ADHD Treatment Centre

On this page

• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

This means we looked for evidence that the service met children and young people’s needs. This was the first assessment for ADHD Treatment Centre. This key question has been rated as good.

There was no waiting list at the time of assessment. Children and young people could book online or be booked directly where required, and staff told us everyone referred to the service had been allocated and was receiving care. Children and young people could access care through face-to-face and remote appointments. Appointments were offered at different times of the day, including mornings and evenings.

The service organised care around children and young people’s individual circumstances. Families of children and young people could self-refer and were supported through a pathway from assessment to diagnosis, treatment and ongoing review. Staff used electronic systems to monitor caseloads and appointment availability, supporting timely access to care. Children and young people received clear information about their care, treatment options and next steps.

We have not awarded this service a score for Responsive.

Find out about when we will not publish a key question score and what we look at when we assess Responsive.

Children and young people were placed at the centre of their care and treatment decisions. Feedback from families described care as personalised, supportive and responsive, with children and young people receiving clear explanations about diagnosis, treatment options and next steps. Children and young people and their families were actively involved in care planning and reviews.

Assessments were comprehensive and informed personalised care plans that reflected individual needs and preferences. Assessment reports and reviews were detailed, holistic and person-centred. Staff understood children and young people’s individual needs, including their personal and social circumstances.

Staff offered treatment choices, including medication, lifestyle advice and access to external psychological support where appropriate. Families of children and young people said staff took time to understand their experiences and provide support based on their individual needs and preferences. Some children and young people reported feeling more content and better able to understand themselves following treatment, and that care was tailored, supportive and responsive to personal goals and outcomes.

Children and young people were supported to explore different approaches based on their individual needs and stage of development. Staff explained that some children and young people managed well using coping strategies and lifestyle adjustments at certain stages of their lives and chose not to start medication but returned to the service later when their needs changed and they required additional support.

Staff adapted their approach to meet individual communication needs. They engaged directly with children and young people and used age-appropriate strategies to support effective appointments. Care plans were shared with children and young people and families, reflected their preferences and included input from relatives, schools and other professionals where appropriate. Children and young people were supported with clear information to make informed decisions about their care and treatment.

One parent told us, “My child was normally seen in person, but remote sessions were arranged urgently when needed.” Another parent said support was provided both remotely and on site, depending on the child and young person’s needs and preferences.

Staff ensured children and young people did not see multiple staff members unnecessarily and that continuity was maintained either through ongoing specialist follow-up or through shared care arrangements with the GP. Children and young people could return to the service when they were ready if they had stopped care after assessment or diagnosis, and follow-up letters were used where children and young people did not attend reviews or did not collect prescriptions.

Care records showed discharge planning and onward arrangements were documented. Records described a pathway in which children and young people were usually considered for shared care after stabilisation on medication for around 3 months, with ongoing 6-monthly reviews for medication and general wellbeing. Between January and April 2026, the provider made 58 shared care requests, of which 47 were accepted, including 30 of 34 for children and young people.

Communication with GPs supported wider coordination of care. There were coordinated responses to changes in children and young people’s presentation, including timely escalation to specialist psychiatric services and transfer of care where appropriate. Where appropriate, staff liaised with schools and educational professionals to help ensure children and young people received consistent support across health and education services. Staff worked with GPs when children and young people moved into shared care arrangements, and records showed information was shared with consent to support continuity. Staff ensured children and young people were accompanied by a designated adult, family member or carer during assessments and medication reviews.

The service provided clear and accessible information to help children and young people, and their families understand their care, treatment and what to expect from the service. Families received information through booking emails, appointments, telephone contact, information leaflets, fact sheets and the service website. Staff were available to answer questions, provide guidance and explain treatment options, review arrangements and available support services.

Families of children and young people told us they received written information following discussions with clinicians, which helped them understand their options and make informed decisions about care. Information could be provided in accessible formats, including easy-read versions and different languages. Interpretation services were available where required to support understanding and involvement in care.

