As Registered Manager my Recruitment Policy is simple. I ask, "Would I want this person caring for someone I care about?" The answer is yes for everyone that works for divergence and anyone that we recommend too. We don't actively recruit and in some cases divergence staff have cared for my family. We don't use agency staff and always know the person's work first hand if we are going have them working with us.
Andrew
Andrew
Jay
Qualifications
-
MA, Public Health
-
BSc (Hons), Nursing Studies
-
RMN, SHEPS
-
Non-medical Prescribing
-
UKAAN ADHD diagnosis and treatment
-
ADOS2
Special Interests
-
Public Mental Heath,
-
Complex ADHD Treatment
Services
-
Diagnose and Treat ADHD (all ages)
-
Treat Coexisting Conditions (all ages)
-
Diagnose Autism (all ages)
-
Education & Workplace Advice
-
Teaching
Andrew has been a mental health nurse since 1998 and worked in the whole range of community mental health services. He has presented at the World Congress on ADHD pharmacology and is often invited to speak about a range of issues related to ADHD around the country. He has worked extensively with adults and children who have ADHD as well as a longer career working with the common mental health problems that can accompany the journey to a diagnosis of ADHD. As a specialist he is collaborative and aims to help people to become their own specialist in being themselves. Andrew is a prescriber and health promotion specialist. He enjoys teaching and the challenge of changing minds about divergence.
In 2020 Andrew was diagnosed with ADHD. Lots of his family have ADHD and that makes for a busy household and life alongside being a Director of the company. He knows that ADHD treatment with tablets is only the beginning of a journey which even when started well needs a guide to make sense of what happens, as well as what already happened. It was this understanding that led to him starting the company, founded on the belief that diagnosis and medications will only ever be part of the plan. It just wasn’t possible to offer the level of support he believes is best without being at the helm.
Sara
Jay
Qualifications
-
Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
-
Non-medical Prescribing
-
Clinical History Taking - Assessment and Diagnosis
-
City and guilds 7306 (Teaching Adult Learners (16+)
-
Intermediate CBT Certificate
-
-
UKAAN ADHD diagnosis and treatment
-
ADOS2 and 3Di
Special Interests
-
Training,
-
Criminal Justice,
-
Substance Use,
-
Complex Needs
Services
-
Diagnose and Treat ADHD (all ages)
-
Diagnose Autism (all ages)
-
Education & Workplace Advice
-
Teaching
I am an ADHD Nurse Specialist and Non-medical Prescriber with experience of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment across the life span. I have 21 years of nursing experience working in various settings including Adult Mental Health, Addictions, Child & Young People's and Forensic services. I have both professional knowledge and experience, as well as my personal experience; I am an ADHD service user after receiving a later life diagnosis and I am a mum to two children diagnosed in their teenage years with ADHD and autism. I feel that this enhances my professional skills and allows for a robust holistic assessment with a deeper understanding of the impact symptoms and impairment has on an individual.
I qualified as a Mental Health Nurse from Northumbria University in September 2000. I qualified to teach learners aged 16 and over in 2003 and completed non-medical prescribing V300 in 2019. Over the years I have completed a number of other qualifications and courses, including UKAAN ADHD courses in assessment, diagnosis and treatment, foundation and intermediate CBT courses and recently trained in completion of the 3DI assessment for Autism Spectrum Conditions.
I have worked in a variety of areas including Adult acute inpatient wards, Adult community within the NHS including Community Mental Health Teams, Prison Mental Health In-reach. I worked as a Criminal Justice Liaison specialist nurse providing assessment and diversion to these detained in police custody, remand courts and engaged with probation. I worked in Adult Addictions services providing assessment to clients with complex needs who may struggle to engage, and roles as a specialist practitioner in Children and Young People's Services and Adult Neurodevelopmental services, providing assessment, diagnosis and treatment for ADHD across the life span.
