Case Study 6 -Through a Health ? Care Pathway, Worcestershire LEA established a team to improve the service for children with communication and social behaviour difficulties. The team is a group of health and education specialists consisting of:
Team co-ordinator
Consultant Paediatrician
Speech and Language Therapist
Clinical Psychologist
Occupational Therapist / Physiotherapist, as required
Educational Psychologist
CSSS Specialist Teacher
and is named the Communication and Social Behaviour Assessment Team (CASBAT), with the purpose of:
Determining if the pupil has an ASD
If ASD is confirmed, following this up
Providing support
Providing advice
If ASD is not identified, passing the case on to appropriate agencies
The outcomes have been:
A clear and consistent pathway
A thorough assessment in a number of situations
A detailed, useful report
Advice and support
Inter-agency planning
Targeted resources.
The CASBAT team models the assessment around the NIASA (National Initiative for Autism: Screening and Assessment) National Autism Plan for Children guidelines on assessment and are working towards developing an integrated management service.
This includes providing:
Support groups for parents and/or siblings
Training for schools on the management of pupils with ASD, ASD awareness for individuals and their peer groups, social skills training groups, and so on
A consultation service for families to access advice
Access to psychiatric care where co-morbid diagnosis is present and medication may be required.
There are three regional groups which meet monthly, the meetings last for approximately three to four hours.