Make a referral
We only accept referrals from health or social care professionals
You can complete the Adult Autism Keyworker Service referral form.
Sections within this form marked * are mandatory.
If you are unable to complete an online form, you can download our Adult Autism Keyworker Service referral form and email it to kentchft.adultautismkeyworkerservice@nhs.net.
Eligibility criteria
- Autistic adults aged 18 and over who and over who are registered with a GP in Kent and Medway
- Adults who have a diagnosis of autism without a diagnosed intellectual disability (LD)
- Autistic adults who have low to moderate psycho-social issues, related to or compounded by autism, or have needs related to autism that require clinical assessment and interventions.
Out of scope
- Adults with a with a diagnosis of intellectual disability (LD)
- Adults with an acute mental health presentation that present high risk (for example, unstable mental health conditions, active psychosis)
- Neurological disabilities, acquired brain injury
- Crisis support
- Respite and in-patient direct care
- 24-hour residential accommodation services.
Advice line
Our advice line can be accessed by phone from the 20 October 2025.
0300 790 0511
The line is open three times a week: Monday 1 to 4pm, Wednesday 9am to 1pm and Friday 9am to 1pm.
The advice line is answered by a clinician who works in the Adult Autism Keyworker Service.
Please note at this time, we will be unable to respond to any voicemail messages left.
Who is the advice line for?
Carers, members of the public, autistic people (diagnosed and undiagnosed), professionals, organisations.
The advice line cannot help with crisis intervention. It is not a duty line.
What can the advice line help with?
Provide you verbally with:
- information and advice on how to find self-management resources following a diagnosis of autism or to those going through the assessment process
- signposting to support provided by services such as local peer support groups
- information about the Adult Autism Support Keyworker Service
- information about support form wider community services
- provision of information and advice related to autism and neurodiversity and the local care pathway.
Who we are
The Adult Autism Keyworker Service is a community-based support service. It offers support to autistic adults who experience low to moderate psycho-social issues, related to or compounded by autism, or have needs related to autism that require clinical assessment and interventions. This service is part of the Kent and Medway-wide system pathway for autism. The service consists of a clinical team manager, a small team of up to five full-time occupational therapists and speech and language therapists, plus keyworkers and peer support workers.
How we can help
In the new service all adults will be provided with psycho-education prior to any other offered support.
Our workshops provide psycho-education about key issues arising from autism; it is recommended and encouraged that adults referred to the service attend the workshops in full.
Workshop topics include:
- autism awareness
- communication skills
- transition and change
- sensory needs
- emotional regulation
- getting better sleep
- managing anxiety
- psychological wellbeing.
As a service we are unable to provide case management/care co-ordination or oversee/manage risk during this process or while someone is awaiting assessment. It is expected that the GP (or referrer/care coordinator) would hold the overview of risk and should be contacted if there are concerns. We will liaise with professionals as appropriate.