ADHD Assessment
LEAF Adult ADHD Assessment, Aftercare and Signposting Service
Assessment is the Beginning – Not the End
LEAF can provide a specialist, person-centred Adult ADHD Assessment, Aftercare and Signposting Service, supporting adults throughout the pathway from
initial enquiry and assessment through to post-diagnostic understanding, practical support and connection with appropriate services.
LEAF recognises that receiving an ADHD diagnosis can provide significant understanding and validation, but a diagnosis alone does not necessarily tell
someone what happens next.
Our approach therefore places equal importance on:
Assessment → Understanding → Aftercare → Adjustment → Signposting → Ongoing Support
The aim is to ensure that people are not simply given an assessment outcome and discharged, but are supported to understand what that outcome means within the context of their everyday life.
Adult ADHD Assessment
LEAF can offer comprehensive adult ADHD assessments delivered within an appropriate clinical governance and regulatory framework and in accordance with
current evidence-based practice.
The assessment pathway can include:
Initial screening and suitability review;
Detailed developmental and clinical history;
Exploration of current symptoms and functional impact;
Education and employment history;
Physical and mental health history;
Consideration of family and social history;
Exploration of childhood presentation;
Use of recognised ADHD assessment tools;
Collateral/informant information where appropriate and with consent;
Consideration of differential and co-occurring conditions;
Risk assessment where indicated;
Multidisciplinary or medical input where required;
Formulation and outcome discussion;
Comprehensive written clinical report;
Recommendations for ongoing support.
Assessment will consider the individual as a whole person rather than focusing solely on whether they meet a diagnostic threshold.
Where LEAF does not have sufficient evidence to reach an appropriate clinical conclusion, further information, assessment or specialist opinion will be
recommended rather than forcing an outcome.
A Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach
LEAF's approach recognises ADHD as a neurodevelopmental condition and seeks to understand both the challenges and strengths associated with an
individual's neurodivergence.
Assessment will explore the impact ADHD may have upon areas such as:
Executive functioning;
Attention and concentration;
Organisation;
Time management;
Impulsivity;
Emotional regulation;
Relationships;
Education;
Employment;
Finances;
Daily living;
Sleep;
Self-esteem and confidence.
The purpose is to develop a meaningful understanding of the individual rather than simply producing a diagnostic label.
Post-Diagnostic Aftercare
What Happens Next Matters
One of the key features of the LEAF model will be its focus on post-diagnostic support.
For some adults, receiving an ADHD diagnosis can lead to a period of significant reflection. Previous experiences at school, employment, within relationships
or throughout adult life may suddenly be understood differently.
People may experience relief and validation alongside frustration, sadness or questions about opportunities and experiences earlier in life.
LEAF can provide structured post-diagnostic sessions to help individuals understand and process their diagnosis and consider what support may now be
helpful.
This may include:
Understanding ADHD;
Exploring the person's individual ADHD profile;
Recognising strengths;
Understanding executive functioning;
Developing practical strategies;
Organisation and planning;
Managing competing demands;
Sleep and routines;
Communication;
Relationships;
Workplace challenges;
Education;
Self-advocacy;
Reasonable adjustments;
Preparing for discussions with employers, universities or other services;
Identifying further professional support where required.
The aim is to move the conversation from:
"I have ADHD."
to:
"I understand how ADHD affects me and what can help me."
Personalised ADHD Support Plan
Following assessment, LEAF can support the individual to develop a personalised ADHD Support Plan.
Rather than producing recommendations that remain within a clinical report, the support plan translates assessment findings into practical actions.
The plan may identify:
My strengths
Things I find difficult
What helps me
My triggers or pressure points
Strategies that work for me
Reasonable adjustments that may help
Support I may need at work or education
Health and wellbeing priorities
Services that may be useful
My next steps
The plan belongs to the individual and should be practical, accessible and relevant to their life.
Signposting and Navigation
The health and social care system can be difficult to navigate following diagnosis.
LEAF can provide active signposting and navigation, helping people understand which services may be appropriate and how they can access them.
Depending upon individual need, this may include signposting to:
NHS services;
Primary care;
Psychological support;
Counselling;
Occupational therapy;
ADHD coaching;
Employment support;
Access to Work;
Education and university support;
Reasonable-adjustment services;
Peer-support organisations;
Local community resources;
Social prescribing;
Sleep support;
Financial or organisational support;
Autism assessment where clinically indicated;
Other specialist services.
Where another professional or service is better placed to meet an individual's needs, LEAF will support appropriate onward referral or signposting rather than
attempting to provide services outside its professional scope.
Medication and Prescribing Pathway
Some individuals may wish to explore medication following diagnosis.
Where medication is clinically appropriate, LEAF can support individuals to understand the available pathway and facilitate referral or communication with an
appropriately governed prescribing service.
Where LEAF develops its own prescribing provision, this will only operate within the necessary clinical governance, medical support, physical-health monitoring, prescribing, indemnity and regulatory arrangements.
Medication should form part of a broader treatment and support plan rather than being considered the sole intervention.
The individual's preferences remain central to decision-making.
Reasonable Adjustments
Diagnosis can enable individuals to better understand and articulate the adjustments they may need.
LEAF can help individuals identify potential reasonable adjustments within: employment, education, healthcare and everyday environments.
Examples might include changes to communication, written instructions, working environment, organisation, scheduling or methods of completing tasks.
LEAF can support the person to identify and communicate their needs while recognising that decisions regarding formal workplace or educational adjustments
remain with the relevant organisation.
Follow-Up
LEAF can offer planned follow-up following assessment rather than operating a simple assessment-and-discharge model.
Depending upon the commissioned pathway, this could include:
Diagnostic feedback session
Post-diagnostic support session
Personalised ADHD Support Plan
Signposting / onward referral
Optional follow-up review
This provides continuity while supporting the individual to become increasingly confident in managing their own needs.
Partnership Working
LEAF recognises that effective ADHD support frequently requires collaboration.
With appropriate consent, LEAF can work alongside:
GPs;
Specialist ADHD services;
Mental health professionals;
Pharmacists;
Employers;
Occupational health;
Universities and colleges;
Social care professionals;
Families and significant others;
Other neurodevelopmental professionals.
LEAF's role is to help create connection rather than fragmentation between services.
Clinical Governance and Quality
Adult ADHD assessment and treatment must be delivered within robust clinical governance arrangements.
LEAF will ensure that any service it directly provides is appropriately governed and operates within professional competence and applicable regulatory
requirements.
Governance arrangements will include consideration of:
Professional registration;
Appropriate ADHD assessment competence;
Clinical supervision;
Safeguarding;
Consent and capacity;
Risk management;
Confidentiality;
Information governance;
Clinical record keeping;
Evidence-based assessment;
Differential diagnosis;
Physical and mental health considerations;
Medicines governance where relevant;
Complaints and incidents;
Audit;
Outcome monitoring;
Professional indemnity;
Appropriate escalation and onward referral.
The scope of LEAF's service will develop in line with its regulatory arrangements, professional competence and commissioned partnerships.
The LEAF Difference
LEAF's ADHD pathway is built around a straightforward principle:
A diagnosis should create understanding and opportunity – not another waiting list.
We want people to leave the LEAF pathway understanding:
What does ADHD mean for me?
What are my strengths?
Where are my difficulties?
What can I change?
What adjustments could help me?
Who else can support me?
What happens next?
The success of the service will therefore not be measured solely by the number of assessments completed.
It will be measured by whether people leave the pathway with greater understanding, practical strategies, appropriate support and a clearer route forward.