A new service providing support to children and young people who are either in or heading towards a mental health crisis will soon be introduced in Dorset.
The Keyworker Service, to be launched by January 2024, will support children and young people who are:
- Aged birth to 25
- Registered with a GP in Dorset
- Autistic, or awaiting a diagnosis of autism, have a learning disability or both
AND
- Rated red or amber as being at risk of hospital admission on the Dynamic Support Register (DSR) OR
- An inpatient in a mental health hospital
- A person in an acute hospital due to a mental health crisis.
The keyworkers will work closely with children and young people and their families and carers to help them navigate support from mental health services, the wider health and social care system and education.
The aim is to give children, young people and families the knowledge and confidence to navigate services themselves in future - although the Keyworker will remain on hand if needed.
The Keyworker Service forms part of the NHS Long Term Plan which includes a commitment that by 2023/24 children and young people with a learning disability and/or who are autistic with the most complex needs will have a designated Keyworker.
While designing Dorset’s Keyworker Service, the programme team has been working closely with Experts by Experience to ensure their views are heard, and needs met.
To find out more about the Dorset Key Worker Service, please email keyworking