To access the most personalised and timely support for a child or young person, we would recommend that someone who knows them well completes the neurodiversity profiling tool with them and their family first.

The profiling tool can help to pinpoint specific areas of support relevant to the child. As well as identifying ways to support them with neurodiverse needs and differences straight away. More information about the tool is available at the Parent Carers Cornwall website in the neurodiversity section. 

The actions identified from the profiling need to be completed, and strategies and reasonable adjustments trialled for a sustained period of over 12 weeks.  This helps to ensure children and young people access the right help, as soon as possible, and any remaining difficulties can be explored with the knowledge that this support is in place. 

If you are still struggling with how to support a young person after this sustained support, we would invite you to speak to our Multi-disciplinary consultation team to access further support.  This MDT Neurodiversity consultation offer is being developed from April 2024 and will evolve over the next few months.  You can request a consultation with this team by completing the online ‘request for consultation’ form (link to be available from 1^st May) - you must enclose a copy of the completed profiling tool, details of what has been tried, what has worked well and what you feel you need further support with.   You can contact the consultation team by emailing cft.ndconsultation@nhs.net.

The consultation may or may not lead to a recommendation for a referral for a diagnostic assessment.  If a diagnostic assessment is recommended, you will be asked to provide further information to support the assessment.

As part of diagnostic assessment, the ND assessment team will explore Autism and/or ADHD, and as part of those assessments will also explore the following where appropriate:

• learning, sensory and coordination difficulties
• foetal alcohol spectrum disorder
• other neurodevelopmental conditions