For children, young people and adults waiting for assessment for autism or ADHD there is a range of available support.
We understand that the length of time waiting for services can be frustrating. As a system we are working to improve waiting times for children, young people and their families.
Partners across Birmingham have come together to ensure that support is in place.
Family Support
Birmingham Family Hubs - information, advice, and guidance about many of the different groups and networks who are ready to offer a helping hand or advice to support you and your family. There is help and support for infant feeding, being a parent, parent and infant mental health and early language and early education. From babies to schooling, healthcare and finances and parenting support there’s support for everyone, this is your one-stop-shop to discovering the local support and services available to you at every stage of your family.
All Saints Youth Project – All Saints Youth Project offer parent carer and young people support from their location in Kings Heath.
Advice and Signposting
Home - Local Offer Birmingham - Here you will find help, advice and information about the services available for your child or young person from birth to 25 years with a special educational need or disability (SEND).
Birmingham SENDIASS - Birmingham SENDIASS provides Information Advice and Support to children under 16, young people (16-25) and the families of children and young people who have or may have special educational needs.
The Birmingham Parent Carer Forum - The Birmingham Parent Carer Forum is a group of voluntary parent carers with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Whilst the forum is not a support group, we actively seek to collaborate with all parent carers, parent support groups, community groups, schools, and voluntary and grassroots organisations to gather voices and experiences to influence change and challenge service design.
Autism Support
Autism West Midlands Birmingham Community Hub - Information, advice and support to autistic adults and/or parent carers of adults by phone email or face to face meetings. There is a waiting list for this service.
Birmingham Community Healthcare - Autism support for children and young people
ASD advice line tel: 0121 683 2395 (access to advice for families who are on an ASD diagnosis waiting list)
Autistica Tips Hub | Autism tips and resources to make everyday life easier | Autistica
Communication and Autism Team Parent Offer leaflet - The Communication and Autism Team (CAT for short) is a team within the Specialist SEND support services for mainstream schools in schools in Birmingham Working with Families - Local Offer Birmingham . We have developed a 6-week course for parents/carers called CAT PAC to support understanding around autism as well as giving parents/carers a chance to talk with others.
All Age Autism Directory – A directory where you can search support services that are available within Birmingham and Solihull
Early Help Autism Service | Barnardo's - family support for families under Early Help (Birmingham Children’s Trust)
ADHD Support
Birmingham Community Healthcare's ADHD advice line: 0121 466 3425 or 0121 466 3426
Mental Health Support
Kooth – online mental wellbeing community - is a free, safe and anonymous service to support young people’s emotional and mental health. It provides online support through helpful articles, discussion boards and chats with Kooth team members.
Shout - the UK's free, confidential and 24/7 mental health text service for crisis support | Shout 85258 (giveusashout.org)
Mental Health A-Z | Forward Thinking Birmingham
Resources for Young People | Forward Thinking Birmingham
Resources for Parents and Carers | Forward Thinking Birmingham
Birmingham Healthy Minds – Birmingham Healthy Minds is an NHS primary care psychological therapies service for people with depression and anxiety symptoms for people aged 16 or over registered with a Birmingham GP
Pause hubs - Drop-in mental health support in locations across the city, not requiring a referral - you choose when and how to use our service.
You’ve been missed; Anxiety and Children- Guidance pack for parent carers
Situational Mutism Information Pack – for parent carers, young people and education settings
The Waiting Room - one stop directory for health and wellbeing services across Birmingham and Solihull.
Support whilst waiting for Occupational Theraphy, Physiotheraphy and Speech and Language Therapy
Birmingham Community Healthcare Developing Communication resources
Birmingham Community Healthcare Speech and Language Therapy videos
Birmingham Community Healthcare Physiotherapy common concerns information and advice
Birmingham Community Healthcare Occupational Therapy pre referral problem solving pack
Birmingham Community Healthcare sensory issues advice and resources
Early Years
Birmingham Early Years Networks | Families - Here, you’ll find links to our core projects and to resources, advice, and activities to aid children's development and education.
Birmingham Early Years Networks | Now You're Talking Birmingham - Now You’re Talking Birmingham brings together information, resources, advice, and links for parents and practitioners that support Speech, Language and Communication development.
Birmingham Forward Steps – Information on local children’s centres
Birmingham Forward Steps – Disability Advice
Birmingham Forward Steps – Information on support for families
Waiting times for NHS Autism and ADHD Assessments
Waiting times for the 0-16 years ASD and ADHD assessment pathways can be found on the Birmingham Community Healthcare webpage alongside other helpful information and support
Please find below frequently asked questions regarding a very small number of private ‘Right to Choose’ providers temporarily pausing new referrals for ADHD and/or autism assessments until the end of the 2025/26 financial year. Meanwhile NHS providers and all other Right to Choose providers continue to provide children, young people and adult ADHD or autism assessment referrals as usual.
Q: Why have some autism and ADHD assessment providers paused new referrals?
A: Some private Right to Choose providers have been asked to temporarily pause new referrals for autism and ADHD assessments to help manage demand and ensure they can continue supporting people already in assessment, treatment, or receiving medication reviews. This pause helps maintain continuity of care for existing patients.
Q: Which providers have paused referrals for new autism or ADHD assessments?
A: The following Right to Choose providers have paused new assessments for the remainder of the 2025/26 financial year:
- Clinical Partners
- Psychiatry UK
- ADHD 360
Q: I’m already on a waiting list with one of these providers. What happens now?
A: Patients on waiting lists have been informed by the provider.
If your assessment has already begun, you have an assessment date, or you are awaiting treatment or ADHD medication reviews, your care will continue as planned.
Q: Can I choose a different provider?
A: Yes. Under the NHS Choice Framework, you have a legal Right to Choose your provider for non-urgent mental health assessments, including autism and ADHD.
If you wish to change provider, you will need your GP to make a new referral.
Q: Are NHS autism and ADHD assessments still available?
A: NHS providers, as well as private Right to Choose providers who have not paused referrals, continue to offer assessment referrals as usual.
Q: When will waiting times improve?
A: Reducing waiting times for autism and ADHD assessment is a priority, and the ICB aims to begin reducing waits within six months. However, demand remains high locally and nationally.
Q: Where can I access support while waiting for an assessment?
A: Those waiting for assessment for ADHD and autism can access support while they wait via the Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust website.
Alternatively, support for children and young people can be found here:
- Support while waiting – for children and young people in Birmingham
- Support while waiting – for children and young people in Solihull
- https://the-waitingroom.org/ also has information about support on offer, covering all ages.
There are also resources available online for adults via:
- National Autistic Society – provides advice and guidance on autism assessment, including practical steps to take while waiting
- ADHD UK – offering information, peer support and resources about diagnosis and coping strategies
- Mind – provides information on ADHD, mental health and practical wellbeing tips.
Q: Where can I find the list of current Right to Choose providers?
A: The ICB is updating its list of Right to Choose providers who meet eligibility requirements for autism and ADHD referrals. This will be published on the ICB website in due course.