Dynamic Support Database

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Dynamic Support

Knowsley

It is essential 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.

We have a small Dynamic support team consisting of a team manager who also key works for complex cases and a keyworker with specialist knowledge and skills in working with people who have a Learning Disability and/or Autism.

Initially the keyworker will support children and young people with a learning disability and/or autism, who are registered on the Dynamic Support Database (DSD) and who are inpatients or are at risk of being admitted to a mental health hospital.

The role of the DSD keyworker is to work closely with the family and alongside other agencies involved to try and prevent admission to hospital or placement breakdown.  If the young person is in hospital or a mental health setting the DSD keyworkers role will be to try to make their stay as short as possible and to ensure the right support is in place within the community so when a young person is discharged this is done as smoothly as possible. The DSD Keyworker is not a caseholder – meaning that other professionals must also be involved.

Within Knowsley, the DSD is managed by the Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board -Knowsley Place. This register/ 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 closely together to manage a person’s support effectively and ensure good outcomes in the community.

Typically, information held on the DSD will be:

  • 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 circumstances
  • Key information that the people involved should know, to help keep them safe.

Once identified and added to the Dynamic Support Database / Register, care will be routinely reviewed in collaboration with the support network to make sure that all the best practice for children and young people is in place.

We understand that the needs of children and young people can change unexpectedly, so this register is intended to aid the early identification of increased risk and help us to proactively support them in the community.

Dynamic Support Key Workers

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 life.

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.

Keyworkers 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 contact for the family and any professionals and other agencies/organisations involved
  • Having regular contact with the family and providing a source of support, sharing information, advice and following up on agreed plans
  • Listening to the families and young people and giving them the confidence to be in control of the options and choices available to them.

The Dynamic Support Keyworker Service is not a clinical team and does not offer therapeutic interventions. The care and support will continue to be coordinated by services already involved which may include Children’s Social Care / the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) partners already involved.

The keyworkers have a significant role in supporting with the Care, Education and Treatment Review (CETR) process.

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.

The Knowsley Dynamic Support Keyworkers attend any CETRs to support the family and the young person, to help advocate with them and for them, and to make sure that any recommendations from the meeting are followed up by all the agencies involved.

Dynamic Support Tracker Meetings

This is a monthly multi-agency meeting that monitors the Dynamic Support Database/ Register (DSD/R). This helps us to ensure that vulnerable young people are safe and have the right support from the range of services available to them as well as coordinating the Care Education and Treatment Review (CETR) meetings. Membership of these meetings includes practitioners and senior managers and represent all the agencies supporting the children and young people on the Dynamic Support Database (DSD).

Making a Self-Referral

Parents and carers of children and young people with a diagnosis of a Learning Disability and/or autism (or both) can self-refer to the Dynamic Support Database by emailing dsd.gatewayreferrals@nhs.net  A member of the Dynamic Support Service will call you back to discuss the referral.

Alternatively please contact Knowsley Integrated Care Board on 0151 244 4126 and request to speak to the Dynamic Support Keyworker Service.

Information Sharing and Consent

Information about and involving the children and young people is shared between agencies with the knowledge and consent of the families and stored securely on the CMICB Knowsley Place electronic system called Broadcare with access restricted to nominated Knowsley Place staff.

Concerns and Complaints

We aim to provide you with high-quality information, advice, and guidance. However, if you have any concerns, complaints, or comments about your experience of Dynamic Support please tell a member of the team or via the independent feedback service Patient Opinion. You can do this by leaving comments and feedback online at: www.patientopinion.org.uk, in writing through freepost leaflets or by phone using the Freephone number 0800 122 3135.