ABSTRACT
In the UK, nurses make up a quarter of the specialist child and adolescent mental health (CAMHS) professional workforce (Audit Commission 1999). New ways of working in mental health services (Department of Health 2007) and the development of non-medical prescribing are service innovations that will enhance young people’s access to medication interventions for ADHD. Nurses have traditionally delivered nursing assessments for ADHD as well as psychosocial interventions. These have included parenting skills training groups, social skills training groups and individual behaviour management and psychoeducation to young people and their families about ADHD. Nonmedical prescribing is part of a new ways of working programme to produce a capable and flexible workforce. Nurse prescribing supports children and young people with ADHD, and enhances the contribution that nurses have to make to modern holistic care and treatment interventions.