The service had governance arrangements to protect information and support safe information sharing. This included an Information Governance Breach Reporting Policy, with defined roles such as Information Governance Lead, Senior Information Risk Owner and Data Protection Officer. The service also had a Data Protection Officer Policy, a cyber resilience policy and a confidentiality agreement for staff and contractors.

All staff had completed information governance training, including cyber security, and staff followed the provider’s confidentiality policy in practice. Consent to assessment, treatment and information sharing was documented, and information governance processes included secure electronic records with 2-factor authentication. Care plans and reports were shared with children and young people and, where appropriate, with parents and GPs.

The service listened to children and young people and involved them in decisions about their care and treatment. Families told us they felt involved in care planning and that their views, concerns and experiences were taken seriously. Feedback reviewed was positive and reflected good outcomes, including improvements in education and wellbeing.

Children and young people and their families knew how to complain or raise concerns. Complaints were acknowledged promptly, and families received feedback following investigation. Staff told us they listened to concerns, responded professionally and without judgement, and ensured families who raised concerns were not treated differently. Staff understood how to handle complaints and received feedback on investigation outcomes.

The service had systems to receive and respond to concerns. Staff told us families could complain through the website or by email. Complaints were acknowledged within 72 hours, and outcomes were usually provided within 28 days. The complaints folder showed there were no active formal complaints at the time of inspection. In the last 6 months, the service received 1 informal complaint, which was addressed and closed within 1 working day. There were no recurring themes identified. The issue related to an administrative error involving a spelling mistake in a child and young person’s name.

The compliments folder contained 4 compliments received between March 2025 and June 2026. This positive feedback reflected children and young people’s experiences of feeling listened to and involved at all stages of their care.

The service provided fair access to care and supported children and young people to access care in a way that reflected their needs. Staff said urgent referrals to psychiatry could be arranged within 1 to 2 weeks, and non-urgent referrals were usually seen within 3 weeks. Children and young people could be supported onsite or remotely according to need and request.

Children and young people requiring support with ADHD and ASD could access the service, including those not using the NHS Right to Choose pathway. NHS Right to Choose is a national scheme that allows people to choose their preferred provider for certain NHS-funded services following referral by a GP or other NHS professional. Staff told us the service was not commissioned through NHS Right to Choose but would consider referrals from families using this scheme and accept them if the service could meet their needs. The service also accepted referrals from children and young people across the country, including those accessing care privately or through other referral pathways.

The service ensured children and young people had access to appropriate clinical support. Staff told us there was always medical cover available, including for children and young people, and clinicians were supported by multidisciplinary and clinical oversight arrangements with support for timely access to assessment, treatment and escalation where required. Staff made reasonable adjustments to meet children and young people’s needs. The premises included lift access to support children and young people with mobility needs.

The service worked to support equitable experiences and outcomes by adapting care to children and young people’s different needs and presentations. Feedback from families described improved confidence, better day-to-day functioning and improved support in education and home life.

Families could self-refer to the service for private assessment for ADHD and ASD. Care was delivered through a structured pathway that began with developing an understanding of the child or young person’s difficulties and experiences, which informed assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning. The service continued to provide support and monitoring where medication was required. All staff had completed equality, diversity and human rights training.

The service promoted a culture where children and young people and their families felt able to share their views and be involved in the service. The service ensured that children and young people, including those with protected characteristics, were not disadvantaged.

The service supported children and young people and their families to make informed decisions about care and treatment and involved them in planning for the future. Records showed staff developed personalised care plans that reflected children and young people’s needs, wishes and preferences, including decisions about treatment options and ongoing support. Families told us they were involved in discussions about care and understood the plans agreed with staff.

For children and young people with more complex needs, staff worked with other professionals and services to plan and coordinate care. For example, records for 1 child and young person showed involvement from psychology, psychiatry, occupational therapy and school or SEND services. Another record showed referrals to occupational therapy and speech and language therapy to help ensure children and young people received support that met their needs.