ADHD treatment and medication initiation For Children and Young People with a pre-existing diagnosis

If your child has received an ADHD diagnosis from the NHS or another reputable healthcare provider, we can often accept this diagnosis as the foundation for starting treatment. Once the diagnosis is reviewed and confirmed, you and your child will meet with one of our psychiatrists to begin the medication initiation process. Our approach ensures that treatment is tailored to your child’s unique needs while adhering to best-practice guidelines, with safety and transparency as our top priorities.

What does treatment and medication initiation involve?

At Rainbow Medical, we follow NICE guidelines and RCPSYCH best-practice guidance for ADHD assessments. ADHD is diagnosed using The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, (DSM-5) criteria. This ensures a thorough and recognised pathway, trusted by GPs, schools, and local authorities. We also offer post-diagnostic support to help you and your child navigate the process confidently.

The first step is to provide us with your child’s ADHD diagnosis report. For patient safety, all reports are held to the same high standards as our own. If the report is accepted, you and your child will be invited to meet with one of our psychiatrists.

Before treatment begins, you will complete a form detailing your child’s developmental history, current challenges, and desired outcomes. This helps us gain a clear understanding of their needs.

During the consultation:

  • Your child’s ADHD report will be reviewed.
  • A comprehensive psychiatric assessment will be conducted.
  • A tailored treatment plan will be proposed.


If you agree with the recommendations, provide informed consent, and submit your child’s physical health readings, the doctor can issue the first prescription.

Once your child starts medication, we will carefully titrate the dosage to find the most effective treatment with minimal side effects. This process usually involves three medication reviews to ensure stability and optimal results.

After your child is stable on a specific medication and dose, we will seek a shared-care agreement with your GP, allowing them to take over prescribing. Under this agreement:

  • We must conduct medication reviews every six months to monitor progress and ensure ongoing safety.
  • Without these reviews, doctors – including those at Rainbow Medical – are not legally permitted to prescribe ADHD medication

As a parent, you can help your child prepare by:

  • Reflecting on their needs: Identify areas where they require the most support.
  • Writing down questions: Prepare questions about the diagnosis, medication, or future support.
  • Discussing goals: Consider what you and your child hope to achieve in school, social life, and personal development.
  • Encouraging openness: Support your child in sharing their experiences and challenges honestly.


This meeting is an opportunity to ensure the next steps are tailored to help your child thrive, while embracing their unique strengths and abilities.

At Rainbow Medical, we are committed to guiding you and your child through this journey with care, understanding, and transparency.

All assessments and meetings with your Psychiatrist will take place either over the internet or at our Leicester clinic. For talking therapies and your appointments with your therapist or counsellor, these can take place in Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Coventry, Northampton, Oxford, Worcester and Edinburgh.

Rainbow Medical psychiatric assessments are conducted by a psychiatrist. For your diagnosis, medication initiations and medication reviews, you will always meet a Psychiatrist; other providers may use nurses but we do not. For quality of care and patient safety you will meet with a doctor for diagnosis, medication initiations and medication reviews.

  1. Before we meet each other, all your preliminary screening will have been reviewed by a psychiatrist. You will receive guidance written by one of our psychiatrists at your feedback and recommendations appointment. 
  2. For your medical assessment and diagnosis, you will always meet a Psychiatrist.
  3. There are NO hidden fees; see our fees page for full details.
  4. Your preferences, needs and values will guide our clinical decisions. This co-production enables our person-centred care.
  5. Working together/Co-production is important to us. We believe in your ability to face, experience, and survive the unknown, and that your experience can help us improve our service and aid others on their journeys.
  6. We offer Evidence-based treatment, while recognising the interconnectedness of mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Although we are led by experienced Consultant Psychiatrists, we work alongside therapists, counsellors, and other healthcare professionals to provide integrated care, fostering a holistic healing environment.
  7. We will always be frank: without openness and transparency, co-production cannot work.
  8. Everything we do is underpinned by our core values; if we make a mistake, we will put things right.

As a parent of a child with ADHD, you know how challenging daily life can sometimes be. Taking ADHD medication can be transformative, helping your child improve focus, manage impulsivity, and feel more in control. However, starting medication is an important step that should be approached thoughtfully, guided by professional advice, and tailored to your child’s individual needs.

It’s natural to have questions or concerns, and seeking additional support – whether from an advocate, a trusted professional, or your wider support network – can ensure your voice is heard and your child’s needs are at the centre of the process.

At Rainbow Medical, we place great value on frankness and transparency. We believe in open, honest communication with families and prioritise your child’s safety every step of the way. Together, we can navigate this journey with confidence and care, helping your child thrive.

Dr. Josep Vilanova | Consultant Psychiatrist

1. Meeting your Counsellor and initial screening.

You will meet an experienced Counsellor. This is the first opportunity for us to meet one another, face-to-face, and discuss any concerns and the challenges you face. We will ask you to complete a series of pre-assessment questionnaires. One to be completed by you and another by someone who knew you as a child. This first stage helps us build a picture of you and if ADHD was present in your childhood. 

In line with our approach to person-centred care and co-production  we’ll offer you a second appointment to bring in your completed forms and discuss them with a trained Counsellor.

 

Plan A

The results from the initial screening may show you do not have enough symptoms for further assessment of ADHD. Although you may not have enough ADHD symptoms to fulfil a diagnosis, you may have some traits of ADHD that may create some difficulties and that you could benefit from some targeted counselling, without the need of seeing a psychiatrist or having medication. Our Counsellors will offer you guidance and support in understanding the screening process and what the results mean for you.

