Knowledge exchange webinar
On 30 September 2025, IPC hosted a Knowledge Exchange Webinar in partnership with Barnardo’s West Yorkshire, spotlighting innovative approaches to supporting neurodivergent children, young people, and their families. The event, which was attended by over 200 professionals, shared insights, lived experiences, and evaluation findings from the West Yorkshire Keyworker Service and associated initiatives.
The West Yorkshire Keyworker Service was launched in November 2021 as part of NHS England’s keyworking pilot. The core service aims to reduce unnecessary Tier 4 admissions and provide personalised crisis support for children and young people who are at risk of admission to a mental health or specialist hospital / inpatient setting.
It is a non-clinical service; Barnardo’s is commissioned by the Integrated Care Board as lead delivery partner and works in close alignment with health, local authorities, CAMHS, education, and voluntary organisations.
Since its launch in 2021, the West Yorkshire Keyworker Service has continually evolved and expanded to address systemic challenges and provide early intervention alongside the crisis support.
In 2023, Keyworker Practice Lead roles were introduced to focus on key areas such as eating and intake, LGBTQAI+ young people, youth justice, Tier 4 setting, and transitions. These roles aim to influence systems and pathways across the region.
Also in 2023, the Neurodevelopmental Family Navigator Service was established to support parents and carers of children awaiting neurodevelopmental assessments. This early intervention service helps families navigate the system and access timely support before a formal diagnosis is received.
In 2025, two further services were launched. The Bradford Psychology Service is designed to work with 10 young people with complex needs and high-cost care packages. This pilot aims to scope effective support strategies aligned with the ambitions of transforming care and improving quality of life outcomes. The Neurodevelopmental Connections Service offers early intervention and needs-led neurodevelopmental support for children, young people, parents and carers. The service is not dependent on being on the assessment pathway.
Key highlights from the webinar
- Effective resource allocation and planning: since its inception the core keyworker service received 325 referrals across West Yorkshire, maintaining a zero waiting list and achieving an average allocation time of just 7.2 days between referral and start of support. The broader service aims to support up to 1,300 individuals
- Data-driven approach is a key element of the service: West Yorkshire Barnardo’s captures a wide range of performance indicators and outcome data, which are used to regularly monitor effectiveness and inform ongoing service development
- Lived experience is a golden thread that runs across the service: the Lived Experience Team was formed in 2022; followed by a youth forum and a group for parents and carers in 2024. Service experience and self-reported outcomes, such as wellbeing, are routinely collected and used to shape service delivery and development. Many staff members bring their own lived experience of neurodivergence
- Holistic, non-clinical approach: the service is firmly grounded in the social model of disability and offers holistic, person-centered, and non-clinical support. This approach complements the clinical and diagnosis-driven pathways and supports offered by other parts of the system
- Impact: the webinar showcased several examples of both systemic and individual impact, including powerful testimonies from young people who have benefited from the service.
Contact details
A link to the recorded webinar is available upon request from ipc@brookes.ac.uk
For further information contact:
- Yasmeen Sharif, Programme Manager, Barnardo’s – yasmeen.sharif@barnardos.org.uk
- Agnes Turnpenny, Consultant, IPC – aturnpenny@brookes.ac.uk
