Autism and ADHD Services (Neurodevelopmental - Adults)
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Autism and ADHD Assessments for adults.
- Base: Wayside House, Wilsons Lane, Coventry CV6 6NY
- Directorate: Learning Disability and Autism
- Client Age: 18 + (Autism only and Dual Autism and ADHD). 17+ (ADHD only).
- Address: Wayside House, Wilsons Lane, Longford, , Coventry, CV6 6NY
- Service hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday
About us
Our Contact details
Telephone number: 024 7696 1355 (we monitor the answer phone within office hours so please leave a message with details of your enquiry, your name, D.O.B and contact details)
Email: AdultNeurodevelopmental.Team@covwarkpt.nhs.uk
Overview
- You may be referred by your GP for an autism assessment, an ADHD assessment, or an assessment for both.
- Our assessments are designed to help you explore your experiences, understand yourself better, and consider whether a diagnosis may be appropriate and helpful for you.
- During an autism assessment, we explore areas such as communication, sensory experiences, routines, and interests. For a diagnosis, autistic characteristics must have been present from early life and affect different areas of daily living.
- During an ADHD assessment, we explore areas such as attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. For a diagnosis, ADHD characteristics must have been present from early life and affect different areas of daily living.
- Both autism and ADHD come with unique strengths as well as challenges. Through the assessment, we build a clear picture of your individual strengths and needs, and work with you to outline a plan for any ongoing support.
Please Note
We are a diagnostic service. If you already have an ADHD diagnosis and require medication, please see our Adult ADHD Treatment Services page for further information. Alternatively, please contact: ADHDmedsec@covwarkpt.nhs.uk.
For more information and resources for neurodivergent people and their families, visit the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care System website.
Community Autism Support Service (CASS)
If you live in Coventry or Warwickshire and are:
- diagnosed as autistic, or
- waiting for an autism assessment,
CASS may be able to support you, your family, or your carers.
You can begin by calling the Navigation Team, who will explain what support is available.
The CASS team includes autistic people and others with lived experience, such as parents and carers, so they understand the challenges and strengths of being autistic.
Visit the CASS website.
Assessment with Us
You are eligible for an assessment with our service if all of the following apply:
- You are registered with a GP in Coventry or Warwickshire
- You are:
- 18 or over for an autism assessment
- 18 or over for a combined autism and ADHD assessment
- 17 or over for an ADHD assessment
- You do not have a diagnosed learning disability
- You are not currently receiving support from Acute or Community Mental Health Services
You would not be eligible for an autism assessment with our service if you already have an autism diagnosis, including Asperger's syndrome (whether given privately or through the NHS).
You would not be eligible for an ADHD assessment with our service if you already have a diagnosis of ADHD (whether given privately or through the NHS).
Referrals
To access an assessment, please speak with your GP, who can make a referral to our service. Your GP will ask you to complete a short questionnaire to share more about your experiences:
- If you are being referred for an ADHD assessment we will require an ASRS
- If you are being referred for an autism assessment we will require an AQ10
In all referrals, we also request that your GP includes information about your autistic/ADHD experiences, and how they affect your day-to-day life. If you would like to, you can write your own description of your experiences and ask your GP to include this in the referral.
Once we have received the referral, we will contact you to confirm whether it has been accepted.
Please be aware our waiting list is very long. We are working with commissioners to improve this but, at present, please expect to be waiting years to be seen by our service.
Assessment
- An assessment typically involves completing some questionnaires and meeting one of our team over several sessions. They will ask you about your experiences, including any differences you have noticed and how these have changed over time.
- Sometimes, we may ask to speak with someone who knows you well, to gain a fuller picture of your experiences.
- Assessments often take place over video call using secure software called Attend Anywhere. You will be sent clear instructions on how to use this.
- If you need to be seen in person, we can arrange an appointment at one of our clinics across Coventry and Warwickshire.
- At the end of the assessment, the outcome will be discussed with you and the appropriate advice and support will be offered.
- Please see the Neurodevelopmental Flow Chart for a more detailed description of the assessment process.
