Under consideration PE2230: Guarantee a neurodevelopment assessment within 6 months for children displaying risk behaviours
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to establish a national six-month maximum waiting time for neurodevelopmental assessments for children displaying significant behaviours or emotions which raise concerns, including those in relation to safety, ensuring families can access timely assessment, support, and intervention.
Background information
Across Scotland, significant concerns have been raised about children displaying neurodevelopmental behaviours, emotional dysregulation, and other behaviours that place themselves or others at risk. These children often face lengthy delays or repeated referral rejections before receiving an assessment and support.
Families can be left managing serious situations while being told their child does not meet the threshold for intervention. As a result, many children only receive support once they have reached crisis point.
These delays place additional pressure on families, schools, GPs, emergency services, and local authorities, and can force parents to seek costly private assessments.
A guaranteed neurodevelopmental assessment within six months for children where significant behavioural, emotional, or safety-related concerns have been raised would ensure earlier identification of needs, faster access to support, and better outcomes for children and families across Scotland.
19 signatures