Newcastle…

The view from the top of the modern art gallery, The Baltic. A converted old flour mill set next to the River Tyne, on this cloudless yet cold Saturday afternoon. Trying to forget the proceeding two hours, where my alleged football team successfully donated 3 points and way too many goals to a visiting, actual football team….

The Baltic is the Joseph Rank building…

I’ve been thinking about the support Hawklad has had from the Education and Health services. Lots of ups and downs, hopefully a few more ups…. In the UK it can be a bit of a postcode lottery. Some parts of the country offer more support, more joined up support than others. Our area is definitely in the OTHERS column. An area that has prided itself on highly streamlined services, so streamlined that a few too many services have disappeared completely in repeated budget cuts.

Fortunately a few services survived and have tried to help Hawklad. So thankful for those. But even for those services, what hasn’t helped is the constant change over in staff. The longest Hawklad had the same nominated support clinician was 18 months, often they would change at least twice a year. He’s had 7 different Paediatricians. As for his Education Support Officer, they have changed more frequently than managers at my so called football team… Over the last 3 years, this officer has changed 8 times. This week we phoned to talk about exam support and yes, the person has changed again. Every change brings delays and the need to bring the new person up to speed on Hawklad, who he is and his needs. Above all things, Hawklad has to try and build up a connection, time and time again. That’s so not easy for him. It really doesn’t help him. Some changes are unavoidable, people move on, that’s life but frequently, the change has been down to management decisions. Too often we’ve read or heard the following words ‘unfortunately he’s been taken off my case list so I’ve had to hand his files over to another professional, hopefully they will be in touch with you soon….’

Continuity, hard thought connections and openness based on trust are so important to successful support and therapy. Listen to Hawklad and he will talk about this way better than me. But here’s another thing. How often do the services listen to the kids they are trying to support. In our area, the answer is I suspect somewhere near, never. To my knowledge, he has never been asked. Maybe if they did they might start to understand better the importance of qualities such as Continuity in the services they are trying to provide.

35 thoughts on “Listen”

  3. That’s sucks!! I’ve dealt with that & primary physicians, cause the network got so bad that they kept leaving. I can’t imagine how much harder it is for a teen on the spectrum. I wonder what long term impacts it will have. It’s a disgrace!!

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  4. This is extremely trying and frustrating for young people such as Hawklad who are uncomfortable in social situations, especially new ones. This was one of my son’s major issues when he was Hawklad’s age. Sorry this is the way the system is set up for you, Gary. Good luck, my friend.

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  8. Unless something happens to me (it’s possible, I’m not invincible) I’m here on and off for whatever support I can offer. You have my email to communicate things privately, if you think I might be able to help with stuff like an aunty (I’ve worked out I’m older than you and might have learnt a thing or two over the years).
    Anyone reading this and knowing my blogs, well they can pretty much guess where I am in the UK (West Wales) and I might be able to help work out a UK solution. We all who know you via your blogs, well I guess we all wish we could be more helpful. Thing is, I can safely say on the consistency front, I’m consistently annoying to some folks, but my hair is never consistent, the style changes in the wind, the colours regularly get a dot of this and that, and currently it’s red, pink and purple, I’m growing out my fringe and cancelled putting the blue and green dye. So, there’s that. More tea vicar?

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  9. I’m so sorry that it is very frustrating, Gary. The frequent turnover is undoubtedly due to budget cuts and also the burnout that happens to workers placed in these situations – and the people who suffer are the families and individuals they are supposed to support.

    The system needs an overhaul and to be designed and approached from the perspective of those being served. Hawklad can definitely teach them a thing or two about client-focused care.

    I wish things were not so difficult for you both.

    As an aside, the modern bridge in Newcastle looks lovely! Sorry about your football team. I had a chuckle at your “donated three points to the other team line.” 😆

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  10. Greetings from nyc… It sure seems like these budget cuts and turnover in support staff for kids with needs are everywhere. I’m sorry that’s what you and Hawklad are dealing with.

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  12. Unbelievable. Even to one who has little experience, this reads like a case study on how NOT to help a child/youth in Hawklad’s situation. Government everywhere is falling on its face. I love the pictures.

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  15. What are they doing with our Harbour Bridge in Newcastle?
    I know there’s a few ‘look alikes’ across the world. We even have a few here in Oz to promote businesses.
    Yep, the battle continues for us here in Australia too. My grandchild’s story runs exceedingly similar to Hawklad’s. Unfortunately, some of his financial assistance was removed because of the changing of (so-called) support people. They don’t keep good records and don’t ‘talk’ to each other regarding the changes made… Ug.
    His mum fights a never ending battle for truth, justice and simple efficiency by those whose position is to help!

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