Recommendation 20

The Committee calls on the Scottish Government, in close collaboration with health boards, to undertake a comprehensive review of the assessment process in all areas with a view to developing a National Standard for assessments that guarantees consistency of access, responsiveness and support throughout Scotland. In particular, this review and the resulting National Standard should address:
ensuring diagnostic criteria used in assessments are appropriate and up-to-date;
a presumption against the use of single condition assessments, given the high rate of co-occurrence of ADHD and autism (as well as other neurodevelopmental conditions and other mental and physical health problems) and the active promotion instead of the use of holistic assessments;
the development of guidelines to establish clear qualification requirements for those carrying out neurodevelopmental assessments;
Promoting the direct involvement of individuals with lived experience of neurodevelopmental conditions in helping and supporting others to navigate the assessment process;
clear guidance for the use of alternative approaches to assessment such as "whole school" approaches, "stepped care" and "consensus diagnosis" - to include details of the circumstances in which such alternative approaches may be more appropriate than traditional approaches to assessment;
promotion of a multi-disciplinary approach to assessment, including requirements for members of multi-disciplinary teams to undergo continuous professional development and training on providing neurodevelopmental assessments, to include regular updates in neuro-affirming practice.