- Independent mental health service
ADHD Treatment Centre
Assessment report published 27 August 2026
Contents
Ratings - Specialist community mental health services for children and young people
Our view of the service
We carried out an announced comprehensive assessment at ADHD Treatment Centre on 13 May 2026 and completed a further announced onsite assessment on 10 June 2026. We also carried out additional offsite activity, with final interviews completed on 3 June 2026. We announced the assessment to ensure we had access to the evidence required and could speak with staff.
This was the first inspection for this service since registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in February 2024.
The service is registered to provide treatment of disease, disorder or injury and diagnostic and screening procedures.
ADHD Treatment Centre provides specialist community mental health services for children and young people, alongside adult services. The service provides assessment, diagnosis and medication management for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD and offers assessment and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The service was privately run and led by a registered manager who was also a non‑medical prescriber, with experience in delivering ADHD assessment and treatment services, and ASD assessment and diagnosis. The provider was independent and did not operate as part of the National Health Service (NHS) “right to choose” pathway, where people can choose an NHS-funded provider for their care and treatment.
The service delivers care to children and young people aged 4 to 18 years, primarily through face‑to‑face appointments, with access to remote assessment and consultations where required.
At the time of inspection, the service supported over 431 patients across both adults and children and young people, at different stages of assessment, medication titration and shared care arrangements.
The service did not operate a formal waiting list. Children and young people were booked onto the next available appointment.
The service had effective arrangements for managing risk, monitoring treatment and obtaining consent. Staff felt supported by leaders and received appropriate training, supervision and opportunities to learn and improve practice.
Children and young people were supported to explore other options where required, including therapies and lifestyle changes. Staff described signposting them to appropriate external services and referring to other professionals where additional support was needed, with decisions based on individual needs and preferences.
Staff described understanding the potential impact of assessment and treatment on children and young people’s emotional and social wellbeing and spoke about supporting them and their families through clear communication, involvement in care decisions and ongoing review. Families were involved in care planning and information sharing, where consent had been given.
The service had governance arrangements in place, including audits, meetings and feedback systems, which supported oversight of quality and responsiveness to feedback from people using the service.
The service had admission and exclusion criteria outlining when care could not be provided.
Staff described arrangements for continuity of care through shared care agreements with GPs.
People's experience of this service
We received feedback from 7 families of children and young people and reviewed 4 compliments recorded by the service.
Families of children and young people said communication with the service was clear, timely and easy to understand. The booking process and appointment arrangements were described as straightforward, with reminder systems supporting engagement.
Families of children and young told us they were fully involved in their assessment and care planning. They described being listened to, not feeling rushed, and having opportunities to discuss their symptoms, concerns and treatment options. Assessments were described as thorough and holistic, exploring personal history and the impact of ADHD across different areas of daily life. Parents of children and young people said risks, benefits and available treatment options, including both medication and non‑pharmacological approaches, were clearly explained.
Feedback highlighted strong clinical support during treatment, including regular monitoring and responsive adjustments to medication where required. Families of children and young people reported that concerns were taken seriously and addressed promptly, and that staff were accessible and responsive when support was needed. Families described feeling reassured and supported throughout their care.
Compliments and feedback described positive outcomes following treatment, including improvements in emotional wellbeing, confidence, behaviour, better self‑regulation and engagement with education. Families described improvements in children and young people returning to school full time and increased school attendance following treatment and support from the service.
Families described the service as providing reassurance, structured support and clear treatment plans.
People consistently highlighted the approachable and supportive nature of staff and the quality of communication, including clear explanations and written follow‑up information.
Children and young people and their families were encouraged to provide feedback throughout their care, and feedback was actively sought following assessment and treatment.