Tameside and Glossop adult autism assessment service

If you are aged 18 years or above with a GP in Tameside or Glossop, you can refer yourself for an autism assessment. We also accept referrals from GPs or other professionals with your consent.

For details of the assessment process see ‘the process and patient journey’ tab below.

Once the assessment is complete, we complete an assessment report, and you will be offered the opportunity to have an appointment with a clinician to ask questions about the outcome.

The follow up appointment often includes advice and signposting to other services. 

If you receive a diagnosis of autism we also highly recommend that you complete a Healthcare Passport, which is intended to help healthcare staff provide the you with the best care. Once you have completed the passport you can keep a paper copy for your records and take it with you whenever you have a medical appointment.

We thought it might be helpful to tell you what we don’t do, to avoid us having to reject your referral and reduce delays in you getting the right support elsewhere.

Unfortunately we are not commissioned to provide the following:

• Psychological or therapeutic support - see talking therapies
• Long-term support - see social services
• Support with personal independence payment (PIP) or other benefits claims - visit the council or government websites for advice, citizen’s advice, housing association, or various charities or law centres.
• Assessments for anyone under the age of 18 years old. Please visit the Tameside and Glossop CAMHS page for more information on services for young people.
• We do not conduct assessments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or other neuro-divergent conditions. Please speak to your GP if you think you may have ADHD and would like an assessment.
• We do not offer 'behavioural’ support

Autism is a spectrum condition and affects people in different ways. Like all people, autistic people have their own strengths and weaknesses. Below is a list of indicators autistic people may share.

• Social communication and interaction challenges, such as difficulties with interpreting both verbal and non-verbal language like gestures or tone of voice. Some autistic people are unable to speak or have limited speech, while other autistic people have very good language skills but may struggle to understand sarcasm or tone of voice. Autistic people often have difficulty 'reading' other people - recognising or understanding others' feelings and intentions - and expressing their own emotions. This can make it very hard to navigate the social world.

• Repetitive and restrictive behaviour. With its unwritten rules, the world can seem a very unpredictable and confusing place to autistic people. This is why autistic people often prefer to have routines so that they know what is going to happen. Autistic people may also repeat movements such as hand flapping, rocking or the repetitive use of an object such as twirling a pen or opening and closing a door. Autistic people often engage in these behaviours to help calm themselves when they are stressed or anxious, but many autistic people do it because they find it enjoyable.

• Over or under sensitivity to light, sound, smell and/or touch, colours, temperatures or pain. This can cause anxiety or even physical pain. Many autistic people avoid everyday situations because of their sensitivity issues. Schools, workplaces and shopping centres can be particularly overwhelming and cause sensory overload.

• Highly focussed interested or hobbies, often from a fairly young age. These can change over time or be lifelong. Autistic people can become experts in their special interests and often like to share their knowledge. Like all people, autistic people gain huge amounts of pleasure from pursuing their interests and see them as fundamental to their wellbeing and happiness.  Being highly focused helps many autistic people do well academically and in the workplace but they can also become so engrossed in particular topics or activities that they might neglect other aspects of their lives. 

Watch this 'what is autism' video by the National Autistic Society.

Watch this 'we are autistic' video by the NHS.

Autism is not an illness or disease. An autism diagnosis in adulthood can provide clarity and be validating for many people in their day to day lives.

It can help you to develop a positive autistic self-identity and foster connections with the autistic community.

It can also help you access reasonable adjustments in health (both physical and mental health). A diagnosis is often helpful in getting the right support and or treatment for other health conditions.

It can also help you access support in other areas, such as employment and education.

Watch this short video called 'invisible disabilities - how an autism diagnosis changed my life'.

Once a referral has been received it will be reviewed by a qualified member of our team who will decide if it is appropriate. The more detailed a referral is, the more informed the decision making can be about if it is eligible for an autism assessment. 

The next stage of assessment for autism is for you to complete an autism-specific screening questionnaire.  This is a way of gathering information about general areas associated with autism and why you, or the person who referred you, may consider you to be autistic.

Information about your early years

Autism is a developmental condition, so it is important that we gather information about autistic traits from your early years.

We will ask you to nominate someone who is available to provide information about your childhood, such as a parent, grandparent, older sibling or other relative. We ask you to get them to complete a developmental history questionnaire and return this to us for review.

If you don’t have anybody to provide a developmental history, we can still proceed with the autism assessment, but it may not always be possible to reach a decision. Please contact the team to discuss further if you have difficulties getting someone to complete this.

Returned questionnaires will be reviewed by our clinician and you will be informed of their decision. If the referral is accepted, you will be added to our waiting list.

Our waiting list

Unfortunately, our waiting list is very long. You are likely to be waiting at least four years for a fully completed assessment, though this could be longer. Please contact us for more information on waiting times.

While you are on the waiting list, we will keep you informed about your referral and waiting times.

Nearer to the time of your assessment, you will be contacted for further information.  We will ask about who is available to provide up to date information about you and your possible autistic traits.

People often nominate a partner, friend, or sibling.  Please contact the team to discuss further if you have difficulties getting someone to complete this.

Face-to-face assessment

The final stage of the assessment process is a face-to-face meeting at our clinic, with two of our clinicians. 

This is known as the autism diagnostic observation schedule 2 (or ADOS-2), which is a semi-structured conversation with some activities. 

Directly after the ADOS-2 there will be a discussion with you, called a clinical interview, about areas of your life often associated with autism.

After the assessment

Following this meeting, the two clinicians will meet to review all the information gathered and conclude if you are autistic or not. 

We will then contact you with the outcome and complete a report summarising the assessment process and decision making.

We offer one appointment after your assessment which allows you to ask questions and seek clarity about the outcome.  We offer signposting to other services and provide information.  Our service does not offer any ongoing support.

View our patient journey flow chart with more information on this process.

Some people who we have supported have shared what getting an autism disagnosis means for them. Read their stories in their own words.

Referral form - We accept referrals from GPs and professional, or you can refer yourself, using this referral form. Please send it to us via email to pcn-tr.tgadultautism@nhs.net, or via post to Tameside and Glossop adult autism diagnostic service, Hollingworth Clinic, Market Street, Hollingworth, Hyde, SK14 8HR.

AQ50 form - This is a standardised 50 item self-report measure to help gather information regarding traits of autism in people over 16 years. It is suitable for men and women without identified learning disabilities.  Once completed you can attach this to the referral form. Download a print-friendly AQ50 form.

You can also ask your GP about any alternative, quicker routes to an autism assessment. Visit the NHS website for more information on your right to choose. ​​​​​​

We don't have an expansive team and only provide a diagnostic service, so we are unable to offer support after your diagnosis.

We have developed an information pack based on feedback from other autistic people about what they found helpful following a diagnosis. Download a copy of the information pack.

You can also contact us for signposting to other helpful services.