Understanding the referral process for the NHSE Specialised AAC Service

Ace Centre is one of the national services funded by NHS England (NHSE) to carry out Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Assessments across the North West and Thames Valley and Wessex regions. These services are for children and adults who need AAC and the NHSE eligibility criteria.

You can check the NHS Service Finder to see if Ace Centre is the Specialised AAC Service for your area.

What we do as an NHSE Specialised AAC Service:

• Specialised AAC assessment, prescription and set up of AAC systems and initial training.
• Support the establishment, training and development of Local AAC Services (LAACES). For more information on please see our LAACES page.

Who is eligible for an NHSE Specialised AAC Assessment?

Please refer to the Eligibility Criteria guidance document for full eligibility information.

To be eligible for the NHS England Specialised AAC Services, a person must:

• be a resident in England
• be registered with a GP practice in England

As part of the Eligibility Criteria guidance document for the NHSE Specialised AAC Service, a decision chart has been developed. Prior to making a referral to the service, please use this to understand the eligibility criteria.

Who can refer?

Referrals are accepted from health, education and social care professionals working employed by a statutory body or local teams. We are unable to accept referrals from individuals, family members or independent therapists.

The referrer should have prior and regular ongoing involvement with the person being referred and be prepared to support that person through the NHSE Specialised AAC Service assessment.

Steps for submitting a referral:

1. Download and read the Eligibility Guidance Document
2. Download the referral form- please note all referrals should be made on the latest referral form.
3. Fully complete all sections of the Referral Form electronically with detailed information and supporting evidence. Incomplete Referral Forms will not be accepted.
4. Email the completed referral to [email protected] along with any other client information.
5. Consider sending screenshots, photos and videos to support the evidence you are submitting. This will help our team plan for the assessment and determine what equipment may be required.
   • Upload your evidence to this folder
   • Please email [email protected] immediately after they have been uploaded so we can add it to the individual's referral.

What happens when I refer?

All referrals will be acknowledged within ten days of receipt. Responses will state whether the referral has been accepted or delayed due to the referral having insufficient evidence of the individual meeting eligibility criteria for the NHSE Specialised AAC Service.

If you have received a letter stating your referral has been accepted you and your client will be offered a date for an assessment appointment by email and letter. A remote appointment may be offered to discuss your client’s communication needs which will assist the team in preparing for a follow up face to face appointment.

Please note that the date offered will depend on NHS England Prioritisation criteria.

What do I do if my client does not meet the NHSE Specialised AAC Service eligibility criteria?

A person may not meet the eligibility for an NHSE Specialised AAC Service assessment. This does not mean they should not have access to AAC.

Ace Centre have produced a bank of resources which support continued development and understanding of using AAC. Be sure to check out the Resources area of our website for the full range but here are some ideas to get started:

• Getting Started eBooks: covering a range of topics to help families and professionals develop robust paper based AAC symbol and text-based resources using a range of access methods.
• Symbol Charts: a wide range of topical symbol charts offered in five layouts to support different access methods designed to work on communication skills in fun and motivating activities.
• Alphabet Charts and Books: a wide range of books and charts with varying layouts and using different access methods.

Through the LAACES program Ace Centre can also assist local teams with the evidencing of AAC need at a local level. Please go to the LAACES section of our website to learn more.