Adult Autism Support Referral

You can make an autism support referral to Robin if you are an autistic adult, family member, social worker, college, commissioner or other professional. Our regulated care and support service is for adults aged 18 and above, and self-referrals are welcome.

A referral does not need to come through a social worker, although local-authority-funded support will normally require the appropriate Care Act and funding process. Complete the form below and we will usually contact you within five working days for an initial conversation.

Looking for parent/carer guidance for someone under 18? Please use our Parent and Carer Consultation enquiry instead.

About the Person Requiring Support

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Please tell us briefly why support is needed
Hours required per week:
How many hours of support are needed each week?

Please note: Minimum booking is 6 hours per session.

Preferred times:
When is support needed?
Anything we should know before contact?
Who is referring:
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Who Can Make an Autism Support Referral

Referrals and enquiries can come from the person themselves, parents or carers, social workers, local-authority brokerage or commissioning teams, colleges, transition teams, day services, case managers, advocates, GPs and other involved professionals.

Every referral is considered individually. Our team primarily provides specialist autism support, but may also consider adults with learning disabilities, mental-health needs or other complex support needs where these fall within our competence and regulated scope.

If someone is approaching the end of college or another established service, early referral can help us observe existing support, understand successful strategies and plan a more consistent transition.

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What Happens After Your Autism Support Referral

  1. 1.

    Initial contact – We usually respond within five working days for an informal conversation about the person’s needs, location, proposed support and funding arrangements.

  2. 2.

    Assessment – If Robin appears suitable, we usually arrange an assessment within 14 days. Where useful, we may also observe the person in another setting or speak with people who know them well.

  3. 3.

    Report and recommendations – We normally complete our written assessment report within seven days of meeting the person.

  4. 4.

    Funding agreement – Commissioned support can progress once the funding, hours, rate and contractual arrangements have been confirmed.

  5. 5.

    Care planning and preparation – We develop care plans, risk assessments, autism and communication profiles and any relevant PBS, sensory or health guidance.

  6. 6.

    Staff matching and shadowing – Staff are matched according to the person’s needs, communication, interests and personality. Shadowing or phased introductions may be arranged where appropriate.

  7. 7.

    Support begins – We normally work towards starting approximately four weeks after funding is confirmed, depending on complexity and the preparation required.

How Is Support Funded?

Support may be funded through local-authority commissioned care, Direct Payments, Managed Direct Payments, agreed education or college funding, an ICB/NHS-funded package or privately.

Robin is a care and support provider, not a funding-advice, brokerage or funding-application service. We cannot obtain funding or negotiate a personal budget on your behalf.

If you are unsure whether you may be eligible for statutory funding, your first point of contact should be your local Adult Social Care department, social worker or transition team. Once funding has been agreed, or where you wish to self-fund, Robin can assess the person’s needs and develop the support package.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How quickly will my autism support referral be answered?

    Our specialist team usually makes initial contact within five working days. If we agree to proceed, we normally aim to arrange an assessment within 14 days, subject to complexity and availability.

  • Can I make a referral without a social worker?

    Yes. Autistic adults and families can contact us directly. However, where local-authority funding is required, the relevant Care Act and funding process will still need to be completed before commissioned support can begin.

  • What if I’m not sure whether the person is eligible for funded support?

    Contact the person’s local Adult Social Care department, social worker or transition team for advice about eligibility and assessment. Robin Specialist Autism Services cannot determine funding eligibility or obtain statutory funding on someone’s behalf.

  • How long does it take to start support after a referral?

    Once funding and contractual arrangements are confirmed, we normally work towards starting support within approximately four weeks. More complex packages may need additional planning, training or shadowing before support begins.

  • Do I need a formal autism diagnosis before contacting Robin?

    Not necessarily. We can assess an adult’s support needs and everyday functioning where the person’s needs appear to fall within our expertise. Our assessment is not an autism diagnostic assessment.

Still have a question?

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  • Can I refer someone who is under 18?

    Not for Robin’s regulated care service, which supports adults aged 18 and above. Parents and carers of children or young people can enquire separately about our Parent and Carer Consultation service.