Regulatory position

Why we are not CQC registered

An explanation of how The Neurodiversity Service fits within UK healthcare regulation, why CQC registration does not apply to the services we provide, and the standards and regulators we are accountable to.

The short answer

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published guidance indicating that services which do not provide regulated activities — such as treatment, prescribing, or medical interventions — fall outside the scope of CQC registration.

As The Neurodiversity Service does not provide these regulated activities, we are not required, and are not eligible, to register with the CQC.

What this means in practice

CQC registration applies to services that provide regulated activities, such as the treatment of disease, disorder or injury, and the prescribing or administration of medication.

We do not undertake these activities. This means:

We do not prescribe medication.
We do not titrate or review medication.
We do not provide therapy.
We do not provide treatment of any kind.
We do only diagnostic assessment and reporting, with clear signposting to NHS, GP and specialist services for any onward care.

We provide diagnostic assessment and structured support sessions, alongside clear signposting to NHS, GP and specialist services for any onward care. Because we do not provide regulated activities, our service falls outside the scope of CQC registration, as defined by the regulator.

Who we are accountable to

Although we are outside CQC scope, our service remains subject to multiple layers of professional regulation, clinical standards, and external oversight:

Layer 1

HCPC — our clinicians

Our clinicians are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the UK statutory regulator for professions including Clinical Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, and Speech and Language Therapists. HCPC sets standards of conduct, performance and ethics, and has the authority to investigate concerns and take action where necessary. You can verify each clinician on the public HCPC register.

Check the HCPC register

Layer 2

NICE — our clinical methodology

Our assessment pathways are aligned with NICE guidance, including CG128 (autism in under-19s), CG142 (autism in adults), and NG87 (ADHD across all ages). We use recognised standardised tools where appropriate (such as ADOS-2, ADI-R, DIVA-5, Conners and ASRS), structured clinical interviews, and multidisciplinary formulation to support assessment decisions. Our reports clearly explain how conclusions are reached and include recommendations and next steps, including signposting to NHS or GP services where appropriate.

See our Clinical Standards

Layer 3

ICO — your data

We are registered with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office as a data controller. We comply with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Our Privacy Notice details how clinical and personal data is collected, processed, stored, and your rights.

Read our Privacy Notice

Layer 4

Cyber Essentials Plus — our infrastructure

We are Cyber Essentials Plus certified — a UK government-backed certification independently audited each year. It covers boundary firewalls, secure configuration, access control, malware protection, and patch management for every system that handles your data.

About Cyber Essentials

Layer 5

Professional indemnity — your recourse

We hold professional indemnity insurance at clinical-service levels with a regulated UK insurer. Alongside our published Complaints Policy and the HCPC fitness-to-practise process, this provides clear and independent routes for raising and addressing concerns if needed.

See our Complaints Policy

Operating to recognised quality standards

Although we are outside CQC scope, we draw on established quality frameworks, including the CQC Single Assessment Framework (SAF), to guide our governance, safety, and clinical processes.

This includes a focus on areas such as quality of care, leadership, safety, and responsiveness, reflecting how services are assessed within the wider healthcare system.

We publish key policies, including safeguarding, consent, mental capacity, and complaints. A more detailed governance pack can be provided to partner organisations or commissioners on request.

If you need treatment or onward care

Where an assessment identifies needs beyond the scope of what we provide — such as medication, therapy, crisis support, or support for co-occurring conditions — we will discuss this with you and help you consider appropriate next steps.

This may include signposting to your GP, NHS specialist services, or another regulated provider of your choice. Our reports are written to support communication with services such as the NHS, schools, employers, the DWP, and other organisations — our guide explains how private reports are used by schools and the NHS.

If you have concerns about our service, you can use our published Complaints Policy. You can also raise concerns about a clinician directly with the HCPC, or about your data with the ICO.