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Adult Autism Service (Tower Hamlets)

The Tower Hamlets Autism Service is a diagnostic and brief intervention service for adults living in Tower Hamlets. We provide assessments and diagnoses of autism spectrum conditions.

Following a diagnosis, the service provides up to 12 autism-specific interventions which include support for any difficulties being experienced. The multi-disciplinary team, which includes a consultant psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, and a social worker will work with the service user to develop a programme to address any issues or problems.

The team has a partnership with the Job Enterprise and Training Service (JET) and can provide support and advice for service users with autism, who wish to gain employment or access training.

Making a referral
The service accepts self-referrals and referrals from GPs and other agencies. To refer yourself or someone you care for, call 020 3487 1312 or download the following forms, complete them and email them to: elt-tr.Tower-Hamlets-Autism-Service@nhs.net.

One of the forms requires a parent or guardian to provide a developmental history. It is an important part of our assessment as autism is a neuro-developmental condition, without this an assessment can be inconclusive. If it is not possible for you to get this form completed, please contact our service to discuss further. If you can provide any other collateral from childhood, such as school or medical reports, these can be helpful. We might also ask for collateral from another family member, or a longstanding friend or partner.

Address

51 Three Colts Lane
Bethnal Green
London
E2 6BF
United Kingdom

Opening hours
9.00am-5.00pm
Telephone number
020 3487 1312

Useful links for autistic people

Reasonable adjustments - Neurodiversity
This is about reasonable adjustments in the workplace for neurodivergent conditions, although it says it helps with the transition from university to work the adjustments are useful for those who have not been to university.

National Autistic Society
Please visit the National Autistic Society to learn more about autism. 

Useful links for services and professionals

Sensory-friendly resource pack
This pack is intended to support the delivery of NHS Long-Term Plan commitments for autistic people and the further prevention of mental health crisis in children, young people and adults who are autistic (with or without an additional learning disability) and to support in addressing issues raised about un-sensory friendly environments impacting on poor quality care for autistic children and adults.

National Autistic Society
Please visit the National Autistic Society to learn more about autism. 

Do I need to go to my GP to get a referral?
We accept self-referrals, you can complete a referral using the forms listed on our referral information page. We will update your GP if you are placed on our waiting list and will let them know the outcome if you have an assessment.

What do I do if I can’t get a parent/guardian to complete the developmental history form?
There is a possibility of the assessment being inconclusive without the developmental history, as autism is a neurodevelopmental condition, a person's early development is an important factor. If it is strictly not possible (e.g. your parents have passed away or you are estranged) there are some alternative forms listed in the ‘additional optional forms’ section of the referral tab (layout TBC):

  • Adapted developmental history form – to complete yourself with any knowledge you have of your developmental milestones.
  • Questionnaire for family members – for an aunt, uncle, sibling etc.
  • Questionnaire for partners – for a long-standing partner.
  • Questionnaire for friends – for a long-standing friend, flatmate or colleague.

Please also send any medical or school reports you have access to from your childhood. Please contact THAS to discuss if you have any further questions.

I self-referred and have not had any contact from THAS
Please get in touch if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of making your referral.

I requested a referral via my GP/ I have been informed I have been referred by another service, bt I have not had any contact from THAS
​​​​​​​
If you believe you should have been referred to our service, but have not had contact from us within a month, please contact the GP or service who were making the referral.

Alternatively, contact THAS directly and we can confirm if a referral has been received.

What happens if I change address?
Please contact THAS at your earliest convenience to update your records. We also recommend ensuring you are registered with a local GP.

What happens if I move out of Tower Hamlets?
THAS is commissioned to offer assessments to people who are residents of Tower Hamlets, if you move out of the borough, we are no longer able to offer you an assessment. We recommend registering with a local GP as early as possible and requesting a referral to your new local autism service.

Please let THAS know that you have moved at your earliest convenience and let us know if you would like your screening forms to be sent on to your local autism service. If you have moved to the borough of Hackney or Newham, we can refer you directly as these services are within the same trust. Please contact us as soon as possible to let us know you have moved and provide your current address. You will still need to register with a local GP.

We will confirm your address before offering you an assessment, if you delay updating your address, this may delay your assessment in your local area.

It is at each autism service’s discretion as to whether they can honour your waiting time on the THAS waiting list. We can provide a copy of your waiting list letter and confirm your wait time if requested.

How do I know where I am on the waiting list?
We are not able to provide ongoing updates, as the waiting list tends to fluctuate it is difficult to provide an exact date. On your waiting list letter, it will state what the current wait time is, and you can use this to judge roughly which month you will be contacted for an assessment.

I have waited the full waiting time but have not been contacted
Our waiting list can fluctuate depending on a variety of factors. If you have waited over 1 month longer than your waiting list letter outlined, you can contact us for an update.

What do I do if I need adjustments for an appointment?
When you are invited in for your first appointment, please let the clinician you are working with know of anything we can do to reasonably adjust the appointment for you.

Download documents
Referral Form

Please fill out this form completely and provide as much detail as possible.

Developmental History Form

To be completed by your parent(s) or whoever was your guardian or primary care giver when you were a child.

Cambridge Behaviour Scale

This is a screening questionnaire to be completed by you.

The AQ

This is a screening questionnaire to be completed by you.