Last updated:
3rd April 2024
ASSIST Team
About the ASSIST Team
Autism Spectrum Service for Information Support and Training (ASSIST) is a specialist service that works with families and providers to help children and young people with autism get the support they need to be the best they can be.
They provide information, support and training to children, young people and their families both before and after an autism diagnosis.
They also work with other professionals to help them support children and young people with their autism needs.
How the ASSIST Team can help
The ASSIST Team offers the following services to support you and your child’s needs.
Universal service
Anyone who wants to learn more about autism can attend our autism workshop.
Targeted service
If your child or young person is aged 18 and under and has been diagnosed with autism or is on the pathway for an autism assessment, you can access ASSIST services directly. You can:
- join the ASSIST mailing list for the latest autism news and dates of events
- attend a National Autistic Society parent programme
- join our parent or carer sessions
- book an appointment with an ASSIST team member for a chat about your child’s needs
Contact the ASSIST team to find out more about how their services can help you and your family.
How to request support
There are different ways to access ASSIST services.
Self-referral: access services directly
All autistic people and their families can access universal services, information and support. This includes:
- health and education services for everyone
- information after an autism diagnosis
- support groups
- workshops
Some autistic people and their families would like more detailed support to understand and introduce an autism approach within their family, school or leisure environment. This could be an autism-specific parent programme or autism advice.
Find out more about ASSIST autism parent programmes on the SEND Local Offer Directory.
The ASSIST team also offers parent and carer sessions for families who have a child with autism or on the pathway for an autism assessment.
Focused support: referral required
Some autistic people and their families will want or need focused work and intervention to allow the child or young person to:
- continue living with their family
- stay at their current school
To access this service, a child or young person must:
- be diagnosed with autism
- be aged 17 and under
- live in the Wokingham Borough
- be referred by a professional
If a child or young person has been assessed to need this support, a professional can make a referral to the Wokingham Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) team.
The ASSIST Team will work directly or alongside others to identify how adults can implement what might be helpful to support a positive outcome.
Contact the ASSIST Team
Get in touch if you have a question about the service.
Phone: 0118 908 8002
Email:triage@wokingham.gov.uk
