Type of service: Diagnostic services

The Elizabeth Newson Centre was set up under the umbrella of Autism East Midlands (formerly NORSACA) in 1994. It is a facility for the families of children with any developmental communication disorder, and is designed to help parents to obtain a specialist diagnostic assessment of their child as early as possible, so as to move towards focused intervention without delay. However, children with such complex problems often receive very late diagnosis or none at all; for this reason, the Centre is always ready to adapt its procedures for older children and young adults and will advise on their future needs, which may have increased in complexity by that time. The service now extends up to the age of 25. The Centre is able to provide comprehensive assessments across the full-range of communication disorders and has particular clinical and research experience in very early intervention, Pathological Demand Avoidance syndrome and counselling approaches for Asperger syndrome. The Centre also offers taining and information.The Centre is led by Pat Smith, Specialist Child Psychologist, with a further Specialist Consultant, Sally Kane. The Centre shares a campus with the Early Years department of Sutherland House School.

Assessment procedure: Play based assessment, some standardised tests, liaison with other professionals, occasional observation in other settings.

Follow up service: Written information service; training for professionals; parent workshops; sibling meetings; legal advice; teenager counselling.

Multi-disciplinary assessment: Yes, professions involved: clinical psychology, speech and language therapy (if necessary), educational psychology.

Aimed at: Adolescent , Child

Referral Sources: NHS and Private

Specialisms: Has autism-specific elements

Other specialisms: Autism, challenging behaviour, children and young people, PDA, children with complex needs