Barnet Neurodevelopmental Service

The Barnet ND team is a multidisciplinary team consisting of: 

• consultant psychiatrists
• clinical psychologists
• family therapists
• art therapists
• social workers
• nurses
• CAMHS clinicians
• Positive Behaviour Support Practitioners
• Trainee Clinical Psychologists
• Assistant Psychologists
• final year students
• administrators

Barnet, Enfield and Haringey each have a CAMHS Access service, which provides a central point of referral for professionals to refer young people with mental health concerns.

These referrals may then be discussed with the young person, their family, or the referrer in order for the Access team to gather all the relevant information and send the referral to the most appropriate team as quickly as possible, or for signposting for other support in the borough. 

Barnet CAMHS accept referrals from GPs, Schools, Allied Healthcare Professionals, and Social Workers.

First, download the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey CAMHS services referral form.

The form should then be sent to the appropriate CAMHS service:

Address: Barnet CAMHS Referrals Administrator, Holly Oak, Edgware Community Hospital, Burnt Oak Broadway, Middlesex, HA8 OAD 

Tel: 0208 702 3444

E-mail address: beh-tr.Barnetcamhsreferrals@nhs.net

Upon the completion of screening forms and an initial assessment by the Barnet Single Point of Access, you will receive confirmation of whether your child has met criteria to be added to our ADHD assessment wait list.

We provide a clinic report to explain what is explored during your child’s assessment and confirming the outcome of the assessment, and if the child / young person does not meet criteria, we would explain the reasons behind the perceived / observed attentional differences.

We will contact you usually by phone or by email with details of an appointment, when available.

Stage 1 – Developmental history interview

• During this appointment the assessor will make a direct observation of your child whilst asking them direct questions about their attentional difficulties, physical health, mental health, school performance including their particular strengths.
• The assessor does a holistic assessment, and will triangulate information from school, home and direct observation and conversations made in the clinic.

Stage 2 –  Feedback of the outcome of the assessment

• The assessor will let you know the outcome of the diagnosis based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders V (DSM-V) protocol to determine whether your child meets criteria for ADHD.

Stage 3 – Recommendations

• If your child meets criteria, you will be requested to attend a Psychoeducation Group for ADHD.
• The first line of treatment is to consider behavioural interventions; the team will provide you with a list of community resources that you would need to sign up with.
• Sometimes children require medication to treat their ADHD, and this would be done in conjunction with the above interventions and in line with NICE Guidelines.

We understand that waiting for an ADHD assessment and medication can be challenging, and we want to shed some light on the process. At present, the waiting time for an ADHD assessment can range between 1 to 2 years. Additionally, following a diagnosis of ADHD, for those recommended medication, the current wait time is roughly 10 months.

The variability in waiting times is influenced by factors such as clinician availability and increased demand for our service. We are continuing to work to reduce this as much as possible and any changes will be updated on this page.

During this time we encourage you to explore the support networks available including local charities and online platforms tailored for ADHD support. These can all be found on this page under the resources section. These platforms can provide information, guidance and peer support. Parents have reported that connecting with others who understand their experiences offer valuable insight and comfort. Additionally, community resources can offer practical strategies managing ADHD symptoms whilst waiting for NHS services.

If you need to contact us to inform us of a significant change in your child’s circumstances, please contact the team on 0208 702 4500.

Websites:

• ADHD Voices On Identity, Childhood, Ethics and Stimulants – ADHD Voices website where you can view their full series of videos and further resources.
• ADHD UK
• ADDitude Magazine - ADDitude online ‘magazine’ which provides fact checked sources of information and articles on ADHD including support strategies.
• ADDISS - the National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and support service. They provide information and resources about ADHD to anyone who needs assistance, including books and resources
• ADHD Foundation - information and resources to support young people and families in understanding and managing ADHD
• ADHD and mental health - Young Minds ADHD and mental health
• Let’s talk about ADHD video | NCMH - National Centre for Mental Health: Let’s talk about ADHD
• ADHD Resources (adhdkids.org.uk) – Website full of resources
• CHADD - Improving the lives of people affected by ADHD - Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - Treatment

This animation discusses what it means to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

It was co-produced by children with ADHD, their families and carers, and health professionals in the field.

It is based on research evidence as well as ideas from children and individuals with lived experienced of ADHD.

ADHD isn’t just one story – it’s the stories of thousands of people around the world. It’s the stories of children, of college students, of adult adhd. It’s more than their symptoms: it’s the story of their struggles and their successes.

Inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness - these are just some of the symptoms of ADHD or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. By some estimates, it is one of the most common behavioural disorders in the UK.

But instead of us here at the BBC deciding what questions to ask about ADHD, we wanted to give that job to people who know ADHD much better than us - an ADHD parents’ support group. The group came up with four questions and we at BBC Stories made four films to try to find answers for them.

Over the course of our Psychoeducation groups, parents & carers have shared resources that they have found useful for both them and their child.

These include books, videos, podcasts, groups and more.

The books are linked below to purchase from Amazon. 

Books for children:

• Putting on the Brakes: Young People’s Guide to Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Full of Beans: A book for young people with Attention Deficit Disorder
• ADHD is our Superpower

Books for parents / carers:

• Step by Step Help for Children with ADHD: A Self-Help Manual for Parents
• Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete Authoritative Guide for Parents
• ADD / ADHD Behavior-Change Resource Kit
• Understanding ADHD in Girls & Women
• Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder
• The AD / HD Handbook: A Guide for Parents and Professionals

Articles: 

• Why Children with ADHD Lie: Impulsivity and Emotional Regulation (additudemag.com)
• ADHD in Kids: What I Wish the World Knew (additudemag.com)
• Rapper’s delight: how musician Loyle Carner is teaching kids to cook | Loyle Carner | The Guardian
• will.i.am and ADHD | Attention Deficit and Creativity | ADHD Celebrities | Understood
• Surviving an ADHD Sibling | HealthyPlace - Article about Sibling relationships when a child has ADHD