About Bright Minds Centre

Experienced clinicians across child, adolescent and adult pathways

Bright Minds Centre provides assessment, diagnosis, reports and recommendations for children, young people and adults seeking clarity around ADHD, autism and related neurodevelopmental questions.

Professional consultation scene for Bright Minds Centre about page

What Bright Minds is about

Bright Minds Centre brings together consultant psychiatry, occupational therapy, paediatric nursing and neurodevelopmental assessment expertise. The service is designed to give families, adults and professionals a clear assessment pathway, a carefully considered diagnostic opinion and practical recommendations for next steps.

Our approach is calm, respectful and neurodiversity-affirming. We focus on understanding the person's profile, gathering relevant background information and explaining outcomes in a way that supports home, school, work and future planning.

Assessment-only scope

Bright Minds Centre provides assessment, diagnosis, reports and recommendations. Where wider support or ongoing clinical input is needed, this is arranged separately through independent providers or partner organisations where appropriate.

Meet the team

Consultant-led multidisciplinary expertise

Dr Olusola B. Olowookere

Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Director

Dr Olusola B. Olowookere is an experienced Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Director with specialist expertise across child and adolescent mental health, adult psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, forensic psychiatry and community mental health. He has held senior clinical roles across NHS and independent healthcare settings, providing clinical leadership, assessment, diagnosis, multidisciplinary supervision and service development.

Section 12 approved and Approved Clinician
ADOS trained
Postgraduate qualifications in Psychiatric Practice and Public Health
Evidence-informed, compassionate and person-centred care

Joan

Occupational Therapist and Autism Development Practitioner

Joan is an HCPC-registered Occupational Therapist and Autism Development Practitioner with over 20 years of experience across paediatrics, autism, ADHD, neurodevelopmental disorders, learning disabilities, sensory integration, spinal and acquired brain injuries, and mental health rehabilitation. She has advanced experience in autism and ADHD diagnostic assessment using tools including ADOS-2, ADI-R, DIVA-5 and ACIA, and holds an MSc in Sensory Integration.

HCPC registered
Senior clinical and leadership experience across NHS, private, education and international settings
Supports families, schools, professionals and multidisciplinary teams
Warm, practical, neurodiversity-affirming and strengths-based approach

Dr Akinkunmi Odutola

Adult Lead Consultant

Dr Akinkunmi Odutola is a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist and Section 12(2) Approved Psychiatrist with experience across forensic psychiatry, secure inpatient services, adult mental health, community psychiatry, child and adolescent mental health, memory services and medico-legal work. He has worked across secure, prison and community forensic settings, providing clinical leadership, forensic risk assessment, diagnostic formulation, tribunal reports, medico-legal reports and multidisciplinary assessment.

Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
Approved Clinician status
UKAAN Adult ADHD training in diagnosis
Forensic risk assessment and diagnostic formulation expertise

Dr Awadhesh Solanki

CYP Lead Consultant

Dr Awadhesh Solanki is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with a CCT in CAMHS and specialist expertise in eating disorders, neuropsychiatry, autism, ADHD, crisis work and Tier 4 adolescent inpatient care. He currently works as a Consultant Psychiatrist within Somerset CAMHS Community Eating Disorder Service, providing clinical leadership across community, day-care and acute hospital settings.

MRCPsych, RCPsych Eating Disorder Credential, DNB Psychiatry, MD Psychiatry and MBBS
Training in ADOS, ADI and UKAAN
Clinical leadership across community, day-care and acute hospital settings
Evidence-informed, compassionate and person-centred care

Dr Mohammed Ahmad Tahir

Specialist Doctor in Psychiatry

Dr Mohammed Ahmad Tahir is a GMC-registered doctor with experience across child and adolescent, adult, liaison and inpatient psychiatry. He has worked within NHS mental health services and independent specialist hospitals, supporting patients with a wide range of complex mental health needs.

GMC Registered
ADOS trained
Compassionate, evidence-informed and person-centred care