Coming to your appointment

Consent

The majority of children aged 12 and older have the mental capacity to be able to consent to their own assessment, and make decisions about information sharing. It is therefore important that young people aged 12 and older consent to the assessment at the start of the process and are made aware that they can opt out at any time.

If the child is under 12 years old, consent to start the assessment and share information will be sought from their parent or legal guardian. However, we would encourage that you speak to your child about why they are coming to the appointment and take their views into consideration. Explaining what a neurodevelopmental assessment is will sound different depending on what age they are, and what their understanding of language is like. Tips for speaking to your child about neurodiversity can be found at:

• www.parentclub.scot/articles/talking-your-child-about-neurodiversity

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FAQs

Who can come to appointments?

• You are welcome to bring another person with you that can support you at appointments. The appointment may be with a child or young person, a child and parent/carer or a parent/ carer only. Your clinician will let you know who needs to attend the appointment in your letter, or on the phone.

What can I bring to the appointment?

• You are welcome to bring anything that makes you more comfortable at the appointment, for example, favourite toy, fidget tools, drink/snack. Remember to bring aids such as glasses etc. as required.

Can I bring food for my child to the appointment?

• Yes, you can. We understand that some of the children coming for assessment can be very particular about what they eat and when they eat. You are therefore welcome to bring snacks and drinks for your child. If your child is specific about when they eat, please inform your clinician before the appointment.

What happens if I cannot make my appointment?

• If you’re not able to attend the appointment, please let us know as soon as possible. Your clinician will get in touch via letter or phone call to reschedule and offer a new appointment.
• If you do not attend, without giving prior notice, for more than one appointment, your child may be discharged from the service, in line with NHS Lanarkshire’s policy on non-attendance.

What do I do if English is not my first language?

• Please contact the service prior to your appointment if you need an interpreter. We will use Language Line or arrange for a professional interpreter to join the appointments.

What do I do if I have a hearing impairment and require a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter?

• Please contact the service prior to your appointment if you need a BSL interpreter to support you with your hearing needs. We will arrange for a professional interpreter to join the appointments.

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