Children and Young People’s Neurodevelopmental Partnership (CYPNP)

The Children and Young Person’s Neurodevelopmental Pathway (CYPNP) conduct NICE compliant neurodiversity (Autism and ADHD) assessments for children/young people, based In Somerset, aged 4 to 17 years who are in school or Electively Home Educated. For those aged 4 but not yet in school please see the Autism Assessments for 0-to 5-year-olds (pre-school) pathway.

CYPNP assessments are therapeutically informed, our team seek to fully understand a child/young person’s unique profile of strengths and difficulties, rather than being a ‘yes or no’ diagnostic service.

The core principles of the pathway are:

• any approaches must be child and young person centred and based on need rather than a diagnosis
• a multidisciplinary approach is used at each step
• there is a consistent approach in the use of screening and diagnostic assessment tools across Somerset
• information is securely stored so that it is accessible to each part of the system involved in the child or young person’s care
• pre and post ‘diagnostic’ assessment strategies and support are identified and agreed.
  • we are commissioned to run a post-diagnostic pathway for ADHD. There is currently no equivalent offer for Autism.

At the end of your child/young person’s neurodiversity assessment, you will receive a detailed report explaining the outcome of the assessment. This is written directly to your child/young person in a strength-based and therapeutically informed way.

Specific recommendations based on the child/young person’s unique profile of strengths and areas of difference are made. This might include what local services may be able to meet the young person’s needs, advice for those supporting a young person to adapt their practice, or resources for the young person and parent/carer.