Greater Manchester Keyworker Function Programme

GMHSCP intends to introduce the national 'Keyworker Programme' at scale with a clear long-term capacity-development plan into Greater Manchester starting with the first phase of the programme in Rochdale and Salford and eventually rolling the programme out across all ten GM Localities (all in line with the NHS Long Term Plan and COVID-19 Recovery priorities ambition) that 'every one of these children in an in-patient setting, or at risk of going into one, has a named keyworker from either health or local authority services to help the young person and their family navigate the system' through facilitating shared clear person/family-led formulations or stories and thereby enable effective enhanced interventions addressing physical/psychological/social/other issues contributing to risks of placement breakdown.

This service specification seeks to explore the 'Keyworker Function' within the voluntary sector, in order to test new ways of working. The project has a clear set of deliverables and robust evaluation attached. The voluntary sector has been used due to the flexibility it offers in being able to recruit at pace, and its the independence from statutory bodies allowing it to offering a robust and impartial challenge to the systems and providers of care.

Aims

The funding will support the recruitment of a team of Keyworkers who will work closely with the Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) in each locality supporting the navigation of the system and securing wrap around support and care for children, young people, with complex Learning Disabilities and/or Autism(LDA), and their families.

Behaviours and expectations

Within the parameters of legislation, this will on occasion mean challenging the CCG, Local Authority and Providers in the decisions that are made around a child's care. As an advocate for families the post holder must have a passion for supporting children and young people in reaching their full potential, despite their circumstances. The post holders must have ability to build trust and engagement with a range of families and a willingness to work flexibly in order to meet their needs.

Key Workers need to be experienced in working with children with LDA in order to be effective in this pivotal role. They will require a breadth of experience and relevant qualities, passion and vision.

The post holders will work closely with the Transforming Care Leads/DCOs and the Heads of Commissioning for Children and Maternity across localities to ensure that there is a system approach and that learning is shared and any issues and barriers are addressed quickly. The GM HSCP would ask the provider to deliver supporting terms and conditions and robust direct supervision to the post holders. The GM CCGs and LAs will also support supervision and training and development opportunities.