Umbrella Pathway - Information for children and families

We fully understand that when your child is accessing healthcare services and going through assessments and appointments, it can be a really challenging and stressful time for parents and families. You may also have lots of different questions, and so we want to provide as much clarity as possible so you are clear about what to expect. Here is a list of Frequently Asked Questions which we hope will help:

How long do we have to wait for the appointment? 

We understand that everyone wishes to be seen as soon as possible and it can be difficult to wait for an appointment without an approximation of timescale. However, due to extremely high demands on our service, it is currently difficult to outline exact waiting times for your child’s initial appointment. Please be reassured that your child will be offered an appointment as soon as one becomes available.

We are working really hard to bring the waiting times down as quickly as we can. In the meantime we will provide you with links and other resources which may help you and your child while you wait for the appointment.

What will happen in the assessment?

If the session is in a clinic, then the parent/carer will need to attend the appointment with their child. You and your child will meet with one or two clinicians. The clinician(s) you meet with will ask you questions to get to know your child better.

This might include asking about what your child was like when they were younger, some information about their developmental milestones, early school life and what they are like now. Sometimes it will focus mainly on doing activities with your child. 

You don’t need to bring anything or prepare anything specifically, but it can be helpful to have a think about what your child was like when they were younger or what you feel are their main strengths or concerns now.

You will be able to attend with your child, but sometimes we might ask for some time to do some activities with your child whilst you wait outside of the room. This just helps us to understand your child a bit better. 

The assessment typically lasts between 1-1.5 hours, although sometimes this is a little shorter or longer.

Sometimes assessments are completed in the school setting. The clinician might observe your child in the classroom/playground and carry out some activities with them. You don’t usually need to attend for this assessment, but the clinician may phone you for some more information.

What if I don’t want to discuss something about my child in front of them?

It is understandable that sometimes there can be things about your child or personal circumstances that you do not wish to discuss in front of them. It is still important that you bring your child along to the appointment with you, as the clinician will need to speak with them and complete some activities with them. 

You may wish to bring another adult along to the appointment that can take care of your child away from the clinic room for a short period whilst you speak with the clinician.

If this is not possible then you may want to write some short points down to give to the clinician or a short phone call can sometimes be arranged to gather any information that cannot be shared in the clinic room.

My child is finding things really difficult, and they haven’t had their assessment yet. What can I do to support them?

The Umbrella team understands that you will be keen to access support for your child as soon as possible, particularly if they are finding some things difficult. You will have received the “How can I support my child” leaflet, which has lots of different organisations, books and website with helpful ideas to explore to support your child. It can also be helpful to talk with your child’s school about what support may be available to them.

What happens after the assessment?

You don’t need to do anything further. You will be contacted when there is any feedback or further appointments. You will receive a written report from the clinician(s) that saw your child. Your child will then be placed on the waiting list for any further assessment if that is required, or for a discussion between members of the Umbrella Team about your child. Once the discussion has taken place you will be contacted and offered a telephone appointment to discuss the outcome of your child’s
assessment with a clinician.

What happens when the assessments are completed?

The Umbrella Pathway service is an assessment service, so your child does not need to continue to see us again once the assessment is completed. You will have the opportunity to discuss the outcome of your child’s assessment with one of the Umbrella Pathway Team. 

Your child will receive a report from the team that explains if your child has been given a diagnosis of Autism. This will be shared with your child’s school and GP. A copy is also sent to the Complex Communication Needs (CCN) team so that they have a baseline of your child’s needs at the time of assessment.

You will receive some information and advice around where you can access further support in the Worcestershire area to help manage your child’s needs.

What happens if my child doesn’t get a diagnosis of Autism?

Following completion of all the assessments and a discussion between the Umbrella Team, a clinician will speak with you on a telephone call to discuss the outcome of the assessments and whether this means a diagnosis of Autism has been made. If a diagnosis of Autism is not made, the clinician will talk to you about why your child did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis and what further support may be available.

What about if my child gets a private diagnosis elsewhere in the UK?

Clinicians are guided by NICE guidelines in the UK and if your child was felt to have met the criteria for Autism by another diagnostic team of professionals there is no need for a referral to the Umbrella pathway unless you are in dispute over the conclusion that they have come to.

The Umbrella Pathway team are not commissioned to redo assessments that have already been completed by recognised and respected diagnostic colleagues who work in other areas.

My child has had other assessments in the school environment. Would it be useful for the umbrella team to know about these?

It is really helpful for the Umbrella team to have all of the information about your child. Additional information that you can provide about other assessments that have been completed, can help the team to understand your child better.