Hackney Ark - Complex Communication Clinic

Service details

Assessment clinics at Hackney Ark.

If you have concerns about your child’s social communication, you can be referred to a team at Hackney Ark for further investigation and assessment.

To decide if a child may need further assessment they are first seen by a children’s doctor at Hackney Ark. If they feel further assessment would be helpful they will refer children 5 and under to the Complex Communication Clinic.


What is the Complex Communication Clinic?

The Complex Communication Clinic (CCC) is a children’s clinic run by different professionals who assess children to see if they have autism. The team who make the assessment of your child include:

  • a Children’s doctor (Paediatrician)
  • a Occupational Therapist (to help with daily activities and sensory needs)
  • a Speech and Language Therapist (to help with talking, understanding, making friends, eating and drinking)
  • a Clinical Psychologist

Who can be seen at CCC?

Children under 5 years old are referred to the Complex Communication Clinic (also known as CCC)

Children and young people between 5 and 18 years old will be referred to the Social Communication Assessment Clinic (also known as SCAC)

Both these services are based at Hackney Ark and will assess whether a child or young person meets the criteria for a diagnosis of autism.

Children and young people over 14 years old will be referred to Children's Psychological Services (Specialist CAMHS) at Homerton Row near Homerton Hospital.


Why has my child been referred to this clinic?

Your child may have difficulties with more than just speech and language. At CCC they will be assessed for Autism Spectrum Disorder (also known as ASD).

The clinical term for diagnosing autism in autism spectrum disorder. This is how it will be described in medical reports. Many people prefer to say Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) rather than disorder. You and your child can use the term you prefer, professionals are increasingly using condition rather than disorder.
The clinical term ASD is still used in written medical reports.


What happens at my first clinic appointment?

If you are not confident with your spoken English let us know if you need an advocate to help at the appointment.

The initial appointment will take around 90 minutes.

  • The Paediatrician will ask about early development, communication, social skills, play and behaviour.
  • The Speech and Language Therapist or Clinical Psychologist will assess your child through play looking at their communication, play and behaviour.

We will then talk about what we think and decide what needs to be done next.
Sometimes we have enough information in the clinic to make a diagnosis of autism.

Sometimes one meeting doesn’t tell us enough and we might need to find out more from your child's nursery or school.

If this happens you may need to come back to Hackney Ark for further assessments.


What happens after the further assessment?

The team will meet together to discuss your child’s development.
They will decide whether your child has autism or another condition
Sometimes we don’t reach a decision, but will decide to see your child in a year to wait and see how they develop.

We will tell you about our opinion in a Feedback Appointment.

All parents/carers should come to this meeting if at all possible.

Children should not come so that we are not distracted when talking about the decisions.


How long does the assessment process take?

It may be 3 months or sometimes longer between the first appointment and the feedback appointment.

The process may be longer if we feel that we need to see how your child develops over time.

Waiting times can be long before seeing professionals. We do understand that this can be frustrating and we’re working hard to keep waiting lists as short as possible.


Assessment Reports

We will give you a diagnostic report at the Feedback Appointment.
Once you have read and discussed the report you can tell us if you want to change something in it – you will have two weeks to tell us.

Then, if you agree we will send out the new final report in a letter two weeks later. Sharing information with people helps everyone understand your child and their needs and better.

We recommend the report is sent to:

  • Your home
  • Your child’s GP
  • Other professionals involved
  • Nursery/school staff

In the future you may be asked for a copy of the report by other services so please do keep it in a safe place where you will be able to easily find it when needed. 

SEND Local Offer

Local Offer Age Bands
Early Years and Pregnancy 0-4
Primary 4 -10
Secondary 11-14
Preparing for Adulthood 14-18
Young Adults 18 - 25
SEN Provision Type
  • Targeted
  • Specialist

Who to contact

Telephone
020 7014 7000 020 7014 7000
Website
www.homerton.nhs.uk/
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Where to go

Address
Hackney Ark
Downs Park Road
Hackney
London
Postcode

E8 2FP

View E8 2FP on a map
Venue Notes

Buses: 30, 56, 67, 76, 149, 243, 276,

Train: Dalston Kingsland, Hackney Downs

Parking: The car park has 10 car spaces including two spaces for disabled drivers along with motorcycle and bicycle spaces. Parking is restricted to clients and service users only.

Service users will need to use the entry-phone to alert main reception of their arrival and be permitted to enter the car park.  Anyone using the car park does so at their own risk.

There are on street parking bays opposite the building.

Reception can ring for cabs for patients.

Transport to service for some children & young people depending on their mobility needs.

Consideration may be given to the use of hospital transport in very exceptional circumstances only.

ERS Medical are the provider of non-emergency patient transport services for Homerton NHS Trust. If eligable this can be arranged in advance with the services administration department. 

Time / Date Details

Time of day
  • Morning
  • Afternoon
Session Information
Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.30pm

Other details

Referral required?

Yes

Referral Details

It is the paediatricians that make referrals to Complex Communications Clinic after the initial appointment.  

Referral forms are available for each service within Hackney Ark. 

A referral to Hackney Ark can also be made by completing a MARs (Multi-agency referral) referral form or a letter of referral.

Referrals are discussed in a multi-agency forum which meets weekly.

What to do if you have a complaint

If you have a concern about the service you have received please speak to your therapist or the person who has been working with you. They will try to address your concerns. If that does not help you can arrange to contact the service’s management team via Hackney Ark's admin service.


If you prefer to discuss your concern with someone independent of your care team you can contact our Patient Liaison and Advice Service (PALS).

The PALS team can help resolve queries and concerns quickly. If you are not happy with the outcome then they can advise you on the correct formal complaints process.


PALS

Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Homerton Row

London E9 6SR


e-mail: huh-tr.pals.service@nhs.net

Phone: 020 8510 7315 - out of office hours voicemail service available

Textphone: 07584 445 400

Web: www.homerton.nhs.uk/patient-advice-liaison-service-pals

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