Under 18’s ADHD Assessment
Child & Adolescent ADHD Assessment (Under 18s)
Comprehensive, NICE-aligned ADHD assessments for children and young people, delivered remotely, clearly structured, and focused on what truly matters: your child’s wellbeing.
A clear, compassionate pathway for families and schools
We understand how worrying it can be when a child is struggling with attention, behaviour, emotions, or learning. Parents and schools often tell us they want clarity, reassurance, and a fair, thorough assessment that looks beyond symptoms alone.
Our Child & Adolescent ADHD Assessment pathway has been carefully designed to be:
Clinically robust and NICE-aligned
Child-centred and family-focused
Efficient, transparent, and sustainable
Accessible through a fully remote model
By separating clinical assessment, information gathering, and prescribing processes, we ensure consultant time is used where it adds the greatest value, understanding your child and making accurate, thoughtful diagnostic decisions.
What makes our assessments different?
Whole-child, whole-family approach
Children do not exist in isolation. Difficulties with attention, behaviour, emotions, or learning often arise from a complex interaction of developmental, psychological, health, family, and environmental factors. Our assessments explore these areas sensitively and in depth, rather than relying on checklists alone.
Experienced Child & Adolescent Psychiatry input
All assessments are consultant-led and carried out by clinicians with extensive experience working across both NHS and private services. Our clinicians regularly support children and young people presenting with a wide range of developmental, emotional, and behavioural difficulties, and take a thoughtful, whole-child approach to understanding each young person’s needs.
Families consistently value our respectful, thoughtful, and collaborative style, ensuring young people feel heard and parents feel supported.
Our ADHD Assessment Pathway (Under 18s)
Initial enquiry & suitability screening (Remote)
Once you contact us, we will send a brief screening questionnaire and consent form. This helps ensure the assessment is appropriate for your child before moving forward. All stages of the pathway are delivered remotely, making the process more accessible for families and schools.
Pre-assessment information gathering
Before the appointment, we gather key background information to allow the assessment session to focus on understanding and diagnosis rather than paperwork. This includes:
- Parent, school, and young person questionnaires
- A detailed developmental and neurodevelopmental history completed by parents/carers
- Recent school reports (from the last 6 months)
This structured preparation supports a thorough, balanced, and NICE-aligned assessment, while reducing delays and unnecessary appointments.
Consultant-led clinical assessment
The core of the process is a comprehensive assessment with a Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, focusing on:
- Your child’s developmental history and current presentation
- Emotional wellbeing, behaviour, and functioning at home and school
- Strengths, challenges, and protective factors
- Differential diagnoses and clinical formulation
Following this:
- A clear diagnostic outcome is reached where appropriate
- Findings and recommendations are discussed in a way parents and young people can understand
- A written report is prepared
Medication pathway (optional)
If medication is considered appropriate and you choose this route, medication is initiated at the assessment and then we refer to a specialist medical prescriber for careful titration and monitoring.
Where suitable, prescribing is transitioned back to your GP under shared care. If NHS shared care is not available, we offer a robust in-house shared care model.
Medication decisions are always made collaboratively, with clear explanations of benefits, risks, and alternatives.
Who is this assessment suitable for?
This service is appropriate for:
- Children and young people under 18
- Families seeking a private ADHD assessment
- Parents looking for a respectful, evidence-based approach
Ready to get started?
Contact us today to see if this assessment suits your child’s needs.
Telephone: 0370 162 0673 ext. 1
Email: enquiries@phoenix-mhs.com
Child & Adolescent ADHD Assessment