What to expect from a private child mental health assessment

If you are considering a private mental health assessment for your child, you may have questions about what the process looks like, who is involved, how long it takes, and what you will receive at the end. This article answers those questions plainly.

Why families choose private assessment

The most common reason families seek a private assessment is NHS waiting times. In many parts of England, waiting for a CAMHS assessment takes over a year, and in some areas significantly longer. For a child who is struggling now, that wait is not neutral: difficulties compound, school pressure intensifies, and the child may develop secondary problems such as depression or school avoidance in the interim. Private assessment does not replace NHS care. Rather, it provides a comprehensive formulation that can inform and accelerate both private and NHS treatment pathways.

Who should carry out the assessment

A high-quality private child mental health assessment should be conducted by, or under the direct supervision of, a consultant-level clinician. For psychiatric assessments, this means a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist registered with the General Medical Council. For psychological assessments, this means a chartered psychologist or clinical psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. For autism or ADHD assessments, the assessor should have specialist training in neurodevelopmental conditions. Always ask about the assessing clinician's registration before committing to a service.

What happens during the assessment

Most child mental health assessments involve more than one session. A comprehensive assessment typically begins with a developmental and clinical history gathered from parents or carers. This covers the child's development from birth, medical history, educational history, family background, and the specific concerns that prompted the referral. The child is then assessed directly by the clinician. Depending on the type of assessment, this may use structured observation tools, clinical interview, cognitive testing, questionnaires, and techniques appropriate to the child's age. For conditions such as ADHD and autism, school-based information is also collected, typically through standardised questionnaires completed by teachers.

What a good report contains

At the end of the assessment, you should receive a written report. A thorough report should include a clear diagnostic formulation, a description of your child's areas of strength and difficulty, an explanation of any diagnoses reached and the evidence basis for them, and practical recommendations for school, therapy, and medication where relevant. You should also have a meeting or call with the assessing clinician to go through the findings and ask questions. A written report alone, with no opportunity for discussion, is not adequate practice.

How the report is used

A private assessment report can be shared with your GP, your child's school, local authority services, and any NHS services your child is involved with. Schools are not obliged to implement recommendations from private reports, but in practice most schools take them seriously, particularly where the report comes from a consultant-level clinician and makes specific, actionable recommendations.

Questions to ask before you book

Before committing to a private assessment, ask: what the assessment will involve; who exactly will conduct it and what their registration is; how many sessions are included; what the written report will cover; and how you can ask questions after receiving it. A reputable provider will answer all of these questions clearly and without pressure.