Organisations

Neurodiversity-Matters have a long standing history of providing a range of timely, effective, evidence based provisions including assessment of children, young people and adults, interventions to children, young people and adults and training as well as support and clinical supervision to professionals such as Clinical Psychologists. Dr Matty Chalk has delivered training to whole schools, independent organisations, charities, large multidisciplinary conferences (e.g. Evolution GP national conference 2022)and also public sector organisations such as District Health Boards. Matty has also consulted on pathway development with regard neurodevelopmental concerns at Consultant 8c level. Finally, Matty has undertaken Autism Spectrum assessments as a contractor for NHS trusts such as Cambridge Community Services.

ADHD

We are able to assess children (from the age of 5 years) through to adults. For children the parent(s) will be interviewed, alongside completing measures such as the Connors. If the child is able, the child will also be interviewed. The child may also be assessed directly using various specific cognitive assessments such as the WISC-V and skills assessments such as the Vineland or ABAS. Information will be sort from various different settings such as school and home about the child’s functioning. For adults, the person themselves will be interviewed, alongside completing measures such as the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale. For adults other assessments may be required such as cognitive assessments in order to exclude various things. For both children and adults a medical person such as a Paediatrician and/or Psychiatrist may be involved, to explore biological contributors for example. Time taken: including report writing and verbal feedback, the whole process can take between 6 and 8 hours. We are also able to provide support around the difficulties associated with the condition such as with behaviour, mood, concentration and learning. The support can include pharmacology as well as psychological.

Intellectual Disability

We are able to assess both children and adults for Intellectual Disability; this can help inform interventions, lead to improved understanding of need and be part of a wider process of diagnoses. The assessment will include a cognitive assessment such as the WISC or WAIS, skills assessment such as the ABAS and information from history. Time taken: including report writing and verbal feedback, the whole process can take between 5 and 7 hours. We are also able to provide support around the difficulties associated with the condition such as with behaviour, mood, concentration and learning.

Autism Spectrum Condition

We are able to assess children (from the age of 3 years) through to adults. The assessment will involve a comprehensive history taking (of up to 3 hours) with a person who has known the individual since childhood (e.g. parent) using gold standard measures such as the Autism Diagnostic Interview. In addition direct assessment of the individual is usually included such as the Autism Diagnostic Schedule2, whilst considering other types of assessments if required, such as a cognitive assessment and a language assessment (with a Speech and Language Therapist) to exclude concerns such as language disorder. Time taken: including report writing and verbal feedback, the whole process can take between 6 and 8 hours. We are also able to provide support around the difficulties associated with the condition such as with behaviour, mood, concentration and learning. The support can include pharmacology as well as psychological.

Mental Health

Children as well as adults experience difficulties with mental health such as anxiety, sadness and depression, early assessment and support is important. Children and adults can display mental health concerns through changes in sleep pattern, eating, relationships, mood and lack of interest in activities. In that regard we are to assess non-emergency mental health concerns in both children through to adults. If possible (e.g. if they are old enough) the assessment will typically involve an interview with the person themselves. If this is not possible, perhaps due to their age or level of functioning, then others can be interviewed as informants; consent will be sort. Various measures may be used to help ascertain if there are any mental health issues and the best ways to support the person. The assessment and outcome to the assessment will be conducted with the upmost sensitivity and at each stage of the assessment collaboratively agreed. Following the assessment we can then provide further support through therapies such as CBT (put a link here to intervention tab), consultation (put a link here to intervention tab), parent support (put a link here to intervention tab) and behaviour management (put a link here to intervention tab), whichever is most appropriate. Time taken: including report writing and verbal feedback, the whole process can take between 3 and 5 hours.

Matty has been providing consultation to staff, staff supervision (such as supporting staff with PBS plans) and also providing direct therapy and support to clients living in private services such as residentials for over 17 years, this has been achieved via remote mediums and also face to face, whichever is required.

Skills/Learning

Sometimes organisations have mild to moderate concerns about the children, young people or adults they support in terms of their academic achievement, educational progress, daily living skills and/or relationships. In which case we are able to provide an assessment and profile of strengths and needs. Following the assessment we can then provide further support through skills development. Time taken: including report writing and verbal feedback, the whole process can take between 3 and 5 hours.

Behaviour

Sometimes parents and carers of children and adults have concerns about behaviour, in terms of its impact on daily life, quality of life and risk. Behaviours that are concerning could be related to sleep, toileting, hurting self and others, avoidance of things such as school, community settings, clinginess or difficulties accessing activities. We can help make sense of these difficulties through functional analysis via various assessment processes including clinical interview, observation in the child or adults home and perhaps in other settings (e.g. school) and assessing the child or adult directly if that is required (e.g. cognitive assessment, mental health assessment). Following the assessment we can then provide further support through behaviour management or other interventions such as counselling (put a link here to intervention tab). Time taken: including report writing and verbal feedback, the whole process can take between 3 and 6 hours.

Training

ADHD

This training can be tailored to your needs and can include: the definition of ADHD, how it is experienced and presented in people of varying ages, an exploration of possible causes and contributors, the various ways of assessing ADHD, how to support children and adults with ADHD including with psychological and pharmacological interventions. We can also explore co-morbid conditions such as mental health and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Intellectual Disability

This training can be tailored to your needs and can include: the definition of Intellectual Disability, how it is experienced and presented in people of varying ages, an exploration of possible causes and contributors, the various ways of assessing Intellectual Disability, how to support children and adults with Learning Disability. We can also explore co-morbid conditions such as mental health and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Autism Spectrum Condition

This training can be tailored to your needs and can include: the definition of Autism Spectrum Condition, how it is experienced and presented in people of varying ages, an exploration of possible causes and contributors, the various ways of assessing Autism Spectrum Condition, how to support children and adults with Autism Spectrum Condition. We can also explore co-morbid conditions such as mental health and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Mental Health

This training can be tailored to your needs and can include: the definition of mental health, the various mental health conditions that exist, how these conditions are experienced and presented in people of varying ages, an exploration of possible causes and contributors, the various ways of assessing mental health, how to support children and adults with mental health conditions. We can also explore co-morbid conditions such as neurodevelopmental conditions.