About Us
Solihull Autism Assessment Service (LLP) was developed in 2018 by Dr Jessica Donohoe and Dr Zoe McGovern, two Clinical Psychologists with specialist interest and experience in assessing and working with people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Since then, the service has grown to include an additional five members including our Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and Occupational Therapist.
We realised the frustrations of people locally who are struggling with symptoms of potential Autism Spectrum Disorder and unable to access the required support, either in school or at work, without a formalised diagnosis. Solihull Autism Assessment Service (LLP) was therefore developed to offer independent multidisciplinary ASD assessments for those who are unable or unwilling to wait on long NHS waiting lists. We are ordinarily able to offer an initial consultation within 6 weeks of contact and from the point of this consultation, assessments will be completed within 6 weeks where possible.
Further, we recognised the need for thorough, clinically reliable and robust assessments, in accordance with best practice and guidelines from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. We therefore provide a comprehensive and multidisciplinary diagnostic assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder, following NICE Guidelines and using 'gold standard' assessment protocols.
Our assessments are based on our clinicians’ many years of experience and expertise as well as professional guidance and research into the most effective methods used to reliably assess for ASD.
Our assessment process also fully complies with NICE Guidelines, which means there should be no problems with having a private diagnosis from us accepted by public authorities.
We realised the frustrations of people locally who are struggling with symptoms of potential Autism Spectrum Disorder and unable to access the required support, either in school or at work, without a formalised diagnosis. Solihull Autism Assessment Service (LLP) was therefore developed to offer independent multidisciplinary ASD assessments for those who are unable or unwilling to wait on long NHS waiting lists. We are ordinarily able to offer an initial consultation within 6 weeks of contact and from the point of this consultation, assessments will be completed within 6 weeks where possible.
Further, we recognised the need for thorough, clinically reliable and robust assessments, in accordance with best practice and guidelines from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. We therefore provide a comprehensive and multidisciplinary diagnostic assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder, following NICE Guidelines and using 'gold standard' assessment protocols.
Our assessments are based on our clinicians’ many years of experience and expertise as well as professional guidance and research into the most effective methods used to reliably assess for ASD.
Our assessment process also fully complies with NICE Guidelines, which means there should be no problems with having a private diagnosis from us accepted by public authorities.
Our Assessment Process
The first stage of our assessment is an initial consultation with one of our Clinical Psychologists, who will discuss with you your current and historical concerns. As part of this consultation, we ask you to complete Autism screening questionnaires, to help us decide whether a full Autism assessment is appropriate. If we agree that a full Autism assessment is indicated, generally three further assessment appointments will be offered;
- Further session(s) with the Clinical Psychologist to gather more information on the features of ASD present and to go through a detailed developmental history using the ADI-R interview, if possible.
- Interactive session with a second clinical member of the team to assess features of ASD using the ADOS-2 standardised assessment tool combining conversation and interactive activities.
- Specialist speech and language assessment to assess social communication and interaction with our Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (for children only).
- Sensory assessment with our specialist Occupational Therapist (optional extra for adults).
For child assessments, we will speak with the school to gather more information and conduct an in-school observation if necessary. Similarly with adult assessments, it may help to speak with your employer, with your consent only. For both children and adults, we will also review any relevant reports completed by other professionals (if applicable).
Following these assessment sessions, our multidisciplinary team will meet for a diagnostic discussion where individual strengths and difficulties are identified, as well as determining whether an ASD diagnosis is suitable. This is followed by a feedback session with the Clinical Psychologist, where the outcome of the assessment is discussed and our recommendations are given, alongside information about relevant services, organisations and literature.
Finally, a follow-up appointment (within 6 weeks) is offered, to discuss the assessment outcome and recommendations in more detail, if necessary.
