Dynamic Support Keyworker Service

What is the Key Working Service?

The Key Working service has been developed nationwide wide for children/young people who are at risk of hospitalisation/ currently hospitalised or at risk of accommodation or care package breakdown.   

The Sefton team currently consists of 3 full time Key Workers and whose role is to work closely with the family and alongside other agencies involved to try and prevent hospital admission/care package breakdown from happening or if the child/young person is currently admitted to hospital, will remain involved to try to make the hospital stay as short as possible and to facilitate a smooth discharge with the right support available in the community.

The team supports children/young people and their families in the borough of Sefton.

The Key Worker Team Lead oversees this service.

 What is the Dynamic Support Database?

The Dynamic Support Database (DSD) is for children and young people who have been diagnosed with a Learning Disability or Autism or both is managed by the Cheshire and Merseyside ICB – Sefton Place.

This system allows local systems to work together to

• review the needs of each person registered on the DSD
• mobilise the right support (eg a CETR, referral to a keyworker service for children and young people, extra support at home) to help prevent the person being admitted to a mental health hospital or the placement breaking down

 This database has information about the child/young person and what areas of their care may require enhanced community support. The information helps services to work more closely together to manage a person’s support effectively and ensure good outcomes in the community.

 The information held on the DSD will depend on the person and the care and support needed. Typically, it includes information about:

• Name, Date of Birth, NHS number and type of accommodation
• Information about who is involved in their care
• How they are managing with their Health, Education and Social needs
• Key information that the people involved should know, to help keep them safe.

 Once identified and added to the DSD, care will be routinely reviewed in collaboration with the support network to make sure that all the best practice for children and young people with a Learning Disability and/or Autism is in place.

The needs of children and young people can change quickly, so this database is intended to aid the early identification of increased risk and help us to proactively support them in the community.

How can Key Workers support children/young people and their families?

Families of children and young people often need to see a whole range of professionals, for a variety of reasons, at different stages and times of the person’s life.

It is important that local services understand the needs of people with a Learning Disability, Autism, or both in their area, so that the care network can be proactive in making sure they receive the right support at the right time.

Some families and carers can be overwhelmed by the many different agencies, organisations, or people they may have to deal with; others may not be aware of all the services and support on offer to them.

Key workers understand that the parents/carers are the experts in the child or young person’s care needs – they are there to support and empower families, they do this by:

• Being the main point of contact for the family and the involved professionals across the agencies/organisations
• Having regular contact with the family; listen to, support and work in partnership with the family, sharing information and following up on plans agree
• Providing of information and advice, helping families to build their own confidence and be in control of the choices open to them
• Help the family understand the child/young person’s needs and navigate their journey through the system
• Support practitioners in supporting the child and family to develop skills and strategies that help them live life in a meaningful way
• Identify, guide and refer to other services where needed such as carer support services, CAMHS, short break provision
• Facilitate effective communication between the child/young person, the family and the practitioners
• Champion the child/young person and their family in discussions around provision of care as required

Key Workers are not a clinical team, and the care and support will continue to be coordinated by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and/or Children's Social Care or any other partners already involved.

Care Education Treatment Reviews (CETRs)

Care Education Treatment Reviews (CETRs) are focused on those children and young people who either have been or may be about to be admitted to a Specialist Mental Health/Learning Disability Setting either in the NHS or in the Independent Sector.

 CETRs bring together those responsible for commissioning and providing services, with independent expert opinion from diverse communities with learning disabilities, autism, or both. This can include Nurses, Social Workers, Education, Commissioners and other Health, Education and Social Care Professionals.

Key workers will attend CETRs to support the family and the young person, to help advocate with them and for them, and to make sure that the recommendations from the meeting are followed up by all the agencies involved.