If you’re considering an autism assessment, it’s completely understandable to want reassurance that the service you choose follows national best practice.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) publishes guidance to help ensure autism assessments are thorough, evidence-based and person-centred. At our service, these guidelines form the foundation of every assessment we provide.
But we also know that an excellent assessment is about much more than meeting a set of standards.
Many of the adults we meet—particularly women, non-binary and trans people—have spent years wondering why life has always felt harder than it seems to for everyone else. Some have been told they’re “too sensitive”, “too anxious” or “just overthinking things”. Others have become experts at masking who they are to fit in.
Our role isn’t simply to decide whether someone meets the criteria for autism. It’s to understand the whole person, helping them make sense of experiences that may have been misunderstood for decades.
Below, we’ve explained how our assessments align with the NICE guidelines—and how we bring those recommendations to life.
(Nb. Some recommended points aren’t relevant to a private service as they were developed with NHS services in mind so we haven’t included those. Here’s the link to the guidelines in full https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg142)
How We Meet the NICE Guidelines for Adult Autism Assessment
| NICE Guideline | How We Put This Into Practice |
|---|---|
| Recognising when an autism assessment may be appropriate (1.2.2) | NICE recommends considering an autism assessment when someone presents with characteristics consistent with autism. Rather than relying on a brief screening questionnaire, we begin with a 30-minute consultation with an experienced clinician. This gives us the opportunity to understand your experiences properly and decide together whether a full autism and/or ADHD assessment would be helpful. Before this appointment, you’ll be offered to complete one of our own neuroaffirming questionnaires, allowing you to reflect on your experiences in far more depth than a simple screening tool allows. |
| Assessment by experienced clinicians (1.2.5) | Every assessment is carried out by registered clinicians with extensive experience in assessing autistic adults. All of our clinicians have at least five years’ post-qualification experience in autism assessment, alongside specialist expertise in recognising more subtle presentations, particularly in women. |
| A multidisciplinary approach (1.2.5) | Every assessment is completed by at least two clinicians from different professional backgrounds, including Clinical Psychology, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Specialist Nursing. Bringing together different perspectives helps us build a richer understanding of each person’s experiences. |
| Understanding childhood experiences (1.2.5 & 1.2.7) | Where possible, NICE recommends gathering information from someone who knew you as a child. Note the guidelines say ‘where possible’, this isn’t a requirement within the guidelines. We invite clients to choose a collaborator—a term we feel is more respectful than “informant”. Collaborators complete a structured questionnaire linked to the diagnostic criteria. We also recognise that not everyone has someone who can do this. If that’s the case, we work alongside you to explore your own memories of childhood, adolescence and adulthood. We would never refuse to assess or diagnose someone because they don’t have a childhood collaborator. |
| A comprehensive assessment (1.2.7) | Our assessments explore every area recommended by NICE, including autistic characteristics, developmental history, strengths, relationships, daily life, work, education and the impact autism may have had throughout your life. We don’t just ask whether you experience certain traits—we explore what those experiences have actually been like for you. |
| Giving you time to communicate in your own way | We know that talking about lifelong experiences isn’t easy for everyone. Before your assessment, you’ll complete our detailed neuroaffirming questionnaire, giving you time to think, reflect and explain your experiences in writing if that’s easier than saying everything in the appointment. |
| Taking the time to get to know you | We provide at least three hours of assessment time because understanding someone’s life can’t be rushed. Many people tell us that this allows them to feel genuinely listened to rather than feeling like they’re being interviewed or tested. |
| Considering physical health, mental health and other neurodevelopmental differences (1.2.7 & 1.2.10) | Autism doesn’t exist in isolation. We carefully explore physical health, mental health and other neurodevelopmental differences such as ADHD (you may be having an assessment for both) and consider dyslexia and dyspraxia, ensuring we understand the full picture before reaching any conclusions and recommending any further assessment. |
| Exploring sensory experiences (1.2.7) | Sensory differences are routinely discussed during every assessment because they are often an important part of understanding autistic experiences, even if they haven’t always been recognised previously. |
| Clinical observation (1.2.7) | Throughout the assessment, our clinicians make thoughtful observations about communication style, interaction and other characteristics alongside everything you tell us. These observations are considered respectfully and always form just one part of the wider clinical picture. |
| Using assessment tools thoughtfully (1.2.8) | NICE advises that formal assessment tools can be helpful in more complex cases—they are not required in every assessment. Our clinicians are trained in tools such as the DISCO, ADI-R and ADOS. Rather than applying these automatically, we use them when they genuinely add value to the assessment. Our philosophy is simple: clinical expertise comes first, with standardised tools used to support—not replace—good clinical assessment and judgement. |
| Considering other possible explanations (1.2.10) | We carefully consider whether your experiences may be explained by, or exist alongside, other neurodevelopmental conditions, mental health difficulties or physical health factors. This helps ensure that any diagnosis is accurate, thoughtful and well supported. |
| Assessing risk (1.2.12) | As part of every assessment, we routinely explore areas such as self-harm, self-neglect, safeguarding and current wellbeing so that appropriate support can be offered if needed. |
| Seeking second opinions when needed (1.2.16) | Occasionally, someone’s experiences are particularly complex. If there is any uncertainty, your assessment is discussed within our multidisciplinary team and, where appropriate, reviewed by additional clinicians or external autism specialists. Our priority is always reaching the most accurate conclusion possible. |
| Support after diagnosis (1.2.18) | Receiving a diagnosis is often just the beginning. Everyone who receives an autism diagnosis is offered a follow-up appointment to talk through the outcome, ask questions and discuss what comes next. Every report also includes personalised recommendations and signposting to relevant support and resources. You’re then invited to join a clinician facilitated, peer support 6 week circle to give and receive support make even more sense of everything. |
Going Beyond the NICE Guidelines
Meeting the NICE guidelines is incredibly important—but for us, it’s only the starting point.
We know that many adults seeking an autism assessment have spent years feeling different without understanding why. Some have learned to mask their difficulties so effectively that others don’t see how exhausting everyday life can feel. Others have questioned themselves for so long that they struggle to trust their own experiences.
That’s why we don’t see assessments as a tick-box exercise.
We see them as an opportunity to understand someone’s story.
Throughout the assessment, we take time to explore not only the challenges someone has experienced, but also their strengths, values and identity. We want people to leave with a clearer understanding of themselves, whether or not they ultimately receive an autism diagnosis.
More Than an Autism Assessment
National guidelines help ensure autism assessments are safe, thorough and evidence-based.
But what makes an assessment truly meaningful is feeling heard.
Our assessments combine clinical expertise with compassion, curiosity and a neuroaffirming approach that recognises the many different ways autism presents—particularly in adult women and others whose experiences have historically been overlooked.
Because an autism assessment isn’t simply about reaching a diagnosis.
It’s about understanding yourself in a way that perhaps no one has helped you do before.
If you'd like to explore an autism or AuDHD (autism and ADHD assessment) with us, book a screening call here.