- The assessment journey can help you, and those close to you, better understand your strengths and support needs. If the assessment identifies that you are neurodivergent, we will work with you to identify if any post diagnostic support will be helpful. This may include individual sessions and/or signposting to other services and resources.
- There are a range of services and support which may be useful whilst you await an assessment. Pre Assessment Support Information Booklet 2024.pdf [pdf] 2MB .
Post Diagnostic Support
The Adult Neurodevelopmental Service have a range of post diagnostic support options that will be discussed with you following your assessment.
This may include specialist support from our Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists or Assistant Psychologists- however this will be discussed during your assessment so that a joint decision about helpful next steps can be agreed.
Please see below for a range of videos on topics relating to neurodiversity, which you can view in your own time.
Glossary of terms
Neurodivergent:
A person who has a neurodevelopmental diagnosis, such as Autism or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
or
a person who self-identifies as being Autistic or having an ADHD profile
Neurotypical:
A person who does not have a neurodevelopmental diagnosis (such as autism or ADHD)
nor do they self-identify as being autistic or having an ADHD profile
Neurodiverse:
Represents a population of people with differing brain types.
For example, a group containing a mix of neuro-typical and neurodivergent people
Disclaimer statement
These videos have been recorded in January/February 2024. Please be aware, with ongoing research in these topic areas, both knowledge and language used is often evolving.
These videos have been produced and recorded in partnership with neurodivergent adults.
PLEASE NOTE: The strategies suggested are for ideas only (you may have tried some or all) and are suggested to help you consider any areas of life that feel hard at the moment and how you might make things easier. We also acknowledge that, sometimes people will suggest ideas with good intent, but that can feel frustrating - sometimes you just want people to hear and accept it's a challenge. We want to recognise that doing what is right for you is valid and important.
What is Autism?
What is ADHD?
Understanding your sensory needs: Part one
Neurodiverse communication
Executive function and monotropism
Neurodivergent communication: Self-support strategies
Double empathy
Masking
Neurodivergent language
Understanding your sensory needs: Part two
Disclosing your diagnosis
Boundaries
Life balance and energy accounting
Managing emotions
Self esteem and support strategies
If you would like to leave feedback on any of the above videos, please fill in this survey.
Meet the Team
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Andreia Gomes |
I graduated in Portugal and with a Masters in Speech and Auditory Sciences, my experience includes working with neurodivergent children, teenagers, adults and their families. My cross-country experience increased my awareness of how language difficulties and cultural diversity impacts our social interactions, which enabled me to approach clients with a 'new set of eyes and ears'. I work as a Speech and Language Therapist in the Adult Neurodevelopmental Team. My role in this team is to support clients after diagnosis and helping them to recognise their communication strengths. In my spare time I enjoy reading, going to the gym, spending time with family and friends. My passion is being by the sea and visiting Portugal, where I grew up. You might have contact with me
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 Beverley Bennett Occupational Therapist |
I am an Occupational Therapist with the Adult Neurodevelopmental Team. I am newly qualified and have experience of working in adult mental health services. I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and have run a peer support group for several years. I work with people who have received a diagnosis of Autism and/or ADHD, to provide practical support to do the activities (occupations) which are important to you. I like to visit museums and art galleries, drink coffee, and spend time on my canal boat.
You might have contact with me:
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 Felicity Larson Senior Clinical Psychologist |
I'm a clinical psychologist and I work in the School Age and Adult Neurodevelopmental teams doing autism and ADHD assessments. I've worked in lots of different areas of psychology and I have a keen interest in how the human brain works, particularly how it develops and changes over time. I have a pet parrot and a pet cat that I adore - I love seeing your animals when we do video assessments; please show them to me as it will make my day! I'm originally from America but fully settled in the UK for many years now - you might still hear my accent.
You might have contact with me
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Helen Pearce |
My name is Helen Pearce and I am part of the Admin Support Team with the Neurodevelopmental Service. In my spare time I enjoy pottery and have recently brought my own potter's wheel and kiln!
