Make a referral
We only accept referrals from health or social care professionals
You can complete the Adult Autism Keyworker Service referral form.
Sections within this form marked * are mandatory.
If you are unable to complete an online form, you can download our Adult Autism Keyworker Service referral form and email it to kentchft.adultautismkeyworkerservice@nhs.net.
Eligibility criteria
- Autistic adults aged 18 and over who and over who are registered with a GP in Kent and Medway
- Adults who have a diagnosis of autism without a diagnosed intellectual disability (LD)
- Autistic adults who have low to moderate psycho-social issues, related to or compounded by autism, or have needs related to autism that require clinical assessment and interventions.
Out of scope
- Adults with a with a diagnosis of intellectual disability (LD)
- Adults with an acute mental health presentation that present high risk (for example, unstable mental health conditions, active psychosis)
- Neurological disabilities, acquired brain injury
- Crisis support
- Respite and in-patient direct care
- 24-hour residential accommodation services.
Who we are
The Adult Autism Keyworker Service is a community-based support service. It offers support to autistic adults who experience low to moderate psycho-social issues, related to or compounded by autism, or have needs related to autism that require clinical assessment and interventions. This service is part of the Kent and Medway-wide system pathway for autism. The service consists of a clinical team manager, a small team of up to five full-time occupational therapists and speech and language therapists, plus keyworkers and peer support workers.
How we can help
In the new service all adults will be provided with psycho-education prior to any other offered support.
Our workshops provide psycho-education about key issues arising from autism; it is recommended and encouraged that adults referred to the service attend the workshops in full.
Workshop topics include:
- autism awareness
- communication skills
- transition and change
- sensory needs
- emotional regulation
- getting better sleep
- managing anxiety
- psychological wellbeing.
As a service we are unable to provide case management/care co-ordination or oversee/manage risk during this process or while someone is awaiting assessment. It is expected that the GP (or referrer/care coordinator) would hold the overview of risk and should be contacted if there are concerns. We will liaise with professionals as appropriate.