Waiting times for ADHD assessments (FOI)

​​​​​​Request

A

Please confirm the average waiting time for both adults and children on the waiting list to have an ADHD assessment by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the last year.

B

Please confirm how many adults and children are currently on the waiting list for ADHD assessments.

C

Please confirm the number of educational psychologists who are currently:

i) Employed 

ii) Working and actively practising 

iii) Off sick or away from their role 

iv) How many educational psychologists the Government of Jersey is recruiting 

v) How many there should be or how many have been budgeted for

D

Please advise many prisoners have had ADHD in the past five years and how many defendants in court cases?

Response

A

Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES)

The average waiting time for children and young people on the waiting list for an ADHD assessment by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in 2023 was 45 weeks.

Health and Community Services (HCS)

Waiting list data for HCS’ Adult ADHD Service is included in the Quality and Performance Report (QPR) for January 2024, available on www.gov.je within the February 2024 HCS Advisory Board papers (page 46):

HCS Advisory Board - Papers - Part A - February 2024.pdf (gov.je)

As this information is available elsewhere, Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

Following the meeting of the HCS Advisory Board on 29 February 2024, the QPR will be published alongside past reports, available on www.gov.je at the following link:

Health and Community Services Quality and Performance Reports (gov.je)​

B

​Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES)

As of 21 February 2024, there were 457 children and young people on the waiting list for an ADHD assessment.

Health and Community Services (HCS)

As of 26 February 2024, there were 723 adults on the waiting list for HCS’ Adult ADHD Service. This is a combination of individuals waiting for an ADHD assessment, and those who have already had their ADHD assessment in the private sector who are now waiting to be seen by the Adult ADHD Clinic so that the prescribing of their ADHD medication can be managed by the service.

C

​i) There are four Educational Psychologists employed within CYPES.

ii) and iii) Due to the small number of individuals employed as Educational Psychologists, disclosing figures for those actively working or on leave (including sickness absence) could identify individuals and breach their privacy. Therefore, Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.  

iv) CYPES are currently recruiting for one additional Educational Psychologist. 

v) The current budget is for five Educational Psychologists.

D

Information held by the States of Jersey Police indicates that 28 individuals, who are known or believed to be diagnosed with ADHD have been defendants in court cases on at least one occasion between 8 February 2019 and 8 February 2024. It should be noted that unless individuals have self-declared their condition, they are unlikely to feature within these figures.

The States of Jersey Prison Service does not hold data on ADHD diagnosis unless there is clear indication on reception, i.e., individuals are on established treatment (medication) for the condition. 

During the last 12 months, Healthcare have administered treatment to seven prisoners with this diagnosis.

Articles applied

​Article 23 - Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.

Article 25 - Personal information

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018.

(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if –

(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018; and

(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.​