ADHD Team

ADHD is characterised by several symptoms. These can be experienced by many young people but those who receive a diagnosis of ADHD experience these to a greater extent, duration and level of impairment.

These can include:

• Inattentiveness: not being unable to concentrate for very long or finish a task, being disorganised, often losing things, being easily distracted and forgetful and unable to listen when people are talking
• Hyperactivity: being fidgety, overactive, unable to sit still, talking constantly and having difficulty doing quiet activities
• Impulsivity: speaking without thinking about the consequences, interrupting others and being unable to wait or take turns

See our Support and Advice pages for more information on supporting a child or young person with ADHD, and you can also find lots more interesting information in our Blogs.

Initial referral

You may be referred to the ADHD team after having an initial assessment with a clinician from our CYPF Hub, or another one of our CAMHS teams. You may also be referred by someone you already know in CAMHS. 

The assessment

Initially, questionnaires for you and your school teacher are sent out, to help us see which areas of your life you are having difficulties with. You may be invited to one of our clinics to complete a computer-based test called a QB test, as part of the assessment.

Most new assessment or review appointments will be online or telephone appointments to help us get to know you better and discuss some of the difficulties you’ve been experiencing. Some children and young people will be invited in to attend appointments, mainly for height/weight/blood pressure and pulse checks when these are needed and cannot be taken at home.

In order to help us, if you have a Blood Pressure Monitor, have access to scales and are able to take your child’s height we would be grateful if this could be done prior to the booked telephone/video review. Please see this guidance on how to do this. You may also find this video on taking a blood pressure reading helpful.

A school observation or interview with your teacher may also be carried out.

Some young people with similar symptoms to ADHD may have other underlying difficulties, and after the initial appointment a referral to another team in CAMHS or a more appropriate local service may be made.

What happens after the assessment

We will discuss the outcome of the assessment with both you and your parent/carer. You may receive individual support to help you manage difficult feelings or behaviours. It may be that your parent/carer finds behavioural support in the form of parenting interventions helpful. This may vary according to your local authority.

If it is felt appropriate you may be offered a trial of medication. This may help young people with severe ADHD concentrate, focus, and think about things before doing them. There are different types of medication, with different effects and strengths. We will discuss these with you and your parent/carer to make sure they are the best fit for you. Once we have found a helpful routine of medication, a clinician from our team will check how you are getting on every six months.

Our interventions

Interventions depend on the findings of the assessment and level of impact on the child or young persons life.

They will usually include:

• Recommendations for behavioural strategies at home and at school
• Signposting to targeted ADHD parenting programs and parenting support in the community. Visit Parenting Special Children for information on workshops available locally for parents and carers.
• Psychoeducation
• Consideration of medication to manage symptoms in the most severe cases
• Medication reviews.

Before making a referral to us please read the following:

• Where there are concerns about the possibility of ADHD or ADD, the school special educational needs coordinator (SENCO), should be involved in the first instance.
• A support plan should be put in place and monitored for up to 10 weeks. Make notes including any changes and patterns in their behaviour (this must include difficulties with their concentration, impulsiveness, and activity levels). If the concerns continue, are evident across different settings and have a moderate or severe impact, then please make a referral for assessment.
• Please read the ADHD referral criteria document for more in depth information.