"ADHD Carepathway"

I am sorry to hear your frustration at the difficulties encountered in relation to the appointment of a co-ordinator as part of the ADHD pathway across Newcastle. As you are aware, a draft pathway was completed in 2007 and some issues were resolved quickly in relation to the increase of parenting programmes. Unfortunately as you say, significant delays were encountered in funding arrangements for this post however the PCT commissioners submitted a plan for the additional funding which was finally agreed earlier this year. In order to get involvement from families in this important process, Newcastle Children’s Trust asked parents to assist in drawing up the job description for the coordinators post. This job description is currently being finalised with a number of the agencies involved and will then have to go through a banding process called Agenda for Change which is a process that all NHS jobs require prior to going out to recruitment. I would like to reassure you that we are now coming to completion of this long and difficult process and would like to apologise that some of the delays and complex processes involved in appointing to this post could have been communicated to you more effectively. It should have been identified at the onset of completing the pathway that delays should be expected due to different agencies working together and trying to secure funding for new developments. We will strive to keep those involved better informed throughout this final process and hope to involve parents in designing the advert and in the interview process. If you have any further queries you would like to discuss personally please do not hesitate to contact Jan Brown – Service Manager on 0191 2466935 or by e-mail.