Single point of access

Many children's services, especially mental health services, no longer take referrals directly. Instead, everything goes through one front door for the whole area, often called a single point of access, SPA, SPOA or simply the front door. Staff there read each referral referral When a professional passes your child on to a specialist team for assessment or treatment. A GP, school or health visitor can usually make one. Read the full definition of referral and pass it to the right team.

This matters because the front door is where referrals stall or bounce. If you have been told a referral was made, you can ask which service it went to, ask for the reference number, and ring the single point of access yourself to check it arrived. In some areas parents can refer directly through it rather than waiting for a professional to do it.