Barnet Early Autism Model (BEAM)

BEAM’s service is part of Barnet’s specialist autism services and has been designed for families of pre-school children under 5 (with a confirmed diagnosis of autism). BEAM acts as an early intervention service based predominantly in the home. Families receive sessions from a trained autism specialist facilitator, who will teach and model strategies through structured activities that are based on the needs of the individual child.  The intervention focuses on coaching parents to support their child’s development with a focus on:

  • social communication skills
  • joint attention skills
  • play skills
  • emotional regulation/sensory needs

Parents/carers use the BEAM sessions to learn skills that they can apply consistently throughout the week. We encourage families to embrace neurodiversity and focus on a child’s strengths and interests in order to build on existing skills.

Support offered by our BEAM service goes beyond structured home-based sessions with a child and also includes:

  • Access to our BELS Autism Parent/Carer programme.
  • Partnership work with NHS Children’s Therapy Team
  • Target setting informed by the SCERTS framework (Social Communication, Emotional Regulation and Transactional Supports)
  • Use of Autism specific approaches based on promoting predictability and generating intrinsic motivation. These strategies include TEACCH principles, using visuals, Colourful Semantics, PECS, Intensive Interaction, Attention Autism and many more.
  • Support for nursery settings, to include modelling sessions, providing resources, observations and feedback (with next steps) and attending support plan meetings
  • Referrals to other services e.g. Early help, CIT team,
  • Support and signposting to outside agencies that provide support for families e.g., SENDIASS, MENCAP, Homestart, Family fund.
  • Support with Education Health Care Plans and Special Educational Needs Inclusion Funding (SENIF) requests for nurseries.
  • Transition to school planning.

How do I access support from Barnet Early Autism Model?

In order to access BEAM services, your child must:

  • Be a resident of Barnet
  • Have a diagnosis of Autism
  • Be of preschool age (0-4 years old)
  • NOT be attending a Barnet specialist nursery (Acorn or Livingstone Autism provision nursery)

Referrals are often made by paediatricians at the point of a diagnosis of autism, however referrals can be made by parents / carers and other professionals using the Child Development Service referral form. To contact the team please email all enquiries to [email protected].

 

BELS Autism Parent/Carer Programme

We offer access to our multi-disciplinary parent/carer programme, which runs throughout the year. This was designed with input from parents and includes the following sessions:

  • Introduction to Autism (delivered by BELS)
  • Structure, Routine, and Managing Change (delivered by BELS)
  • Promoting Communication (delivered by Barnet NHS Speech Therapist)
  • Understanding Education and Health Care Plans (delivered by SENDIASS)
  • Understanding Sensory Processing (delivered by Barnet NHS Occupational Therapist)
  • Eating and Drinking Difficulties (delivered by Barnet NHS Occupational Therapist)
  • Sleep (delivered by BELS)
  • Toileting (delivered by BELS and Barnet Parent)

 

How do I access the BELS Autism parent carer programme?

In order to access this programme you must:

  • Be a resident of Barnet
  • have a child with a diagnosis of Autism
  • be a parent of a child 0-6 years old

If you have any queries please email [email protected]. ​