The Humber, Coast and Vale Keyworker Service is launched for children and young people with Learning Disability, Autism, or both with the most complex needs.

A new Keyworker Service is available for children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both with complex needs who are at risk of being admitted to a mental health inpatient unit or are already an inpatient. It’s been developed to ensure that children, young people and families get the right support at the right time, and that local systems are responsive to meeting their needs in a holistic and joined up way.

Michele Moran (CEO, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust; Senior Responsible Officer, Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership  Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Collaborative Programme) said: “Many children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both, can struggle to get the help they need from services. Processes can be complex and not joined-up or adaptable. The new Keyworker service will help families navigate the complexities of this system and improve outcomes for children, young people, and families.”

Keyworkers will act as a main point of contact for children and young people, families and carers, building and maintaining positive relationships and strengthening links with relevant services. They will work on behalf of children and young people and their family/carers towards removing challenges and barriers and ensuring there’s a continuity of care across the system to ensure the needs of the child or young person are met at all times.

In addition to making sure that all children and young people have a clear and personalised care plan to promote their development, they’ll also make sure that Care Education and Treatment Review recommendations/ actions are completed in a timely manner and that there are updates to the Dynamic Support Register to reflect this.

The initial phase of this work (2021 – 2023) will focus on children and young people who are inpatients or at risk of being admitted to a mental health inpatient unit and will aim to avoid unnecessary admission and facilitate discharge where young people have had to spend time in as an inpatient.

The funding to support the development of this new service has been made possible following the successful bid to NHS England and Improvement in 2021 from Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (Integrated Care System) to become an early implementer site. This is in response to the NHS England long term plan commitment that by 2023/24 children and young people with a learning disability, autism, or both, with the most complex needs will have a designated Keyworker implementing the recommendation made by Dame Christine Lenehan.

This new service has been developed following extensive partnership working with stakeholders, children and young peoples and their families and carers across the Humber and North Yorkshire footprint and is available to all children and young people living in this area.

Criteria for keyworker support

• A diagnosis of a learning disability, autism or both.
• 0-25 years of age, although our primary focus is under 18.
• Potential risk of inpatient admission to a mental health hospital or are currently in a CAMHS inpatient setting.
• The child/young person is on the Dynamic Support Register (DSR). Priority Referrals are with those at Red and Amber and at crisis point. Those at Green currently do not receive an allocated Keyworker, however, may receive signposting or consultation.
• Reside in the geographical area which includes Hull, East Riding, North Lincolnshire, North-East Lincolnshire, York, and North Yorkshire.

Accessing the Keyworker Service

Enquiries are welcomed from young people and their families alongside queries from professionals.

The Lead Professional involved in the child or young person’s care can make a referral by completing the referral form and consent form. This will be available on all mental health providers websites  and the Local Offer, which is available online in each area.

For more information:

Humber, Coast and Vale Keyworker Service

Postal Address Only:

Humber, Coast and Vale Keyworker Service, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, Willerby Hill, Beverley Road, Willerby, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU10 6ED 

Contact details, telephone number and email:

Humber, Coast and Vale Keyworker Service Contact Information:

Email: hnf-tr.keyworkerenquiries@nhs.net 

Telephone: 01482 205425