About the Social Communication Pathway (SCP) team
We are currently undergoing some changes in the SCP team and we will keep you updated.
Currently, the SCP team work with children and young people who have differences with the following:
- Social relationships
- Expressing and understanding feelings
- Communication
- Changes to routine/unexpected changes
- Sensitivity to sensory input such as noise, textures and tastes
- Young people may also have special interests and things they are very good at
Some children and young people experience these differences because they are autistic (also known as autism spectrum disorder or autistic spectrum condition). Some children and young people have these differences but are not autistic. The SCP’s job is to work with children/young people and their families to see if the child/young person is autistic.
The SCP is a multi-disciplinary team, which means lots of different professionals can contribute to an autism assessment. This includes:
- Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
- Clinical Psychologist
- Speech and Language Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Mental Health Practitioner
- Educational Psychologist from OneEducation
- Consultant Paediatrician
Our Team Includes:
- Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
- Clinical Psychologist
- Speech and Language Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Mental Health Practitioner
- Educational Psychologist from OneEducation
- Consultant Paediatrician
Social Communication Pathway Location
In need of urgent help?
Get Urgent Help NowAll About Neuro-Developmental Assessments
What is a neuro-developmental assessment?
A neuro-developmental or ND assessment will establish if a child or young person might have a particular diagnosis such as Autism or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
Autism and ADHD are characterised by differences in thinking styles.
Children and Young people with Autism and/or ADHD may have differences in terms of
· Expressing and understanding feelings
· Communication
· Embracing change
· Sensory experiences
· Concentration and attention
· Social relationships
The assessment often involves meeting the young person and their parents and understanding more about their preferences, likes, dislikes, strengths and challenges. There may be a one-to-one assessment with the young person using play-based activities or a computer test around attention and concentration. Parents and school may be asked to complete some questionnaires or provide additional information about learning and language development. The clinical team may ask to visit school or may suggest additional assessments (for example of a young person’s communication style).
An ND assessment takes place over a number of sessions, but the clinical team will keep you and your family informed of each step. The assessment has to meet NICE guidelines, and the team will meet and discuss the outcome of the assessment with you. Here are the NICE guidelines for Autism and ADHD.
Referral Process
- Parent/carer completes a parental referral form. If you are a professional, you should provide parent/carer with a copy of the form and support them to complete it, if appropriate.
- School/nursery should complete a separate education referral form.
- For young people over the age of 14 years, it may be helpful to complete a Young Person’s referral form as well.
Please also include any relevant reports and information, e.g. Speech and Language assessments, Educational Psychology assessments. This will help avoid delays in processing your child’s referral.
Once both parent/carer & education forms are completed, we will consider whether we think an autism assessment is the best next step.
How do I return my completed form?
You can return your completed forms to us by email:
- South team: mft.south.scp@nhs.net
- Central team: centralmanchesterscp@nhs.net
- North Team: northmanchesterscp@nhs.net
What happens next?
Completed referral forms are taken to a multiagency panel for review. This panel meets weekly.
The panel has senior members of:
- CAMHS
- Community Paediatrics
- Education
- Social Care
The panel use formal criteria set out by the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board to assess if children and young people are eligible for an NHS assessment of Autism and or ADHD and if they need seeing urgently.
There may be a delay in referrals being reviewed by panel but a letter will be sent to families and to school once the referral has been processed outlining the panel decision and any additional support that is available for that young person.
Support Available Right Now
Whether children and young people are referred for assessment or not, there is a lot of support available to help families whose children are neurodivergent – or who think they might be neurodivergent. Your child or young person does not need a diagnosis or to be on a waiting list to access help. If you are a City of Manchester resident (have a Manchester postcode) or your child or young person is registered with a City of Manchester GP, you can access support online, over the phone, and in person. Available resources include: • Parent Carer workshops: Educational sessions to help you navigate your child’s needs – face to face sessions and online. • Community drop-ins: Face-to-face guidance at Local Offer drop-ins and local Family Hubs with our ND Navigators. • Support from our ND Navigators: Email: mailto:MCR.NDNavigators@mft.nhs.uk New services and offers will launch in the coming months. Updates will be posted on the Padlet below, the Manchester Parent Carer Forum website, and the Manchester Local Offer pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
The assessment process usually takes around 3–6 months, depending on what types of assessments are needed. We know waiting can be difficult, but we’ll keep things moving as quickly as possible.
Waiting times can vary. We look at referrals in the order they’re received, so everyone gets a fair chance.
We need two forms sent by email:
- A Parent/Carer Referral Form
- An Education Referral Form (this includes information from the school’s SENCO about what support has already been tried — the “plan, do, review” process)
That’s okay — if you’re struggling to complete it, you can contact your local team for help (see the email address above). We do need all sections filled in before we can accept a referral, but we’re here to support you.
We ask for evidence of what’s already been tried in school, to make sure your child gets the right support in the right place before going ahead with a specialist assessment.
Exceptions include If there’s been a big change or loss of skills, such as talking.
If you/your child isn’t in school, you can ask a healthcare professional (like a GP or support worker) to provide supporting information.
For support around getting back to school, please visit: Manchester Local Offer – School Attendance Support
If you/your child has recently left school, a previous teacher can fill in the school referral form.
We understand that children and young people can behave or communicate differently in different settings. It’s a good idea for parents/carers and school staff to meet and share what they’ve noticed, so you can agree on a plan together.
We’re happy to look at referrals even if there are different opinions — and young people aged 14+ can also complete their own referral form.
If you/your child’s situation improves, you might decide a referral isn’t needed anymore — and that’s okay. But if concerns continue, a referral to the pathway may still be the right step.
The Social Communication Pathway (SCP) focuses on assessment only — not ongoing mental health support.
If you/your child needs help with their emotional wellbeing or mental health, a referral to your local CAMHS team might be more appropriate.
You can also find community-based support for positive mental health and wellbeing through the thrive hubs.
If you’re worried about immediate safety, please contact emergency services or go to A&E right away.