For GPs, schools and SEND teams
Clear reports, usually within four weeks of the feedback appointment, and a clinical lead you can talk a case through with.
Oakwell assesses autism in children aged 6 and over, teenagers and adults, and offers mental health assessment and triage for ages 16 and over. Families can contact us directly; professional referrals are welcome.
Who this page is for: GPs and practice teams, SENCOs and school staff, SEND officers and therapists.
Ages 6 to adult. Developmental history (ADI-R), a structured observation session using the ADOS-2, and team review against the DSM-5 criteria. £1,999, no VAT payable.
Ages 16 and over, carried out by Hans, with home visits where needed. A clinical impression and signposting, not a diagnosis. £200.
Goal coaching for 16 to 21-year-olds who feel stuck. Coaching, not therapy. No diagnosis needed.
Three illustrative scenarios. They are composites, not real cases, and show the kind of referral that suits Oakwell, what comes back to you, and the timescale. CHECK: Hans to review the scenarios (§18)
Illustrative · not a real case
School has noticed that changes to routine and playtimes are hard, and the family asks about a private assessment. With the family’s agreement, the SENCO calls to talk it through; the family then contacts us. School completes a short questionnaire as part of the assessment.
What comes back: CHECK: what school receives, with the parent’s consent
For an autism assessment, the written report usually follows within 4 weeks of the feedback appointment.
Illustrative · not a real case
The patient has wondered for years whether they’re autistic, and is finding work hard. They’d like a private adult assessment while they consider NHS options. They contact us directly; no referral letter is needed.
What comes back: CHECK: what the GP receives (a copy of the report, a letter, or both), with the patient’s consent
For an autism assessment, the written report usually follows within 4 weeks of the feedback appointment.
Illustrative · not a real case
The young person has stopped going to college and isn’t sure what’s wrong. They agree to a mental health assessment, which Hans carries out at home, and they choose whether a parent is present.
What comes back: With the young person’s consent, Hans writes to the GP with his clinical impression and recommendations.
For an autism assessment, the written report usually follows within 4 weeks of the feedback appointment.
Each of our area pages sets out the local NHS route for children and adults, the council’s SEND Local Offer, the SENDIASS advice service and the safeguarding contact, checked on official sites: Harrow, Hillingdon, South Buckinghamshire and Rickmansworth (Hertfordshire).
Families often ask whether a private report will be accepted. Our guide sets out what schools, the NHS and local councils say, including Buckinghamshire’s published position.
No formal referral form is required. A phone call is enough to get things started, and we’re happy to talk through a specific case before a formal referral.
Call 07496 159 590. You can also email info@oakwellmentalhealth.co.uk, but please don’t send patient details until we’ve spoken.
When Oakwell’s clinical records platform is chosen, its secure referral form will be linked here. CHECK: platform (D2.4)
CHECK: Hans’s GP and School Referral Pack and Referrer Leaflet, as accessible PDFs (§6.8)
Hans works with an HCPC-registered clinical psychologist and an HCPC-registered speech and language therapist. The whole team reviews each case together; the clinician who led the assessment signs the report. CHECK: can Hans sign a child’s report, or is it always the psychologist or paediatrician? (D2.8)
The assessment brings together a developmental history (ADI-R), questionnaires from the family and, for children, school, and a structured observation session using the ADOS-2, reviewed against the DSM-5 criteria. The team is trained in the ADOS-2 and ADI-R. CHECK: certificates seen for the claims register (D1)
With the family’s consent: CHECK: what referrers receive (a copy of the report, a letter, or both) and when
For a mental health assessment, with the person’s consent, we write to their GP explaining what we found and what we recommend.
The report is written to be shared with your child’s school, GP and, if relevant, the local authority as part of an EHCP needs assessment. Each organisation decides how it uses private reports.
No — you can get in touch directly as a parent, or as an adult seeking assessment for yourself. Referrals from GPs, schools and other professionals are also very welcome, but they’re not a requirement to start the process.
Not at present. ADHD traits may be noted as part of an autism assessment, but we don’t diagnose ADHD or prescribe. If an ADHD assessment might help, we’ll say so and suggest where to turn, such as your GP or another provider. CHECK: wording with Hans (rule 1)
No. Oakwell is a private service and isn’t an NHS Right to Choose provider. Your GP can tell you about Right to Choose options. If you’d like a private assessment, we’re happy to talk it through.
Hans Naicker, our Clinical Lead and an NMC-registered mental health nurse, works with an HCPC-registered clinical psychologist and an HCPC-registered speech and language therapist. The whole team reviews each case together, and the clinician who led the assessment signs the report. All clinicians hold enhanced DBS checks. CHECK: can Hans sign a child’s report, or is it always the psychologist or paediatrician? (D2.8)
Yes. For children, a short questionnaire goes to school, for the SENCO, class teacher or teaching assistant, so we understand how your child is at school as well as at home. If a session at home isn’t possible, it can be arranged at school instead. CHECK: who sends the school questionnaire, and how parental consent is recorded (D2.4)
The report is sent to you, or for a child, to their parent or carer. You decide who else sees it, such as school, your GP or an employer, and we won’t share it with an employer, school or university without your consent. CHECK: does Oakwell send a copy to the GP or the referrer, with consent? (§6.8)
Autism assessments are online; home visits are for the mental health assessment, across these areas and surrounding areas.
No referral needed. Prefer not to phone? Email or use the form. That’s completely fine.
