Autism Spectrum Conditions Support Team

The Bolton Autism Spectrum Conditions Support Team (ASC) provides post-diagnostic support for adults with a diagnosis of Autism who are registered with a Bolton GP. We are based at Barnett House in Bolton.

The service is aimed at adults (over 18 years) in Bolton. Our service users can be referred by their GP or another Health/Social Care professional for short-term support, depending on need.

Service users are given a period of one-to-one support initially, which helps them to identify their autistic differences including any current issues and difficulties. Information about the service users’ autistic differences are compiled into a report, including some reasonable adjustment recommendations that could be implemented by others including; employers, health care service or education providers to support the service user. Then they may be offered the opportunity to attend an eleven-week post-diagnostic support group, which provides autism specific psychoeducation about several topics.

We are flexible in how our services are delivered, offering virtual appointments over MS Teams as well as traditional, face-to-face sessions.

Our service is open to Bolton residents, who are over 18 years old, with an existing diagnosis of an Autism spectrum condition.

ASC staff will work with other professionals providing specialist support as needed in individual cases. We are also actively involved in delivering Autism Awareness training to other services and local providers. We work closely with other organisations in Bolton, such as Bolton college, Bolton University, Job Centre Plus, housing and probation services.

We recognise that Autism requires a flexible and individual-based approach, and our service users are involved in service development and activities wherever possible. Recent evaluations of the service have been extremely positive and we are constantly striving to establish innovative services that can positively improve the lives of Autistic adults across Bolton.