The average waiting time from referral to first appointment will be determined when the service opens. 

A request for an assessment must be submitted by an accepted professional (GP, Health Visitor, SENCo, Paediatrician, Speech and Language Therapist, CAMHS clinician). Please speak to any of these professionals if you have concerns. 

Once this request has been sent to SHINE, we will send out forms and questionnaires for the GP, nursery/school and parent (and child if 13+ years old) to be completed – once these forms and questionnaires are all returned to SHINE, the referral will be processed and reviewed by our clinicians. 

Yes. SHINE is an integrated service and we assess for both autism and ADHD in the same pathway. You do not need separate referrals. 

SHINE covers ages 2 to 17+ years in Harrow, Hillingdon and Milton Keynes, and 5-17+ in Brent, Kensington & Chelsea, and Westminster.  

For children under 2, speak to your Health Visitor.  

For young people close approaching their 18th birthday, we will redirect the referral to the relevant Adult Autism and ADHD services if we are unable to start or complete the assessment before you turn 18. 

If a diagnosis is not given, this does not mean that your child has no difficulties.  

We will discuss and share the assessment findings with you and your GP, and suggest next steps for support. 

Yes, please see our 'Resources — SHINE Everyday' page for local and national resources available now before the assesment has been completed.