Darren McCabe
Qualifications
-
Registered Nurse (Learning Disability)
-
Non-medical Prescriber (supplementary and independent)
-
UKAAN ADHD diagnosis and treatment
-
ADOS2 and ADI-R
Special Interests
-
Sleep
-
Learning Disability
Services
-
Diagnose and Treat ADHD (all ages)
-
Diagnose Autism (all ages)
-
Education & Workplace Advice
-
Teaching
I am a Registered Learning Disability Nurse (RNLD), and I qualified from Northumbria University in 2012. I have worked in many settings for children and adults during my nursing career. I have worked in Neurodevelopmental services since 2015. During time I have continued my studies at university and qualified as a non-medical prescriber in 2019. During my studies I was lucky enough to spend time in Zambia, where I was able to learn from cultural differences, which enhanced my practice and interpersonal skills.
During my nursing career, I have developed a positive network within health care and have used this to arrange regular forums within ADHD non-medical prescribing network. In addition, I am a confidant educator and have set up an education package that I have delivered to schools in the Northeast of England. I have also delivered training for staff at Sunderland AFC and was part of a consultation to help plan the second sensory room which has been built at the stadium of light. Alongside this I have worked with Northumbria University and have delivered guest lecturing around neurodevelopmental disorders with student nurses.
Outside of my nursing career I enjoy playing football and watching my team. I have a keen passion for cooking, music, cycling, long walks with my family and dog. I love to explore new cultures.
I am currently working for Psychiatry UK, alongside North East ADHD and have other projects that I am working on.
Michael Curtis
Qualifications
-
MSc Advanced Clinical Practice
-
BSc (Hons), Nursing Studies
-
RMN,
-
Non-medical Prescribing
-
UKAAN ADHD diagnosis and treatment
Special Interests
-
ADHD in Old Age
Services
-
Diagnose and Treat ADHD (all ages)
-
Teaching
My Name is Michael Curtis, BSc Registered Mental Health Nurse and MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner with Health Education England and Royal College of Nursing accreditation for Advanced Clinical Practice. I have 12 years’ experience within adult and older adults inpatient and community mental health services and 6 years’ experience as an independent non-medical prescriber. I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with individuals across a wide range of complex mental health conditions, specialising in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of Dementia and holding a special interest in neurodevelopmental conditions with both personal and professional experience.
I strive to care for others in a friendly and down to earth manner and my passion for care and collaborative working is demonstrated in my track record of achieving improvements in care delivery with national award-winning recognition for transforming patient care.
I’m also enthusiastic about supporting others achieve their potential and so deliver academic training in local Universities with experts by experience as well as providing mentorship and coaching around best practice and non-medical prescribing.
Outside of work I enjoy gravel and mountain biking, bikepacking, hiking with bothy stop overs, walking my chocolate labs, cooking and spending time with my Family and Friends.
Catherine
Ellery
Qualifications
-
Studying BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy (graduates 2023)
-
L3 Early Years Educator
-
Diploma in Health Sciences
-
NVQ Business Administration, CeMAP, CeSRE, CeRCH, ceRBCB
Special Interests
-
Sensory Needs
Services
-
Education Support
-
Advocacy
Currently Studying Occupational Therapy, I have passion and drive for person focused services, which has developed from my appreciation of great customer service.
I come from a neurodiverse family, and I am lucky to have two children also blessed with neurodiversity. My working career to date has been quite varied, from banking and finance to child-care and Learning Disability support, providing me with a wealth of personal circumstance and service understanding, my personal and parental journey which has driven me to study occupational therapy has given me insight into various legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures and how these are interpreted. With my passion to improve the worlds of others, developed knowledge and understanding I take on the role in providing Advocacy Services for neurodiverse superheroes and their families.
Other team members coming
Qualifications
-
Other Mental Health Nurses Coming
Special Interests
-
Tics
-
Autism
Services
-
Decluttering Therapy
-
A New Partner service offering additional supports
We also have the support of
Bill Scott
Advisory Volunteer
Helen Cochrane
Practice Manager
Alex Cochrane
IT support