism?

Behaviours seen in autism can also be seen in other neurodevelopmental or mental health conditions. And, a child's experiences can affect how they develop and sometimes this can look like autism.

We will consider all these factors in your child's assessment and provide you with our understanding of what the possible causes of your child's difficulties are, so the best support and understanding can be offered.

All children assessed will receive recommendations and a strengths and needs profile, whether they get an autism diagnosis or not.

Is autism different in girls?

Whilst the assessment process and diagnostic criteria are the same across the gender spectrum, it is true that autistic girls can present very differently to autistic boys.

The criteria on which a diagnosis is made is largely known to be associated with symptoms in boys and men, and this can mean that girls who are autistic may go undiagnosed.

Boys often present their symptoms in a more obvious or ‘stereotypical’ way, whereas girls may have more subtle traits. This is because they often learn how to hide their symptoms (also known as ‘masking’) in order to fit in with their peers.

As clinical experts in ASD, we are used to seeing it present in many different ways. Our assessments are designed to take masking and camouflaging into account – especially in girls. Our team are very well trained in understanding the female presentation of autism.

My child is home-schooled, can I still follow this assessment?

Don’t worry, this won’t affect the assessment. We will ask for a report from another suitable professional, or someone outside of the home who knows your child well.

I have an urgency with my child. Can Paloma Health support me?

Paloma Health is not an emergency service and we are unable to provide out of hours support.

If you or your child need urgent help, please either dial 999, go to your closest Accident and Emergency (A&E) service or contact your GP depending on the urgency of the need. You can also get advice from 111 or using 111 online.

I still have some questions. How can I get in touch?

If you have any questions that weren’t answered here, please reach out to us via our contact form. We’re available Monday to Friday during working hours and aim to respond within two working days.