Plan B

If the initial screening shows enough ADHD symptoms are present, you will be supported onto Step 2, for a comprehensive diagnostic interview between you and an experienced Counsellor.

 

If a diagnosis of ADHD is likely we will ask you to request a GP referral.

2: Comprehensive diagnostic interview with an experienced Counsellor

You will have an appointment with a Counsellor who will conduct a comprehensive diagnostic interview called DIVA-5. You can find out about it by clicking here.

The main requirements for the diagnosis are that the onset of several ADHD symptoms occurred during your childhood (less than aged 12) and that this was followed by a lifelong persistence of the characteristic symptoms to the time of the current assessment. If you feel comfortable, and although not necessary, bringing someone you know well, preferably from childhood, can aid the diagnostic interview process.

The Diagnostic interview will take between 90 and 120 minutes.

3: Meeting your Consultant Psychiatrist and Diagnoses

Even if criteria for DIVA-5 are not met, you will be seen by a Consultant Psychiatrist. Only Consultant Psychiatrists can give a diagnosis of ADHD. 

As part of the diagnostic process, we will include an assessment of your needs, coexisting conditions, social, familial, and educational or occupational circumstances and physical health. This appointment will typically last an hour. 

If you do not have enough ADHD symptoms to fulfil a diagnosis, you may have some traits of ADHD that create some difficulties and you could benefit from some targeted counselling, without the need of seeing a Consultant Psychiatrist or having medication. 

We recommend you visit the NHS website by clicking here. You’ll find an overview of ADHD along with symptoms and causes in both adults and young people.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a diagnosis given to people who have challenges with:

  • inattention – finding it hard to concentrate
  • hyperactivity – feeling restless and struggling to sit still
  • impulsivity – saying or doing things without thinking about the consequences first.

Most people experience these challenges at some point in their lives, or in certain situations. For example, you might struggle to concentrate the following day if they’ve had a bad night’s sleep. However, for people with ADHD, these challenges usually begin in childhood and for most people they continue as they grow up, though they may change or improve. These challenges will also affect someone in many areas of their life.

You can find our Fees and Cancellation policy by clicking here.

A referral is not required initially. However, if a diagnosis of ADHD is likely, we will let you know when to request a GP referral. This is part of how our approach differs from other services: Your preferences, needs and values will guide our clinical decisions. This co-production enables our person-centred care.

Your Consultant Psychiatrist will also undertake a general psychiatric assessment, noting any common co-morbid psychiatric conditions which may be contributing to your current difficulties. These can include anxiety, depression, or traits of autistic spectrum condition. Your Consultant Psychiatrist will discuss and give guidance about what further assessment and treatment options are available for these conditions.

Medications will not be provided during the assessment. An appointment to discuss different treatments will be offered by your Consultant Psychiatrist. We can only prescribe medication with sufficient knowledge of your physical health. These checks will include blood pressure, pulse rate, height and weight. Depending on your current health and medical history, you may also need blood tests and an ECG before your initial prescription. Because Co-production and person-centred care are our core values, we will discuss, with you, non-pharmacological treatment and non-pharmacological treatment in combination with medication.

One of our core values is to ‘always be frank’. Rainbow Medical offers truly personalised care and collaborative assessments and treatments, so all ADHD assessments will look different. You can be confident we’ll give you the time you need: 

Step 1. Meeting your Counsellor and initial screening: 120mins over two appointments

Step 2. Comprehensive diagnostic interview with an experienced Counsellor: 90-120mins

Step 3. Meeting your Consultant Psychiatrist and Diagnoses: 60mins

Step 4. Collaborative Treatment Planning and aftercare support: 60-120mins

The fee for an ADHD assessment is fixed.

We will match you to an available counsellor and Psychiatrist who fits your objectives, required preferences, and the type of concerns you are dealing with. Your ADHD assessment is led by you. We’ll do whatever we are able to make you feel comfortable and confident.

NICE guidance on ADHD

These guidelines cover recognising, diagnosing and managing ADHD in children, young people and adults. They aim to improve recognition and diagnosis, as well as the quality of care and support for people with ADHD.

Information on ADHD

ADHD charities

Below we have included details of some charities that work with and for people with ADHD:

  • ADHD Aware – A charity run by volunteers, some with experience of ADHD themselves, who offer information and support meetings. 
  • ADHD Foundation – A charity advocating for people with ADHD and other physical and psychological health conditions.
  • Scottish ADHD Coalition – A charity providing support to adults and children with ADHD in Scotland, and their parents, carers and families.

Peer support groups

  • Support groups, ADHD UK – ADHD UK run peer-support groups, informative lectures and Q&A sessions.
  • ADHD support group meetings, ADHD Aware – ADHD Aware run peer support group meetings to provide a safe space. These groups are for people with ADHD and their friends and families.

Wellbeing information

  • Live Well, NHS – Information from the NHS on healthy living.
  • Mindfulness, NHS – Information from the NHS on mindfulness.
  • Sleep and tiredness, NHS – Information from the NHS on sleeping and tiredness.

We believe that often people may have complex clusters of symptoms that may involve different diagnoses. In fact, this is often the case with neurodivergent people, where symptoms of ADHD, autism and other conditions such as Dyslexia or Tourette’s often co-exist.   In these cases, rather than following a strict, diagnosis-based, pathway, we offer a treatment plan looking at the individual symptomatology, specific for each patient. This approach is in line with our core values: https://www.rainbowmedical.co.uk/our-values/