Parent experiences of a specialist intervention service for mental health difficulties in children with autistic spectrum disorder.

Background: Mental health problems are increasingly being recognised as a significant health need for people with autism spectrum disorder, but few specialist services are available. This study explored parents' experiences of a specialist autism spectrum psychological intervention service located within a broader Neurodevelopmental and Social Communication Disorders Team.

Method: Forty-nine parents completed a telephone based survey designed to assess experiences of a specialist intervention service.

Results: High levels of satisfaction were reported. Parents reported aspects of the service that they found most useful.

Conclusion: Most parents reported satisfaction with the service and suggested improvements were used to guide service development.