Failure to provide autism-informed care and communication for children
First to latest report 2 Feb 2016 — 30 Mar 2026
Reports that mention this concern
4
Times this concern has been raised
8
Stated actions linked to this concern
13
What this concern includes
Includes failures in child-facing care or support arrangements specifically dedicated to autism-informed practice, including autism training and competence, recognition of autism-related needs, adapted communication, reasonable adjustments and staff understanding of how autism affects mental-health, self-harm, treatment or safeguarding risks.
What is not included
Excludes generic staff training, communication or cultural deficiencies where autism or neurodivergent needs are not materially identified.
Excludes failures in autism diagnosis, referral or treatment access where the unsafe condition is service availability or assessment rather than autism-informed delivery of care and communication.
Excludes mental-health-only assessment or treatment failures where autism-informed care is not the shared unsafe condition; use a more specific mental-health parent where supported.
Excludes failures concerning learning disability alone without an autism or neurodivergence-related care or communication component.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel1
Department for Education1
Department of Health and Social Care1
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust1
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust1
NHS England1
NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board1
Royal College of General Practitioners1
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust1
Surrey County Council1
NHS trust4
English county council1
Executive non-departmental public body1
Health professional body1
Integrated care board1
Ministerial department1
Other public body1
Reports and published responses 4 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
Warwickshire
Concerns raised1
Lack of practical mechanisms for adapting assessment of neurodivergent children
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
Run monthly multidisciplinary simulation sessions covering paediatric abdominal pain, neurodivergence, communication and escalation.
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
Amend the paediatric casualty card to record children’s communication, sensory or behavioural needs.
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
Provide specialist Play Specialist support to improve communication and reduce anxiety for neurodivergent children.
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
Implement the FLACC behavioural pain assessment tool within the Clinical Assessment Unit.
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
Develop and deliver a communications campaign promoting Hospital Passports and “All About Me” tools.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
Practical mechanisms in GIRFT guidance fall outside the Trust’s direct remit; the Trust will comply with any enhanced guidance GIRFT issues.
Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Essex
Concerns raised1
Lack of staff training in autism
This report raised 30 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Implement Oliver McGowan mandatory learning-disability and autism training across the Trust.
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Provide bespoke autism-awareness training within the CAMHS substantive-staff induction programme.
Surrey
Concerns raised5
Lack of mandatory Autism training for Education and SEN staff
Lack of specific safeguarding guidance for children with disabilities
Lack of comprehensive, relevant and mandatory Autism training across state agencies
Lack of mandatory Autism training for Children’s Services staff
Lack of mandatory Autism training for child mental health referral triage staff
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Department for Education
NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Surrey County Council
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Surrey County Council
Make autism awareness training mandatory for staff working directly with children and young people, including new starters, and monitor individual uptake.
Surrey County Council
Roll out further autism, self-harm and suicidal-ideation training to relevant Education and Children’s Services staff.
Department for Education
Consider necessary changes to statutory safeguarding guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard Children, after receiving the review’s final report and recommendations.
NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board
Disseminate thematic-review learning and the Suicide Prevention Toolbox through accredited events, webinars, training, publications and professional meetings.
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Deliver mandatory Autism Awareness training to CYPS staff, initially prioritising the Access and Advice Team.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Department for Education
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care will address mandatory learning disability and autism training under Concern 12.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Department for Education
The Department will consider statutory guidance changes, including Working Together revisions, only after receiving the social care review’s final report and recommendations.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
South Yorkshire (Eastern)
Concerns raised1
Lack of guidance for communicating with children with disabilities such as autism
This report raised 11 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Review the Paediatric IPOC and require documentation of communication needs and disability-related communication limitations.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.