Changes in how children and young people are reviewed and assessed for autism and ADHD in Greater Manchester

NHS Greater Manchester (GM) is making changes to the way children and young people are reviewed and assessed for suspected autism and ADHD. This is to make sure support is offered earlier based on your child or young person’s individual need, and that those with highest need can be seen sooner.

 

This is a Greater Manchester-wide change developed by NHS Greater Manchester through workshops, meetings and surveys involving clinicians, service providers, commissioners, parents, carers, people with lived experience and young people.

As a CAMHS provider, we are working alongside other services across Greater Manchester to implement the process.

The new process is being introduced in phases from January 2026. Changes are being made gradually to ensure children and young people are supported safely during the transition.

Children and young people who meet the new criteria will receive an assessment. However, not every child will meet the criteria for assessment. Importantly, every child will receive a personalised offer of support based on their individual needs, regardless of whether they go through a formal assessment.

We understand how difficult the wait has been. We are developing plans to review all children currently on our waiting lists using the new process and criteria. We will be contacting you soon to make sure we're working with the most up-to-date information about your child's needs. This will help ensure your child receives the right level of support.

All children currently waiting will be reviewed by experienced clinicians. The order in which children are seen may change based on their level of need, as assessed against the new clinically agreed criteria. Children with the highest needs will be prioritised. We know this may be difficult to hear if you've been waiting a long time, but it means children who are struggling most will be seen sooner.

At CAMHS we will focus on assessments for children and young people with moderate to severe mental health needs, or those with moderate to severe functional impairment due to distress. Other children may be assessed through community paediatric services. The initial review will determine which service is most appropriate based on your child's needs.

All children and young people will receive an offer of support from within their local borough. This support is based on individual need, with or without a diagnosis. The new early support offer includes:

  • Neurodevelopmental specialists who can assess your child's strengths and challenges and provide tailored advice
  • Evidence-based interventions – proven strategies to help children and young people
  • Neuro-profiling tool – helps identify your child's learning style, strengths and needs, with strategies for home and school
  • Workshops – for parents on topics like behaviour, communication and coping strategies (online and in-person)
  • New Greater Manchester website – launching soon with self-help resources, toolkits, webinars and a chat messaging service

If you have concerns about your child's individual care, please contact our patient advice and liaison service at:

 

If you have concerns about the changes being made, you can contact NHS Greater Manchester at

  • By email – nhsgm.patientservices@nhs.net
  • By phone – 0161 271 3980, 9am-4pm, Monday-Friday (excluding Bank Holidays)
  • By post to – NHS Greater Manchester, The Tootal Buildings, 56 Oxford St, Manchester M1 6EU