NDAS (Neuro Developmental Assessment Service)

Update: 10th October 2024

NDAS provides a diagnostic pathway for children and young people presenting with neurodevelopmental difficulties. Neurodevelopmental disorders are a group of conditions that usually show before a child enters primary school. They are indicated by developmental difficulties that may make it difficult for a child to function in personal, social, academic, or occupational circumstances. NDAS provides an assessment to diagnose what the neurodevelopmental difficulty is so that children, their families and those around them have a better understanding of how to support that child in day-to-day life.

The waiting list to access NDAS has been increasing, along with the time it takes to get to an assessment. To tackle this, NHS Highland and The Highland Council have created an NDAS Programme Board, a group of key clinical and managerial leaders. This group have come together to create and deliver an improvement plan to ensure that the children who need to access NDAS can do so quickly and easily.

This group will meet monthly to oversee and guide the work that has already started, and make sure that improvements are being made. The group has now met twice (11 September and 09 October 2024). It has been agreed that:

  • In all things, we will adhere to the principles and values of Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC).

  • The routes into and out of NDAS will be mapped out and reviewed. We have developed a template to capture the workforce and resource we have across NHS Highland and The Highland Council. Our next step is to discuss how we can use this most effectively and flexibly to meet the needs of service users and families.

  • The carers of those currently on the waiting list will be contacted and updated. This has been done, and all families should have received direct communications from NDAS.

  • We are developing plans to make sure that we can see those who are already on our waiting list as soon as possible.

  • We are developing a proposal to ensure that we engage with those with lived and living experience, to make sure that improvements to the service are informed by service users and their families and to make sure it meets their needs.

  • We will work with our partners and the 3rd sector to make sure that support and information on how to manage neurodevelopmental difficulties is available and easily accessible.

  • The referral process (the way children access NDAS and the information given by anyone asking for an assessment of a child) is under review. This is to make sure that NDAS has the information it needs so that a child receives the right type of care quickly, and to make sure that families are involved from the very start. We aim to have the new referral process in place in December 2024.

The Programme Board will ensure that regular updates are provided to colleagues, partners, and the public, to keep everyone updated of progress.

If you would like information, advice and support, more information can be found here:

www.thepineshighland.com - Resources to support families/carers and young people are available on the website. This includes information about different neurodevelopmental conditions and ideas to help. There are social stories and visual schedules, details of upcoming Pines events and access to the Pines Library. They also have a broad selection of training films created by members of the Pines team.

Thriving Families (previously known as CHIP+): This Highland-wide charity aims to give families confidence, empowering them to know their rights, know what questions to ask and have their voices heard. They provide an independent information, advice and support service for families with children (up to age 25) with additional support needs. They also offer digital peer support.

Email: info@thrivingfamilies.org.uk

Phone: 07514 120 288 www.facebook.com/thrivingfamilies www.thrivingfamilies.org.uk

Thank you,

NDAS Programme Board