Dorset Council has enhanced its help for children and young people through a new Keyworker Service.
Commissioned by NHS Dorset, the Keyworker Service is supporting children and young people with a learning disability and/or autism who are at risk of being admitted to mental health hospital settings.
The scheme is part of the council’s Birth to Adulthood Service and is designed for individuals aged 0–25 who are on the Dynamic Support Register (DSR), registered with a Dorset GP, and either in crisis, at risk of hospitalisation, or already in a mental health inpatient setting.
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Councillor Clare Sutton said: "The Keyworker Service plays a vital role in making sure children and young people with a learning disability and/or autism receive coordinated, personalised support when they need it most.
"By working closely with families and professionals, keyworkers help ensure that young people are supported in their communities and that their voices remain central to decisions about their care."
Keyworkers serve as a consistent point of contact for families and help coordinate health, education and social care.
They develop personalised support plans, support attendance at Care, Education and Treatment Reviews (CETRs), and work to help prevent hospital admissions or support timely discharge back into the community.
The service is accessible through the Dynamic Support Register, which identifies those at risk of crisis and secures the right help as early as possible.
Referrals can be made by health or social care professionals, or through local services working with the individual.
A spokesperson for the Dorset Parent Carer Council said: “Families tell us how important it is to have a single, trusted person who understands their child and can help them navigate complex systems.
“The Keyworker Service is a positive step that helps ensure parents and carers feel listened to, are supported and better able to secure the right help at the right time.”
The Dynamic Support Register is a local system that helps services identify and support people with a learning disability and/or autism who may be at risk of crisis.
Individuals are reviewed regularly and can be removed from the register when risks have decreased.
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