01732 792022

enquiries@sinclairstrong.co.uk

NHS Accredited Provider for Adult Autism

and/or ADHD Diagnostic & Treatment Pathways

Sinclair-Strong Consultants Ltd (SSC) is delighted to confirm that we are now an accredited provider under the Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) for NHS Neurodevelopmental Diagnostic Pathway services. This includes comprehensive Autism and ADHD diagnostic assessments, as well as pharmacological treatment for ADHD.

NHS Right to Choose (RTC)

  • Under the NHS Legal Right to Choose Guidance, patients have the legal right to select their provider for elective care, including mental health services.
  • Your GP must decide if it is clinically appropriate to make a referral.
  • Staff in the GP practice or a referral management team may be able to refer patients on behalf of their GP, according to locally agreed referral protocols and processes. However, in this instance, the patient’s GP would remain the responsible referrer and must ensure that any such referrals on their behalf are clinically appropriate.
  • Sinclair-Strong Consultants (SSC) Ltd is listed as an eligible provider under this scheme.

Right to Choose (RTC) does not apply to patients

  • Who have self-referred
  • Who are already receiving care following an elective referral for the same condition
  • Who are referred to a service that is commissioned by a local authority (not part of a joint commissioning arrangement) or delivered through primary care
  • Who are accessing urgent or emergency (crisis) care
  • Who are serving as a member of the armed forces
  • Who are in prison or detained in hospital under Mental Health Act 1983 or a secure service.

Is prior approval from the patient’s responsible ICB required before referral?

  • No prior commissioner approval is required for referrals where the patient has exercised ‘choice’ of provider under their legal rights. However, GPs are expected to comply with any local ICB commissioning policies and only refer in line with these
  • GPs will need to understand exactly what NHS service the patient will receive before they refer into the service
  • Where initiatives such as Clinical Assessment Services or Single point of Access (SPA) are put in place, these should not obstruct the patient’s legal rights. In these circumstances, choice should be offered at the most appropriate point in the pathway before an elective referral.
  • Further information regarding the right to choose is available on the NHS website

Information for GPs and Primary Care Partners 

GPs are encouraged to support ‘patient choice’ by:

  • Discussing RTC options with patients.
  • Ensuring referrals are clinically appropriate and aligned with ICB commissioning policies (see below).
  • Naming Sinclair-Strong Consultants (SSC) Ltd on the referral form where clinically appropriate and where patients exercise their right to choose.
  • Patients should be aged 17.5+ yrs to be eligible to be referred to our adult services.

Patients should indicate Sinclair-Strong Consultants (SSC) Ltd as their preferred provider on the referral form. KCHFT will triage and forward eligible referrals to us directly.

  • ADHD Referrals from All ICB Areas:
    We accept direct GP referrals for ADHD assessments and treatment from Kent & Medway and from any ICB area in England via referralsRTC@sinclairstrong.co.uk     
  • Referral Form/s:

Our online referral form will be published soon, meanwhile, please request via email referralenquiries@sinclairstrong.co.uk

Why Choose Sinclair-Strong Consultants Ltd?

Trusted Provider:

SSC Ltd is a long-serving trusted provider to Kent & Medway ICB, commissioned via the ICB for the Kent and Medway Complex Autism Service (KAMCAS) due to our expert Consultant led Psychiatry, Psychology and Multidisciplinary Team; SSC is also commissioned to deliver diagnostic assessment and treatment services for those with complex needs, including those who have intellectual disabilities and/or co-occurring moderate to severe mental health conditions.

  • Waiting Times:
  • Autism assessments: under 2 months
  • ADHD assessments and treatment: under 1 month
  • Quality Assurance:

As an accredited provider, Sinclair-Strong Consultants (SSC) Ltd meets Kent & Medway ICB’s quality and service standards, including Kent & Medway shared care agreements and ongoing monitoring responsibilities. SSC will work closely with other ICBs shared care protocols to ensure patients receive the best possible care & treatment for their needs. 

Contact Us

For further information or to discuss referrals, please contact:

For Professionals only: 📧 referralenquiries@sinclairstrong.co.uk
For Patients: Head Office 📞 01732 792022

Our online referral form will be published soon, in the meantime, please request via the above referral enquiries email listed above.

All completed and eligible referrals must be emailed to referralsRTC@sinclairstrong.co.uk