You might have contact with me
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Hi, I am Jessica! I am an Assistant Psychologist in the Adult Neurodevelopmental team. I have lots of experience of assessment and interventions with neurodivergent adults and have a particular interest working with neurodivergence and co-occurring mental health conditions, such as trauma, PTSD, Anxiety and depression. I enjoy supporting people to learn more about themselves and make sense of their experiences. I am autistic, and you may see me wearing bright colours/patterns, and lots of checkerboard print! In my spare time, I enjoy many crafts such as crochet, circuit crafts and digital design. I also take aerial hoop classes every week. You might have contact with me:
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 Kat Stretton Occupational Therapist |
I am an Occupational Therapist within the Adult Neurodevelopmental Team. I have experience working with neurodivergent adults and of working within adult mental health services. My role within the team focuses on post-diagnostic interventions and occupational therapy specific assessment and intervention following diagnosis. In my spare time I enjoy watching live comedy, reading crime thrillers, and family days out.
You might have contact with me
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 Katie Ward Admin Support |
My name is Katie Ward, I am a part of the Admin Support Team within the Adult Neurodevelopmental Service. In my spare time I spend lots of quality time with my family.
You might have contact with me
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Kayleigh Brown |
I work as a Clinical Psychologist in the Adult Neurodevelopmental Service in Coventry and Warwickshire. I have a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and have experience of working with children, young people and adults with neurodiverse presentations. I engage with clients to explore whether autism and/or ADHD provides a helpful way of understanding their strengths and areas of need. I also work with mental health colleagues to support them to make reasonable adjustments to autistic clients. My hobbies are playing piano, reading, climbing, and spending time with family and friends. I also love being by the sea and visiting Wales, where I grew up. You might have a contact with me:
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 Lindsey Mitchell Occupational Therapist |
I am an Occupational Therapist within the Adult Neurodevelopmental Team. I have previously worked with children with learning disabilities and neurodivergent children, adults and families. My role in the team is to work with people who have received a diagnosis of Autism and/or ADHD, to provide practical support to help you do the activities (occupations) that matter to you. In my spare time I enjoy gardening, reading psychological thrillers and craft activities - particularly making things out of glass. I love dogs and have a Jack Russell terrier who hates the rain.
You might have contact with me:
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Hi, I am Lisa. I am the Matron for the Adult Neurodevelopmental team. I have worked for Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust for over 20 years. I started my career as a Learning disability nurse before moving to more senior positions. I have developed a particular interest working with neurodivergence and with multiple complexities. I enjoy supporting my team to think creatively to deliver the best possible services that we can within the resources that we have. In my spare time, I enjoy adventures with my family. I've recently taken up paddleboarding and I'm looking forward to restarting aerial hoop. You might have contact with me:
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I am the Adult Services Team Lead as well as a qualified Occupational Therapist. I have worked the majority of my career in Adult Mental Health and Neurodevelopmental Services. My role is to support the staff who work with in our service, as well as help clients understand whether a diagnosis ADHD would be helpful to them. In my spare time you will likely find me with friends, family or swimming
You might have contact with me
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Hi, I am Becky. I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in the Adult Neurodevelopmental team. I tend to be involved with leadership issues and supporting my colleagues to deliver our services in the most neuro affirmative way possible. I spend a lot of time working with carers and professionals to help them to think about the impact of neurodiversity on someone's life. I also support individuals, teams and services to make sense of the overlaps between neurodiversity and mental health. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time in nature. I have lots of pets and am a keen amateur gardener. I practice martial arts and like challenging myself to be active and healthy. I am currently learning how to ride a motorbike.
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Sarah Leddy |
I work as a Speech and Language Therapist in the Adult Neurodevelopmental Team. I have experience of working with neurodivergent children, teenagers, adults and their families. My role in this team is to help clients understand whether a diagnosis of Autism and/or ADHD would be helpful to them. I also support clients after diagnosis and am passionate about helping people recognise their communicative strengths. In my spare time I enjoy long walks with my dog, going to the gym, coffee, cake and all things Biscoff related!
You might have contact with me:
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Jessica Coton 
Lisa Jones 
Rebecca Shaw 