The Team
Dr Jessica Donohoe
Co-Director, Clinical Lead and Chartered Clinical Psychologist Jessica is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with the British Psychological Society and registered with the HCPC. Jessica became fully qualified in 2014 and has a number of years experience, both prior and since qualifying, working with a wide range of emotional, behavioural, psychological and developmental difficulties of young people. Jessica has a particular interest in Autism Spectrum Conditions and has wide-ranging experience of this in children and adults, both privately and within NHS services. She is particularly enthusiastic about the identification of more subtle presentations of Autism, for example in women. |
Dr Zoe McGovern
Co-Director, Clinical Lead and Clinical Psychologist Zoe is a Clinical Psychologist registered with the HCPC. Zoe also works for the NHS as a Principal Clinical Psychologist and has over twelve years post-qualification experience. Zoe specialises in working with young people and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or learning disabilities along with the associated social and mental health difficulties. Zoe has much experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team assessing for neurodevelopmental conditions such as ASD. |
Vicky Lewis
Clinical Psychologist Vicky is a Clinical Psychologist registered with the HCPC. Vicky also works for the NHS with adults with a learning disability. Before qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist, Vicky trained as a Counsellor and worked in child and adolescent mental health services. Vicky has fourteen years of experience working in a variety of mental health settings with people of all ages. This work involves supporting people with all types of emotional, psychological and developmental problems. Vicky has a particular interest in Autism Spectrum Conditions. Vicky is passionate about understanding each person as an individual, using a non-judgemental and empathic approach. |
Nicola Griffiths
Clinical Psychologist Nicola is a Clinical Psychologist registered with the HCPC. Nicola became fully qualified in 2004 and has long standing experience in neurodiversity and Autism gained from working in child and adolescence learning disability services, paediatric neuropsychology services and adult Autism services. Nicola has a particular interest in Autism Spectrum Disorder and has worked extensively in the NHS and in private practice as the clinical lead in multi-disciplinary team assessments of Autism. |
Claire David
Clinical Psychologist Claire is a Clinical Psychologist registered with the HCPC. Claire has over 15 years post-qualification experience working as a Clinical Psychologist in the NHS with young people and adults with learning disabilities and / or Autistic Spectrum Disorder and associated psychological and behavioural difficulties. Claire also works part-time in a local further education setting, providing psychological advice to the staff working with students who have a range of social, psychological and behavioural needs. |
Samantha Lewis
Clinical Psychologist Samantha is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist registered with the HCPC who works both in private practice and in the NHS. Samantha qualified as a Clinical Psychologist in 1999 and for the last 18 years has specialised in both ADHD and Autism in adults, with extensive experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary in an NHS service as well as in private practice. Samantha is a clinical lead in the NHS and also offers supervision to other clinicians working in this area. |
Gillian Hartley
Clinical Psychologist Before qualifying and working as a Clinical Psychologist, Gillian qualified and practised as a Primary School Teacher. She also qualified as an Educational Psychologist and Teacher of the Deaf. Gillian has experience of working as a psychologist in paediatric neuropsychology and in a Child Development Centre. She has a special interest in the neurodevelopmental assessment of children and young people, focussing in particular on Autism Spectrum Conditions. Gillian particularly values being part of a multidisciplinary team, bringing together the views of young people, their families and other relevant professionals to understand a particular person’s developmental profile and needs, and sharing that understanding with young people and their parents. |
Claire Huxford
Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Claire is registered with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as well as The Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP). Claire graduated with a BSC Honours degree in Speech and Language Therapy in 2005. She has substantial experience working in community clinics, nurseries, mainstream and special schools amongst other specialist settings for both the NHS and private sector. Claire specialises in Autism Spectrum Conditions and is trained to administer diagnostic assessment tools such as the ADOS-2 and ADI-R as well as comprehensive speech and language assessments. Claire is particularly enthusiastic about supporting females with Autism and recognising the potential differences experienced by Autistic women and girls and identifying the more subtle characteristics. |
Lucinda Pollard
Occupational Therapist & ASD Assessor Lucinda is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as well as the Royal College of Occupational Therapy (RCOT). Lucinda qualified with a BSc with Honours in Occupational Therapy in 2005. She has then spent the last 15 years working with clients of all ages to support them with their Mental Health and any neurodiverse needs they may have within both Private and NHS services. Lucinda is qualified to deliver the ADOS assessment as well as assessing Sensory Modulation needs and thus providing a sensory hypothesis utilising these assessments. |
