ASSIST Team (Autism Spectrum Service for Information Support and Training)

Watch this short video to find out about the services our ASSIST team offer to autistic children and young people and their families.

Aim of the Service:

The aim of the ASSIST service is to work in a proactive, supportive and preventative way with families and providers, so that autistic children and young people living in the Wokingham Borough can be the best they can be.

The approach to intervention is holistic, creative and directed by the needs of the individual and those around them. The service provides information, support and training to assist children, young people and their families both pre and post diagnosis. 

A key aim of the service is to build capacity. ASSIST are always looking at ways to work with many to share knowledge and skills that enhance the understanding of autism.

Who is this service best placed to support?

Universal

• Anyone who has an interest in autism or feels that the strategies shared might be useful is welcome to attend an ASSIST autism focused workshop.

Targeted

Families of a child or young person up to their 18th birthday, living in the Wokingham Borough, with a diagnosis of autism, or on the pathway for an autism assessment are able to self-refer to these ASSIST services:-

• Contact the team for information, advice, guidance and signposting in relation to autism.
• Join ASSIST mailing list for dates of events and autism related information.
• Attend a National Autistic Society parent programme - please see link to NAS.
• Join the ASSIST team at our parent/carer sessions and meet with other parents - please see link to current dates
• Book a 1-1 appointment with a member of the ASSIST team for a discussion and opportunity to consider solutions to presenting issues - please contact team direct to book

Referral Process:

Self-Referral – direct to the service

All autistic people and their families can access universal services, information and support in relation to the condition of autism e.g. health and education services for all, post-diagnostic information, support groups and workshops.

Some autistic people and their families would like more in-depth support to understand and implement an autism approach within their family, school or leisure environment e.g. autism specific parent programmes and autism advice.

Full details of the support groups, workshops and parent programmes can be found on this web page.

Referral required - Via Wokingham Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH team) by completion of a MARF form (see below). 

A few autistic people and their families will want and/or need focused work and intervention to enable the child/young person to continue living with their family or to enable the child/young person to stay at their current school.  Where identified through a formal assessment completed by referrer, ASSIST will either work directly or alongside others, by analysing why there are difficulties and identifying how adults can implement what might be helpful to support a positive outcome.

Referrals to ASSIST for focused 1:1 support via the Wokingham Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH team), must meet the service eligibility: 

the child/young person will have a diagnosis of autism, be under their 18^th birthday and reside in the Wokingham Borough.   

• Phone (0118) 908 8002
• Email:  triage@wokingham.gov.uk

Professionals should complete a:

• Multi-Agency Referral Form (MARF)