Enquire have contributed to Children in Scotland’s response to the Scottish Parliament’s inquiry into pathways and support for young people with ADHD and autism, sharing what families have told us.
The Inquiry, conducted by the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, seeks to better understand the reasons for increased demand on services, the impact of delays to assessment and diagnosis and explore solutions to improve capacity and, ultimately, support.
Contributing to Children in Scotland’s response, we highlight what families have shared with us through the work of our helpline including the changing landscape when it comes to understanding need and providing support, as well as the detrimental impact of unmet need on education.
Specifically, we identify:
- An increase in those seeking assessment and diagnosis for ADHD and/or autism could be indicative of increased awareness of the conditions from parents, carers and professionals. This early identification and understanding is a positive step towards ensuring the right support is in place at the earliest opportunity.
- Whilst a diagnosis is not a legal requirement to receive support, we know that in practice this can improve signposting and access to the right provision and support.
- Delays to needs being formally recognised and understood can have an impact not only on education, but on emotional and mental wellbeing and family life. It may also lead to burnout and ultimately absence from school.
- Families feel in a state of limbo whilst awaiting assessment and diagnosis, unsure of where to seek support and with professionals sometimes unsure of how to best support the child without a better understanding of need.
The response also highlights what the young people involved in the Inclusion Ambassadors and Children in Scotland’s Access All Arts Project have identified as potential solutions or improvements. This includes more consistency in the use of support plans, including during periods of transition, along with improvements to resources, capacity and staff training.
The Scottish Parliament’s Inquiry into ADHD and autism pathways and support closed on Monday 18 August.
Read Children in Scotland’s full submission here.