Private ASD assessment Sussex

[champagnetruffleshuffle]

I posted about this on SEN but I think it was the wrong board as no replies.

We started a CAMHS referral with DD16 secondary school at the beginning of this year. I've tried to chase but no joy. I spoke to a different department Thursday and was told that as yet they haven't looked at her screening questionnaires and this initial stage alone could be 2 years. Then we'll have years to wait of she is placed on a waiting list.

She is really struggling with 6th form and we need help asap. Thinking we'll need to take out a loan and go private. But I've no idea where to go from here. With documentaries on Panorama etc, I'm nervous of going to the wrong place and wasting time. I need to get this right for her as we're chasing our tails now.

Can anyone recommend services in Sussex? Ideally central/east sussex but can travel for the right place.

Thanks for your help mumsnetters!

Surely if it's going to take 2 years to look at her questionnaire, she'll be 18 and come under adult services?

We had a similar problem with DS and ADHD screening. Passed from one service to another because of age, letters lost etc. Ended up getting assessed as an adult pretty quickly.

DD is 16 and on the pathway for ADHD & ASD and was first seen at 15. Was told they'd try and expedite things due to her age, that was in March and we've not heard anything since.

I've not got any recommendations but hopefully, someone will be along soon

Yes, she will come under adult services if we wait. But she needs help now so we'll have to go private.

It sounds like we're on the same timeline as you. Hopefully someone can help us both.

@champagnetruffleshuffle did you get any recommendations? We used Family Practice Group earlier this year. They're based in Oxfordshire but once a month their psychologist Katherine comes to Brighton for the face to face ADOS. The screening and ADIR (parent bit) and all supporting questionnaires are online.

@champagnetruffleshuffle hello. I'm going through something very similar with my DD 17. Would it be OK to message you?

@WhatsitWiggle Sorry, I didn't see your message. Thank you for the recommendation.

Since I last posted there have been some developments and we are currently not going private.

We started our referral in March because dd wasn't coping at all with the pressure of her GCSEs and we needed to get her some help. We've often suspected asc but she generally copes alright with life, then her form mentor at secondary also mention asc at that time. Nothing developed with camhs during her GCSEs but we got her through and things settled.

Dd sixth form tutor has been amazing, he has liaised with all her teachers and the additional support team, dd now has study support sessions and extra time in exams and we are looking into talking therapy for her to help her cope with stress.

Camhs wrote to us last month to say her screening packs have been looked at and she is on a waiting list for a full asc assessment. We know this may be years but for now we are going to hold off going private.

@Bookridden sorry you are going through it too. I was given a couple of recommendations from a friend and I'm happy to share them, feel free to message me.

Thank you very much, I haven't heard of this and will take a look.