Navigo’s Neurodevelopmental Service have been working hard to reduce waiting times across their pre-assessment and assessment pathways.
Whilst waiting for an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessment, we appreciate it can be difficult to source help with managing a child’s needs.
Navigo’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Young Minds Matter) are launching a new waiting list initiative for those who are currently awaiting an ADHD assessment. The Workshop for Integrated Neurodiversity Group Support, fondly called WINGS, will give parents the skills and knowledge to support their child at home and school.
WINGS will run seven face-to-face two-hour sessions where up to 20 parents can learn these skills, better understand neurodivergent needs and build a support network of like-minded parents who understand how it feels.
The aim is to allow parents to start adapting to their children’s unique abilities and difficulties, and to allow them to understand why some of the behaviours are being presented.
An overview of WINGS
Week 1: Meet and Greet
- Meet the group attendee's and clinicians running WINGS
- Drinks and biscuits
- Overview of WINGS programme
Week 2: Understanding and Support your Child's Needs
- To have a good understanding of neurodiversity and its core features
- Be able to use strategies to support organisation and structure
- To consider the positives of neurodiversity
Week 3: Emotional Regulation
- What is emotional regulation?
- Helping your child to recognise and manage feelings
- Dealing with meltdowns
- Helpful resources to use with your child
Week 4: Managing and Supporting Behaviour
- Understand the influence of communication
- Consider the ‘building blocks’ of behaviour management
- Be able to use strategies to deal with behaviour
- be able to use house rules
- have a list of rewards and consequences
Week 5: Support for You and the Family
- Guest speakers from external services detailing their offer including, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS), Parent Carer Forum (PCF) and others
- Local offer and Family Hubs
- Information on other support services and resources
Week 6: Sleep
- What is sleep hygiene?
- The importance of a good night sleep
- How sleep works
- Steps to success
- Time for questions
Week 7: The ADHD Assessment Process
- Waiting list times
- Who is involved?
- What to expect in an assessment
- Aftercare
- What happens if my child is not diagnosed?
How can I access the sessions?
The first set of sessions started in April 2024 and continue as a rolling programme throughout the year.
The team will be inviting families currently waiting for an ADHD assessment based on when they first expressed their interest in attending WINGS.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or queries, or you would like to express an interest in joining the sessions, please contact us. You can also contact us if you would like further information regarding what support may be available for you whilst you wait for an autism assessment.