Meeting the needs of neurodivergent children, young people and their families – The West Yorkshire Collaborative Approach: Enhancing the Keyworker Offer

Overview

In 2017, the Lenehan Review recommended that children and young people with complex needs involving mental health, learning disabilities or autism who are in or at risk of admission into an inpatient setting, have access to keyworker support (Lenehan, 2017).

It is a statutory requirement that all integrated care systems offer keyworking services to children and young people with complex needs. However, keyworking is still a relatively new service and provision varies across the country.

In West Yorkshire the Integrated Care Board is working in partnership with Barnardo’s to deliver keyworking across the five local authority areas of the region. The service started as a pilot in November 2021. Since then, four new neurodevelopmental services have been added to its portfolio: the Neurodevelopmental Family Navigator Service, the Neurodiversity in Schools work, the Bradford Psychology Service and the Neurodevelopmental Connections Service to offer early intervention to neurodivergent children and young people and their families, local to their communities.

This webinar will present West Yorkshire Barnardo’s neurodevelopmental service offer and will discuss key components of successful partnership between the ICB/local authorities and Barnardo’s in enhancing keyworking provision. The session will offer a reflection on balancing early intervention and crisis support for autistic children and young people and those with a learning disability, based on the experiences of the keyworking service so far and sharing what can work.

We will be joined by guest speakers from Barnardo’s, including young people with lived experience, and West Yorkshire ICB (TBC).

The webinar will also provide an opportunity for participants to share their experiences and reflections on developing effective neurodevelopmental service pathways and working in partnership with voluntary and community sector organisations.

Date

Tuesday 30th September 2025; 13:00 – 15.00

Booking

This event is open to all and for IPC’s Academic Partners and Commissioning Alumni.

Places are limited so early booking is advised.

Please complete the Booking Form.

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