Helplines and services
NHS helpline
NHS offer a confidential text helpline which is available to all NHS staff in England. Trained professionals can give NHS staff advice on coaching, bereavement care, mental health and financial help.
Text FRONTLINE to 85258, open 24/7, 365 days a year.
NHS Employers
NHS Employers offer NHS staff a comprehensive directory of free wellbeing resources, offers and toolkits. This includes mental, physical and financial wellbeing services.
Find out more on the NHS employers staff support webpage.
Resources
National Autistic Society
The National Autistic Society is the UKs leading charity for autistic people and their families. The provide advice and guidance, and campaign for the rights of autistic people. They offer support for professionals such as:
- Professional practice: selection of articles and opinion pieces written by professionals and autistic people who share their knowledge, good practice, research and advice for anyone working with autistic people.
- Good practice guide: guide for professionals delivering talking therapies for autistic adults and children.
- Autism know how: diagnostic services, training, accreditation, consultancy and conferences, designed to support all professionals and organisations working with autistic people.
Find out more on the National Autistic Society website.
Autistica
Autistica is the UK’s leading autism research and campaigning charity. They have developed a resource to help professionals better support autistic children and young people who are experiencing a mental health crisis.
Download the resource or find out more on the Autistica website.
National Development Team for Inclusion
The National Development Team for Inclusion have developed a guide called 'It's not rocket science'. This guide includes recommendations for CAMHS services to meet sensory needs of autistic children and young people in inpatient services.
Access the guide or find out more on the National Development Team for Inclusion website.
NHS England
NHS England have developed a guides for NHS staff in how to support autistic people, such as:
Find out more on the NHS England autism webpage.
Options Autism
Options Autism provides care and education for autistic children and young people and offer resources such as helpsheets, information and advice to carers and professionals.
Access the resources or find out more on the Options Autism website.
Training courses
Royal College of General Practitioners
The Royal College of General Practitioners have developed a free online course for members. This course enables you to improve the care you and your practice provide for autistic patients and to understand the challenges autistic people face.
Access the training or find out more about other training courses on the Royal College of General Practitioners training website.
NHS England: Oliver McGowan Training
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is a free e-learning course for health and social care staff to have better skills, knowledge and understanding of the needs for autistic people and people with a learning disability.
Access the training if you have an E-Learning For Health Care (ELFH) account or find out more on the NHS England Oliver McGowan Training page.
Future Learn & The University of Kent
Future Lean and the University of Kent have developed a free, online CPD-certified course to understand more about autism from autistic perspectives. This includes information on:
- What is autism
- Social communication skills
- Sensory sensitivities and repetitive behaviours
- Co-occurring conditions
- Strengths and challenges of autistic people
- Lived experiences of autistic people
Access the training or browse more training courses on the Future Learn website.