Paediatric Autism Sleep Medication Service

Who is the commissioned service for paediatric autism sleep medication?

This is a non-commissioned service provided by Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and delivered by the Community Paediatric Services based at New Street Health Centre.

 

What does the service do?

This nurse led service initiates and monitors sleep medication (Melatonin) to autistic children and young people under 16 who have unresolved insomnia.

 

Tiers of support

There is a tiered approach to address autism related paediatric sleep insomnia as outlined below:

 

Tier 1 | Written information

Booklets such as Early Support | Information about sleep or Cerebra’s Sleep - A guide for parents should be provided to parents / carers who are addressing sleep difficulties for the first time. They may also wish to contact the Barnsley Sleep Helpline for further support and advice.  Older children may wish to access the Teen Sleep Hub themselves for ways of supporting their own sleep success.

 

Tier 2 | Targeted support

Once tier 1 support has been exhausted, the families will need to access more specialised support through 1:1 targeted support (via a sleep practitioner) or through attendance at a recognised sleep workshop.

 

Tier 3 | Autism Sleep Medication Clinic (this service)

Once tiers 1 and 2 have been exhausted and if insomnia remains unresolved, then a referral to this service should be considered once all the referral criteria has been met.

 

Referral criteria

Referrals are welcomed to the Autism Sleep Medication Service where ALL the six criteria below are met.

  1. Referral is made by 0-19 PHNS or TEHP working with the family, and
  2. The patient is registered with a Barnsley GP, and
  3. The patient has had a diagnosis of autism made within the last 3 years, and
  4. The patient is under the age of 15y 9m at the point of referral, and
  5. Tiers 1 and 2 sleep support have been accessed for this patient within the last 18 months, with at least 4 months allowed to embed changes/strategies, and
  6. At least 3 weeks worth of completed sleep diaries can be provided. 

               

Tier 4 | Tertiary

Once all three tiers of support have been exhausted and insomnia remains unresolved, referrals to a Specialist Sleep Clinic should be considered.

Useful resources

Below are a few links to resources both yourself and families may find useful.

 

Accessing the service

Referral guidelines

Who can refer?

At this time, GPs cannot refer directly to this service. Referrals will only be considered from:

  1. 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service, and
  2. Targeted Early Help Practitioner

Updated:  October 2025

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