ADHD is one of the most common — and most misunderstood — conditions staff will meet, in children's services and adult care alike. This course covers what ADHD actually is and what it isn't, the three presentations and why girls are missed, executive function and interest-based motivation, the diagnosis pathway, communication that lands, emotional regulation and rejection sensitivity, routines and independence in supported settings, vulnerability and co-occurring conditions, the support worker's role around medication, and building support that works with the person rather than around them.
What this course covers
- Explain what ADHD is — a neurodevelopmental difference in self-regulation, not a behaviour choice or a parenting outcome
- Recognise the three presentations, how they change with age, and why ADHD is missed in girls and in care-experienced young people
- Describe executive function and interest-based motivation, and stop reading 'can't start' as 'won't try'
- Communicate so instructions land: attention first, one thing at a time, concrete words, written backup
- Support emotional regulation and rejection sensitivity — co-regulate first, talk later, repair always
What's in each section
ADHD Awareness runs across 12 sections, each ending in a quick knowledge check:
- ADHD Is Real — and Everywhere You Work
- Three Presentations — and the Ones We Miss
- Inside the ADHD Brain: Executive Function
- Getting a Diagnosis — and Supporting Before One
- Strengths, Reframed
- Communication That Lands
- Big Feelings: Regulation and Rejection Sensitivity
- Time, Routines and Getting Started
- Independence and Daily Living
- Vulnerability, Risk and What Travels With ADHD
- Medication: Your Role Around It
- Support That Works: Your Role, Every Shift
How much does ADHD Awareness training cost?
£3.99 per person on Care2Learn, with no minimum order and no subscription. If your team needs a full training matrix rather than one course, a subscription from £1.99 per learner per month covers every course in the catalogue — see the 2026 price comparison.
Who needs it
Staff supporting anyone with ADHD, diagnosed or not — in supported accommodation, children's homes, supported living, domiciliary care and residential services. ADHD is several times more common among care-experienced young people than in the general population, so teams in children's services and young people's accommodation meet it routinely. Completion is recorded with the date taken and the date it is next due, so it appears correctly on your training matrix and can be evidenced at inspection.
What the learner receives
A certificate in their own name carrying our CPD Member badge (The CPD Certification Service), showing the completion date and the renewal date a year later, downloadable at any time. The record belongs to the learner, not just the employer — it travels with them rather than sitting in one provider's system.
Related courses
Providers usually assign these alongside ADHD Awareness.
- Learning Disability & Autism Awareness — 45 min online, £3.99 per person
- Trauma-Informed Practice & ACEs — 45 min online, £3.99 per person
- Positive Behaviour Support — 45 min online, £3.99 per person
- Effective Key Working with Young People — 45 min online, £3.99 per person
You can also browse the full catalogue, or read about the Care Certificate for staff new to care.
Frequently asked questions
How long does ADHD Awareness training take?
About 50 min of e‑learning, across 12 sections with 15 assessment questions. Learners can stop and resume at any point, and it works on a phone.
What does ADHD Awareness training cover?
By the end of the course a learner should be able to explain what ADHD is and what it isn't; recognise the three presentations and who gets missed; understand executive function and interest-based motivation; and support communication, emotional regulation, routines, independence and medication routines day to day. The full list of learning outcomes is set out above.
Is ADHD Awareness CPD Aligned, and how is it assessed?
Yes — it is CPD Aligned, and the certificate carries our CPD Member badge. The assessment is multiple choice with a pass mark of 70%; attempts are recorded and learners can retake it. Renewal is set at 12 months from the completion date, so the course reappears on your training matrix when it is due.
Is this the same as autism training?
No. ADHD and autism are distinct conditions, although they frequently co-occur and this course covers the overlap. For autism itself, see Learning Disability & Autism Awareness — many providers assign the two together for a rounded neurodiversity foundation.
Is it still useful if the person has no formal diagnosis?
Yes — arguably most useful then. Assessment waiting lists run long, and the course is explicit that support runs on need, not paperwork: every strategy it teaches works whether or not a diagnosis has arrived, and staff observations recorded in the meantime become valuable evidence for the assessment itself.
Start ADHD Awareness today
£3.99 per person pay-as-you-go — buy it for yourself, or put your whole team on a subscription from £1.99 per learner a month.
Buy this course — £3.99 Add to your team