Understanding where you fit within the framework

1. Who can diagnose ADHD in the UK? NICE NG87 states that ADHD should only be diagnosed by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in the diagnosis of ADHD. A professional’s ability to undertake ADHD diagnostic assessments will also depend on their clinical experience, professional scope of practice, competence, supervision arrangements and local governance. 2. Do you have to be a psychiatrist or doctor to become an ADHD diagnostic assessor? Not necessarily. UK guidance recognises that appropriately qualified healthcare professionals from a range of professional backgrounds may contribute to ADHD diagnostic assessment. The level at which someone can practise — for example independently, under supervision or as part of an assessment team — will depend on their professional background, experience, ADHD-specific training, competence and supervision requirements. 3. What are AQAS and CAAQAS? AQAS is the Adult ADHD Assessment Quality Assurance Standard. CAAQAS is the ADHD Assessment Quality Assurance Standard for Children and Teenagers. These UK professional consensus standards provide guidance around good-quality ADHD assessment and the experience, competencies and supervision expected from professionals involved in assessment. The adult and children’s frameworks differ because assessment of children and young people requires consideration of their developmental stage and needs. 4. What are the different levels of ADHD assessor practice? For adult ADHD assessment, professionals may contribute at different levels depending on their qualifications, experience and supervision. These can include: Independent Assessor An appropriately experienced clinician practising independently following relevant ADHD-specific training and professional requirements. Supervised Assessor A clinician developing or practising ADHD assessment skills with appropriate clinical supervision. Assistant Assessor A professional who may contribute to parts of the assessment under specialist oversight but does not diagnose independently. Other clinicians may also have an important role in screening and referring people onwards for specialist ADHD assessment. 5. Can nurses, psychologists and other healthcare professionals undertake ADHD assessments? Potentially, yes. UK consensus guidance includes professionals from a range of healthcare backgrounds at different levels of ADHD assessment practice. Examples may include psychiatrists, paediatricians, psychologists, advanced nurse practitioners, mental health nurses, specialist pharmacists and other appropriately qualified healthcare professionals. The appropriate level of practice depends on the clinician’s professional registration, experience, competence, ADHD-specific training, supervision and scope of practice. 6. Can GPs become involved in ADHD diagnostic assessment? Yes, GPs may contribute to ADHD assessment depending on their training, experience and supervision. Within adult consensus standards, GPs developing a special interest may work within supervised assessment arrangements. For children and young people, the level of contribution may differ and should be considered within the relevant CAAQAS framework, professional competence and local governance arrangements. 7. Is completing an ADHD training course enough to diagnose independently? Training is an important part of developing ADHD assessment competence, but training alone should not be viewed as automatically providing authority to diagnose independently. Professionals need to consider: Their professional registration Existing clinical experience Scope of practice ADHD-specific knowledge and training Relevant AQAS or CAAQAS guidance Supervised clinical experience Ongoing clinical supervision Local service governance and policies Practitioners remain professionally responsible for working within the limits of their knowledge, skills and experience. 8. How much supervised ADHD assessment experience may be required? For adult ADHD assessment, the framework highlighted in our training materials describes ADHD-specific training followed by approximately 10–20 supervised ADHD assessments with reflective learning, alongside ongoing supervision. The exact requirements for an individual practitioner will depend on their professional background, previous experience, competence, scope of practice and the setting in which they intend to work. 9. Is ongoing supervision important for ADHD assessors? Yes. Clinical supervision is an important part of developing and maintaining safe ADHD assessment practice. Relevant UK consensus guidance describes supervision arrangements for practitioners working at different levels of assessment practice, including at least monthly supervision in a number of supervised assessment roles. Your individual supervision requirements should reflect your professional role, competence, experience and scope of practice. 10. What does a comprehensive ADHD diagnostic assessment involve? A high-quality ADHD assessment is more than completing a questionnaire or rating scale. NICE guidance describes diagnosis as being based on a comprehensive assessment that includes: A full clinical and psychosocial assessment Exploration of ADHD symptoms across different areas and settings of everyday life A full developmental history Psychiatric history Observer or collateral information where appropriate Assessment of the person's mental state Professional clinical judgement Assessment should consider both symptoms and their impact on everyday functioning. 11. Are rating scales enough to diagnose ADHD? Rating scales and structured assessment tools can contribute useful information, but ADHD diagnosis involves a much broader clinical assessment. The clinician needs to consider developmental and psychiatric history, clinical and psychosocial information, symptoms across different settings, collateral information and the overall clinical picture. 12. Is assessing children and young people different from assessing adults? Yes. Assessment of children and young people requires additional developmental knowledge and competencies. This can include: Understanding typical childhood development Developmental history Information from parents and caregivers School information Information from teachers or SENCo Age-appropriate clinical interviewing Consideration of behaviour across different environments Awareness of developmental and mental health conditions Risk and safeguarding considerations CAAQAS provides specific professional consensus guidance for ADHD assessment in children and young people. 13. What professional standards apply to ADHD assessors? Healthcare professionals remain accountable to their own professional regulator. Depending on profession, this may include organisations such as the: GMC – General Medical Council NMC – Nursing and Midwifery Council HCPC – Health and Care Professions Council GPhC – General Pharmaceutical Council Common professional principles include: Working within your competence Keeping knowledge and skills up to date Maintaining patient safety Communicating effectively Maintaining confidentiality Obtaining appropriate consent Keeping accurate records Seeking help or supervision when required Referring onwards when something falls outside your competence 14. How do I know whether I could develop towards becoming an ADHD diagnostic assessor? A useful starting point is to consider three areas: 1. Professional Registration Do you hold appropriate healthcare professional registration with a regulatory body? 2. Professional Guidance Where might your current professional background and experience fit within AQAS or CAAQAS guidance? 3. Training and Experience Do you have — or are you developing — sufficient ADHD-specific knowledge, assessment training, supervised experience and clinical expertise? Your pathway will be individual to your professional background and intended scope of practice. 15. What does the ADHD Diagnostic Assessor Competencies Programme include? The ADHD Trainer UK ADHD Diagnostic Assessor Competencies Programme provides a structured learning pathway including: Foundation Build core knowledge and understanding of ADHD. ADHD Diagnostic Assessor Develop knowledge and competencies relevant to comprehensive ADHD diagnostic assessment. Live ADHD Diagnostic Assessor Training Consolidate learning through focused live teaching and clinical application. The programme is designed to support healthcare professionals in developing their knowledge and competencies while recognising the importance of professional scope, supervision and governance. 16. Does the programme cover both knowledge and practical assessment competencies? Yes. The programme is designed around developing the knowledge and competencies relevant to ADHD assessment rather than approaching ADHD diagnosis as simply completing a symptom checklist. It supports learners in understanding the broader clinical assessment process and how this relates to professional practice. 17. What should I consider before enrolling? Before developing towards ADHD diagnostic assessment practice, consider: Your current professional registration Your clinical experience Your existing scope of practice Whether adult, child and adolescent, or both areas are relevant to you AQAS or CAAQAS guidance applicable to your practice Access to appropriate clinical supervision Opportunities to develop supervised ADHD assessment experience Your organisation's local governance requirements 18. Where can I learn more? Explore the ADHD Diagnostic Assessor Competencies Programme and our ADHD training opportunities at: www.adhdtrainer.co.uk ADHD Trainer UK Develop your knowledge. Build your competencies. Understand your professional scope. Important: Training supports professional development and competency building. Healthcare professionals remain responsible for working within their professional registration, competence, supervision requirements and local clinical governance arrangements.