Supporting Children and Young People with Learning disabilities and / or Autism
The NHS England & NHS Improvement Long Term Plan and vision is 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 in her review “These are our children”.
Initially, keyworker support will be provided to children and young people who are inpatients or at risk of being admitted to hospital. Key worker support will also be extended to the most vulnerable children with a learning disability and/or autism, including those who face multiple vulnerabilities such as looked after and adopted children, and children and young people in transition between services. (Paragraph 3.33, Long Term Plan)
The initial phase of this work 2021-2023 is focussed on “children and young people who are inpatients or at risk of being admitted to hospital”.
This is an exciting time for the West Yorkshire Keyworker Service. We are developing an innovative specialist provision team of six Learning Disability and Autism Leads who will be led by a specialist Team Manager.
The team of six Learning Disability and Autism Leads will have a dedicated area of work to develop, lead and deliver nonclinical interventions and practice within the existing West Yorkshire Keyworker Service.
The roles focus on personalised care and support planning for children and young people who are autistic or have a learning disability or both and their families alongside other health, social care, education and VCSE professionals.
Find us on Instagram @westyorkshirekeyworkerservice
Click the links below to find out more about the roles and how to apply.
Supporting Children and Young People in Youth Justice & Criminal Justice Systems & Secure Estate
Transitions (Children's Services to Adult Services and wider services)
Supporting Children and Young People with Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating
Tier 4 Children and Young People Inpatient and Hospital Settings (2 roles):
Supporting LGBTQ+ Children and Young People
Team Manager: Specialist Keyworking Provision
Neurodevelopment Navigators (4 roles)
Barnardo’s West Yorkshire Keyworker Service Model of Delivery and information for partners
This document describes the keyworker model – work in progress.
Here are some information leaflets for young people, parents and professionals:
The Keyworker Service aims to:
- work as part of a multi-agency approach and offer specific support and coordination over and beyond what may be provided by Multi-Disciplinary Teams
- help the family understand the child/young person’s needs and navigate their journey through the system
- ensure the child, young person and their family are at the centre of any planning and discussions
- ensure good communication is in place
- advocate, support, challenge and influence problem-solving to pull a strong coordinated personalised package of care together
- support the provision and implementation of a tailored holistic package of support to help the child or young person and their family
- be enablers, navigators, facilitators, identifiers of gaps and opportunities
- identify, guide and refer to other services where needed e.g. carer support services, Mental Health Services, short breaks provision etc.
- 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
- link in with parent/ carer forums to update them on programme and link them in with co-production plans and opportunities support the maintenance of young people in their own home and prevent escalation of need, wherever possible
- work collaboratively to prevent admissions to in-patient care through preventing placement breakdown.
Other documents in the information pack are:
Young person agreement to receive services form
Parental agreement to receive services form
Data protection young person rights leaflet
Full privacy rights information
West Yorkshire Children’s Additional Needs Network (WYCANN)
The Children’s Additional Needs Network started in 2016 with an ambition to improve communication between the various charities operating in the Leeds area in the field of supporting children with additional needs and their families. In 2019 Leeds CANN expanded to cover all of West Yorkshire, becoming the West Yorkshire Children’s Additional Needs Network (WYCANN). WYCANN now has 84 member organisations, including teams from Leeds City Council, Bradford MDC and Calderdale MBC responsible for Children’s and Family Services, and SEND, Councillors with the Children’s’ Services portfolio, and NHS teams with involvement in this area.
This flyer contains more information and as a first step towards membership, please contact Chris Eatwell, Chair of the Network, either on email chriseatwell
Resources
A good start in life is important for everyone. These resources are useful for people with Learning Disabilities who may be planning a baby, are pregnant or who have recently had a baby.
Coping with crying and safe sleeping (EasyRead)
Sex and contraception after birth (EasyRead)
Contraception (EasyRead)
Physical health support after birth (EasyRead)
My birth plan (EasyRead)
Infant feeding and blood spot tests (EasyRead)
Emotional and mental health care after birth (EasyRead)
Care after birth (EasyRead)
Babycare and wellbeing (EasyRead)