Children and young people - National Neurodevelopmental Specification: implementation review report

Next Steps

Taking account of themes highlighted by the review and suggestions made by respondents, recommended next steps have been developed. These are set out across the short, medium and longer term where short-term actions are intended to be progressed prior to the publication of the next iteration of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Delivery Plan in early 2026. Medium and longer term actions will be progressed in alignment with the next and future iterations of the Plans.

These recommendations are intended to support implementation of the Specification and improvements, including around waiting lists, joint-working and communication, on an ongoing basis. They are intended to be deliverable within the current financial context. However, it is acknowledged that the impact of any actions will be proportionate to associated investment at both a local and national level.

Cross-Sector Working Group

It is proposed that the delivery of these actions should be supported across the short, medium, and longer term by standing up a cross-sector working group, including key stakeholders across health and education. This will support the development of publications and understanding of good practice, ensuring actions take into account the role of all partners in delivery and the experiences of children and families. This group will also allow for the ongoing, collective consideration of emerging issues and learning, recognising that this is a rapidly evolving field.

Short Term Actions

1. Supported by the working group, the Scottish Government and COSLA will clarify current understanding of policy intent and intended direction of travel across a range of stakeholders.

This will include:

• Producing a political briefing for local and national elected members
• Supporting understanding of the roles and responsibilities of different partners in delivery
• Clarifying where the framework sits in relation to the wider legislative context

2. The Scottish Government, in collaboration with COSLA, will support a series of emerging practice sessions to share practice and learning to inform local and national approaches. These will focus on how key issues have been approached from a partnership perspective, and new and emerging practice.

Initial proposals for shared learning sessions identified through the review feedback include:

• Support pathways
• Assessment – use of digital tools and practice
• Shared and Voluntary Care Arrangements

3. Together with the working group, the Scottish Government and COSLA will explore the benefits and opportunities for further family support, recognising its importance in meeting the needs of children and families, regardless of formal diagnosis or whether diagnostic criteria is met.

4. The Scottish Government, in collaboration with partners and the working group, will explore simple social media messaging and awareness raising that highlights reliable sources of information on neurodivergence to help parents find reliable information online.

5. Supported by the working group and with relevant partners, the Scottish Government, in collaboration with COSLA, will explore and share current training opportunities with parents and professionals supporting those with neurodevelopmental needs.

6. On an ongoing basis, the Scottish Government will consider the potential implications of the LDAN Bill, the proposed review of ASL and other legislative and policy developments on ND policy and related training.

Medium Term Actions

1. Supported by the working group, and informed by the review and learning from short term actions, the Scottish Government and COSLA will revise the Specification ensuring language and context is up to date and giving specific consideration to the roles and responsibilities of partners, universal approaches, self-identification and the purpose of diagnosis and assessment.

2. Supported by the working group, lived experience and parent/carer groups, the Scottish Government and COSLA will develop a high-level descriptor of a neurodevelopmental pathway to support ongoing system change and communication to parents and delivery partners.

3. The Scottish Government and COSLA will explore funding models and how they might align to the high-level descriptor of the system.

4. Together with the working group, the Scottish Government and COSLA will develop principles to support information sharing, good practice and collaborative approaches around assessment and diagnosis.

Longer Term Actions

1. Delivery partners within each health board or local authority area should build on the high-level descriptor (medium term action 2), providing area specific detail to support local systems navigation.

2. Together with the working group, young people and families, the Scottish Government and COSLA will consider tools for self-evaluation against the Neurodevelopmental Specification to support ongoing improvement.

3. Supported by the working group, the Scottish Government and COSLA will consider appropriate data points to support understanding of current levels of need and the level of support children and young people currently receive.

This should begin with working with health boards and local authorities to gain an understanding of what data is available and currently collected across the system, and how this could be used to demonstrate and support improvements for children and families.

4. The Scottish Government and COSLA will provide an interim update report on progress to deliver the actions set out in this report.

1 Costbook data indicates Health Board spend of £1.49 billion on mental health services in 2023-24