Missed opportunities to prevent risk of offending in young people with ADHD – a service evaluation from a central London FCAMHS service

Abstract

ABSTRACT This service evaluation aims to explore the needs of young people (YP) with ADHD engaging in risk behaviours. Demographic, clinical, social, and service involvement data were extracted from records of 443 YP referred to a Forensic Community CAMHS service. A sixth (74, 16.7%) had a diagnosis of ADHD. They had similar CAMHS input (55, 74.3%) compared to those with autism but many more had Youth Offending Team (YOT) involvement (22, 29.7% with ADHD; 5, 6.4% with ASC). A quarter (20, 27.8%) were in mainstream school with a fifth (13, 18.1%) out of education or training (NEET). Half (41, 55.4%) had an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP). The prevalence of ADHD in YP referred and high levels of YOT input suggests missed opportunities to prevent the development of poor outcomes and criminalisation, including those not open to CAMHS and, therefore, unable to access medication, and those out of education without an EHCP.