Diagnostic assessment – what to expect
There are currently waiting lists across Cheshire and Merseyside for diagnostic assessments for children and young people. The resources and support provided through the Knowing ME profiling tool will offer support while families are waiting.
Before the assessment appointment, forms are completed by parents or carers and the child’s school. These forms are a vital part of the assessment, as the most useful assessment information can come from the people who know the child or young person best, in their everyday environments and activities.
The forms will ask questions about family life, experiences, and family history, and these are critical to the assessment. If the child is home-schooled, then a form can also be completed by another person who knows the child well (e.g. a community group leader, tutor, or relative).
Appointment letters will be sent as soon as possible after referrals have been accepted. During the appointment, different professionals meet with the child/young person and family. They gather further information about the child's development, their current presentation, and concerns from the parent/carer. They also spend time with the child/young person to find out all about them and carry out assessments that may be talking or play-based, depending on their age. Following the appointment, further assessments may be needed, such as observing the child/young person in school.
The diagnostic review then considers all of the available assessment information from the young person, parents/carers, and other professionals and places, such as school. The diagnostic assessment teams are multi-disciplinary teams. Diagnostic reviews will involve wider discussion with other teams (e.g. Educational Psychology, or Social Care) when this is needed. Following the diagnostic review, the outcome is shared with the family.
If a child/young person does not receive a diagnosis, advice, support, or strategies should be provided to help the child, young person and family based on learning from the assessment. This may also involve signposting to other services that may be able to offer additional help where relevant.