Assessment Process

When your child reaches the top of the team’s waiting list, you will be contacted by the team and asked to provide up to date and more detailed information on how they are now and their current needs.

Pre-Assessment

We will ask for information from parent/carers, schools and from the young person themselves. The forms and questionnaires we ask to be completed are:

Parent Guide to Developmental Information

This is a detailed questionnaire and is to be completed by parents or carers and helps to give us a better understanding of the young person’s early years and current life.

RCADS Parent Form (8-18 Years old)

RCADS stands for Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scall. The parent version is completed by the parent or carer and provides helpful information about a child’s mental health. The form ranks an anxiety and depression scale to assess the child or young person for any mental health concerns. This is important to help our clinician in the assessment differentiate traits displayed due to mental health or neurodivergence.

Conners 4 Parent

Conners questionnaires provide a helpful summary of possible ADHD traits the parent/carer has observed.

School Assessment Information

This is a detailed questionnaire to be completed by the young person’s school and helps to give us a better understanding of the young person’s strength’s and differences.

Conners 4 Teacher

Conners questionnaires provide a helpful summary of possible ADHD traits their teacher has observed.

Differences and Strengths Questionnaire (DSQ)

This form aims to capture the individual experience of the young person. Ideally this will be completed by the young person themselves

RCADS Child Form (8-18 Years old)

RCADS stands for Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scall. The child version is completed by the young person and provides helpful information about a child’s mental health. The form ranks an anxiety and depression scale to assess the child or young person for any mental health concerns. This is important to help our clinician in the assessment differentiate traits displayed due to mental health or neurodivergence.

Conners 4 Self

Conners questionnaires provide a helpful summary of possible ADHD traits.

Once all the forms are returned to us they will be allocated to one of our Senior Support Workers (SSW) who will review all the information provided. They will decide whether a QB test will be required in addition to the standard assessment. Not every young person will need a QB test.

One of our team will then contact you to book in the assessment appointment

What is a QB test?

A QB test is a computer based test for ADHD that measures activity, attention and impulsivity. It tracks how a child responds and helps gather valuable information to help support them in the future. The test lasts approximately 30 minutes and involves sitting front of a computer screen. It is not a pass or fail test.

Assessment Appointment

We plan to do all of the tests and assessments on the same day so you only have to come and see us on one day. We will routinely assess for both ADHD and Autism in our assessment. If your child already has a diagnosis of either ADHD or Autism we may not reassess this diagnosis unless specifically asked to. Our assessments last up to 2 hours.

Upon arrival, please check in at reception who will take your details and then move you through to the waiting area:

• If you child does not require a QB test as part of their assessment, you and your child will go with one of our clinicians to talk through in more detail all the information that has been provided and explore your child’s developmental history. The clinician will also observe your child whilst gathering this information.
• If your child requires a QB test they will generally have this first and they will go with one of our clinicians to our calm room to do the QB test whilst you wait in reception. The clinician will bring your child back to the waiting area. A different clinician will then take you to another room for the assessment.

What happens after the assessment?

The clinician will make sure that you understand what the next steps will be before you leave the assessment. They will discuss time frames with you, but please ask if things don’t make sense to to you:

• Your child’s case will be discussed with an appropriate group of professionals (commonly known as an MDT panel) to confirm any diagnosis and to ensure a robust decision making process has been followed
• The clinician you saw will call you to confirm the outcome of the assessment
• A report outlining any diagnosis and a summary of the assessment process will be issued, usually within 2 weeks. A copy of this report is also shared with your child’s GP.
• If your child has received a diagnosis of ADHD and/or Autism we will send you a copy of the relevant resource pack with your report.

Post Diagnosis Support

Autism Early Support

Our post diagnosis support is provided by our partner, Autism Early Support (AES). They support all families in Buckinghamshire who have a child with neurodevelopmental needs including those with ADHD and Autism.

Autism Early Support provide parents with access to a free online portal with blogs, resources and live webinars.

Their support includes a series of interactive workshops and Family Support Groups that are designed to help parents/carers:

• gain a broader understanding of the ways your parent/carer can support you and advocate for
  your needs.
• develop a profile of your needs that can be shared with the people who work with you.
• learn practical solutions to adopt with you at home.
• better understand and respond to your behaviours.
• gain access to a peer support network with other parents.
• better understand neurodiversity and how it can impact your family.

Post Assessment Webinar

A monthly Microsoft Teams meeting is hosted by our Peer Support Worker to provide your parent/carer with further information about resources and support available to you and your family now you have had an assessment and diagnosis. The webinar will also include a section on the circumstances where ADHD medication may be beneficial to your child.

Walking With You (WWY)

Walking with You is a parent group for anyone supporting children and young people, up to the age of 25, who are experiencing mental health difficulties. It is a safe space where you can talk freely among people who are walking the same path as you.

Support Hope and Recovery/Resources Online Network

All of of our families have access to the Support Hope and Recovery/Resource Online Network (SHaRON) which provides a safe digital space for you to talk with peers who have had similar experiences, at any time of the day or night.

If you would like to join SHaRON please contact our Buckinghamshire CAMHS Single Point of Access (SPA) Team and ask them to send you the joining instructions:

• Phone: 01865 901 951
• Email: BucksCAMHSPA@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

ADHD Medication Clinic

If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD and you would like to consider ADHD medication, please contact our ADHD Medication Clinic team:

• Phone: 01865 901 951 (Option 5 for neuro and the option 4 for medication)
• Email: BucksCAMHsAdmin@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Mental Health Support

If your child needs help with their mental health you can contact our Buckinghamshire CAMHS Single Point of Access (SPA) Team:

• Phone: 01865 901 951
• Email: BucksCAMHSPA@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

If it is a medical emergency call 999.