What to expect after a Neurodiversity Assessment

What to expect after a Neurodiversity Assessment if the findings suggest you have a Neurodiverse profile

Information for Postgraduate Doctors and Dentists in Training

Neurodiversity refers to the variations we all have in terms of our individual neurocognitive ability. Everyone has diverse talents and individual struggles. However, for some people the variation between those strengths and challenges is more pronounced and a neurodiversity condition may be present. The PSW service supports doctors in training to recognise if they may have any neurodiversity condition which may be impacting on areas of their training and provides coping strategies to overcome these and give them the best chance to succeed. Detailed information about neurodiversity conditions can be found here.

The below guidance aims to focus on what to expect after an initial screening or full assessment via the PSW service.

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The initial screening

Where it is felt to be beneficial for you, the PSW team can arrange a confidential neurodiversity screening with our external assessor. This is done virtually.

The aim of the initial screening is to identify if you may have a neurodiversity or also known as ‘Specific Learning Differences (SpLD)’ – this term covers conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and ADHD.

If the initial screening identifies signs of a neurodiversity then the PSW team will consider whether to refer you to our external assessor for a full diagnostic assessment (see below).

If there are no signs of a neurodiversity at the screening stage then the PSW team may consider other support that you can benefit from such as general study skills support.

What to expect after a full Neurodiversity Diagnositic Assessment if the findings suggest you have a Neurodiverse profile

After a screening you may have been recommended to have a full diagnostic assessment, this will look further at areas such as your verbal reasoning, your time management, any difficulties with literacy, problem solving, working memory and processing speed, for example. It will identify your strengths and areas for development and could result in various recommendations. On completion of the full neurodiversity assessment, you will receive a confidential report of your cognitive profile - if the report confirms a diagnosed neurodiversity, the below are some important considerations that may apply to your individual circumstances. The PSW team will guide you through what will apply to you but below are the most common considerations you need to be aware of:

Discussion with your educators: it is important you arrange a meeting with your Educational Supervisor or Training Programme Director to share the contents of the report, this is to give you and the training programme an opportunity to consider how they can best support your progress towards completing your training programme.

Follow-up coaching: If your report recommends coaching, please note that you will need to liaise with the PSW team to check if any subsequent referrals for coaching can be made. Coaching is usually made up of 4 (2 hour), one to one, virtual coaching sessions to help understand your cognitive profile and identify your strengths for supporting you with (for example) your preparation for your exam and also in the workplace in general.

Extra time in examinations: if there is a recommendation in your report that recommends extra time in examinations, you would need to contact your Royal College Examinations Department to inform them at the earliest opportunity.

Access to Work: Your neurodiversity report is likely to refer to an Access to Work assessment (this also covers the terminology of a ‘workplace needs assessment’). Access to work is a government funded scheme and forms an important part of supporting your learning needs, helping you to achieve your full potential throughout your training and will fund important IT equipment and other individual requirements.

We have further guidance on Access to Work and how this relates to your training. You should be aware that it is your responsibility to make an Access to Work application within 4 weeks in order to avoid delays in getting vital equipment and funding to help enhance your training experience and support your new diagnosis.

Please also be aware that HEE will be unable to optimise your educational support without an Access to Work assessment and the procurement of any recommended learning equipment made by Access to Work.

Further guidance from the GMC where there is a confirmed diagnosis of a neurodiversity: We are aware that, particularly where adjustments to your workplace have been recommended, moving training locations/employer can sometimes present challenges but we are here to help. By working with our training providers (your employers) we have developed a process to support you throughout your time in the training programme in line with the GMC’s ‘Welcomed and valued’ guidance. We appreciate that quite understandably you may not consider yourself as having a disability but the terminology we use necessarily aligns to that of the GMC in recognition of the Equality Act 2010. Please be aware the PSW service is here to support and help you through this process so if you would like to discuss this further dplease speak to us.

Referral to your GP if there are any indicators of ADHD or ASC: if your report highlights characteristics consistent with ADHD or ASC please note this is not a formally confirmed diagnosis (it can only suggest any strong indicators) and the PSW cannot fund standalone diagnostic assessments for ADHD or ASC. So for further investigation of ADHD or ASC and any potential medical treatment, you would need to seek a medical referral via your GP, in line with NICE Clinical Guidance 2008. There can be a waiting list therefore it is important that you be proactive and speak to your GP as soon as possible if you want to explore a diagnosis.

Further information can be found via the links below:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/symptoms/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/getting-diagnosed/how-to-get-diagnosed/

The ADHD UK website may be helpful to guide you further.