Table 2.
Meeting NICE guidance and quality standard
| Paediatrics (n=72) | CAMHS (n=46) | Integrated (n=10) | MV | |||||
| Assessments always meet NICE guidance | 9 | 12.5% | 10 | 21.7% | 4 | 40.0% | 3 | |
| Mostly meet NICE guidance | 32 | 44.4% | 26 | 56.5% | 5 | 50.0% | ||
| Around half meet NICE guidance | 6 | 8.3% | 2 | 4.3% | 1 | 10.0% | ||
| Less than half meet NICE guidance | 11 | 15.3% | 2 | 4.3% | 0 | – | ||
| Rarely meet NICE guidance | 10 | 13.9% | 4 | 8.7% | 0 | – | ||
| Never meet NICE guidance | 2 | 2.8% | 1 | 2.2% | 0 | – | ||
| Responses about teams’ ability to meet the NICE QS | ||||||||
| a. Children or young people with possible autism who are referred to an autism team for a diagnostic assessment have the diagnostic assessment started within 3 months of their referral. | Always | 19 | 26.4% | 16 | 34.8% | 2 | 20.0% | 0 |
| Sometimes | 29 | 40.3% | 11 | 23.9% | 5 | 50.0% | ||
| Rarely | 17 | 23.6% | 15 | 32.6% | 2 | 20.0% | ||
| Never | 7 | 9.7% | 4 | 8.7% | 1 | 10.0% | ||
| b. Children having a diagnostic assessment for autism are also assessed for co-existing physical health conditions and mental health problems. | Always | 53 | 73.6% | 26 | 56.5% | 7 | 70.0% | 0 |
| Sometimes | 17 | 23.6% | 19 | 41.3% | 2 | 20.0% | ||
| Rarely | 2 | 2.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | – | ||
| Never | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 2.2% | 1 | 10.0% | ||
| c. Families have a personalised plan that is developed and implemented in a partnership between them and their family and carers (if appropriate) and the autism team. | Always | 31 | 43.1% | 23 | 50.0% | 8 | 80.0% | 3 |
| Sometimes | 22 | 30.6% | 14 | 30.4% | 0 | – | ||
| Rarely | 12 | 16.7% | 4 | 8.7% | 0 | – | ||
| Never | 4 | 5.6% | 5 | 10.9% | 2 | 20.0% | ||
| d. Families are offered a named key worker to coordinate the care and support detailed in their personalised plan. | Always | 13 | 18.1% | 22 | 47.8% | 5 | 50.0% | 2 |
| Sometimes | 15 | 20.8% | 8 | 17.4% | 2 | 20.0% | ||
| Rarely | 21 | 29.2% | 4 | 8.7% | 0 | – | ||
| Never | 22 | 30.6% | 11 | 23.9% | 3 | 30.0% | ||
| e. Families have a documented discussion with a member of the autism team about opportunities to take part in age-appropriate psychosocial interventions to help address the core features of autism. | Always | 28 | 38.9% | 20 | 43.5% | 7 | 70.0% | 3 |
| Sometimes | 16 | 22.2% | 13 | 28.3% | 1 | 10.0% | ||
| Rarely | 14 | 19.4% | 6 | 13.0% | 0 | – | ||
| Never | 13 | 18.1% | 5 | 10.9% | 2 | 20.0% | ||
| f. Children with autism are not prescribed medication to address the core features of autism. | Agree | 71 | 98.6% | 42 | 91.3% | 10 | 10.0% | 0 |
| Disagree | 1 | 1.4% | 4 | 8.7% | 0 | – | ||
| g. Children with autism who develop behaviour that challenges are assessed for possible triggers, including physical health conditions, mental health problems and environmental factors. | Always | 29 | 40.3% | 23 | 50.0% | 7 | 70.0% | 2 |
| Sometimes | 34 | 47.2% | 23 | 50.0% | 1 | 10.0% | ||
| Rarely | 5 | 6.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 20.0% | ||
| Never | 2 | 2.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | – | ||
| h. Children with autism and behaviour that challenges are not offered antipsychotic medication for the behaviour unless it is being considered because psychosocial or other interventions are insufficient or cannot be delivered because of the severity of the behaviour. | Agree | 69 | 95.8% | 43 | 93.5% | 8 | 80.0% | 1 |
| Disagree | 3 | 4.2% | 2 | 4.3% | 2 | 20.0% | ||
CAMHS, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service; MV, missing value; NICE, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; QS, quality standard.