Tayside Adult Autism Consultancy Team (TAACT)

Tayside Adult Autism Consultancy Team is a tertiary level service within NHS Tayside providing consultancy to services working with adults without an Intellectual Disability who have a confirmed or suspected Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), specialist diagnostic assessment and specialist MDT interventions. Please ensure the patient is aware we have a lengthy wait for assessments.

Referrals can be made for:

• Diagnostic assessments and consultations
• Advice for clinicians working with an autistic adult (this is with the clinician not direct work with the patient)
• Specialist interventions for individuals with a confirmed diagnosis if they are unable to access primary or secondary mental health services due to ASC

Tayside Adult Autism Consultancy Team (TAACT), The Alloway Centre, 1 Alloway Place, Dundee, DD4 8UA.  Tel 01382 443158.

1. Diagnostic assessments and consultations . Inclusion criteria:

• Aged 18 or over (16 if no longer in school)
• Registered at a GP in NHS Tayside.
• Symptoms are indicative of Autism Spectrum Condition present since childhood
• Significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning

2. Advice for clinicians working with an autistic adult (this is with the clinician not direct work with the patient). Inclusion:

• Aged 18 or over (16 if no longer in school)
• Prior diagnosis of ASC
• Registered at a GP in Tayside
• Currently open to a Health or Social Care professionals in Tayside

3. Specialist interventions for individuals with a confirmed diagnosis if they are unable to access mainstream primary or secondary mental health services due to ASC . Inclusion:

• Aged 18 or over (16 if no longer in school)
• Prior diagnosis of Autism
• Registered at a GP in NHS Tayside
• Unable to access mainstream primary or secondary mental health services, with reasonable adjustments due to ASC. Please note – there must be evidence that services have made reasonable adjustments to interventions prior to referral to TAACT.

• Patients with an existing diagnosis of Autism (for diagnostic referrals)
• Patients with an Intellectual Disability (IQ <70) for all referrals
• Patients requiring urgent review due to psychiatric risk should be referred to General Adult Psychiatry CMHT/Crisis services in the first instance. If appropriate, they will be offered a routine assessment appointment by TAACT if they also meet criteria for the team.
• For Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments, please refer to local CMHT.
• Patients with a primary diagnosis of Eating Disorder, Personality Disorder, Psychosis or Substance Misuse problem should be referred to Tayside Eating disorder service, General Adult Psychiatry services, Tayside Substance Misuse Service respectively in the first instance if concerns are specifically related to these issues. If appropriate, they will be offered a routine assessment appointment by TAACT if they also meet criteria for the team.

• The Service is happy to receive referrals either electronically (via SCI-Gateway/TrakCare) or in writing to: Tayside Adult Autism Consultancy Team (TAACT), The Alloway Centre,1 Alloway Place, Dundee, DD4 8UA.
• Please note that we do not accept email referrals at this time.
• For advice about a potential referral, or in general, please telephone Tel: (01382) 443158 (Monday to Friday).

Please provide information regarding each of the below in your referral:

• What are the main issues and concerns that have led to referral?
• What does the individual hope to achieve from the process?
• For diagnostic assessments please provide information relating to each of the core features of autism:
  • Persistent deficits in initiating and sustaining social communication and reciprocal social interactions that are outside the expected range of typical functioning given the individual’s age and level of intellectual development.
  • Persistent restricted, repetitive, and inflexible patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities that are clearly atypical or excessive for the individual’s age and sociocultural context. 
  • Evidence the onset of the disorder occurs during the developmental period, typically in early childhood.
  • The symptoms result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning
  • Please complete and return the Autism Quotient questionnaire (AQ-10) or a scored The Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale–Revised (RAADS–R)  . Referrals will be rejected without sufficient information or completion of the AQ-10 or RAADS-R.
  • If the patient has access needs or difficulties with literacy please indicate how they will be supported.
  • Are there any risks relating to harming self or others now or in the past?
  • Are there any risks regarding lone working?
  • How are risks managed? Please provide relapse prevention plans in place if appropriate. 
    
     
• Please note that we are unable to manage any mental health needs/risks an individual may have whilst they are waiting for an assessment. If you consider that the person needs support regarding their mental health /risk please ensure they access and/or continue to access the appropriate services whilst waiting for an assessment.
  
   

• Scottish Autism
• National Autism Implementation Team
• National Autistic Society
• RAADS-R and AQ-10