Autism Peer Support Service

What support is available for Autistic young people at risk from mental health admission?

The Peer Support Service is part of a wider national initiative delivered in collaboration with and funded by the NHS Integrated Care Board. The main focus is to support children with a confirmed diagnosis of Autism and/or a Learning Disability, who may be at risk of admission to hospital or have already been admitted to hospital due to their mental health or other risk factors. The aim is to offer support in the community and avoid or reduce hospital admission where possible.

Download easy-read peer support information sheet

Who can access the service?

  • Children and young people aged 0-25 years

  • Diagnosis of Autism and/or a Learning disability

  • In Northamptonshire
  • At risk of hospital admission due to mental health/other risk factors
  • On the Dynamic Support Register (DSR)

What is the Dynamic Support Register?

The DSR is a register of people with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism who may need higher input from services and who may be at risk of being admitted to a specialist or mental health hospital. It is sometimes referred to locally as the CTR/CETR register.

How can someone be added to the DSR for the Keyworking Service?

A professional, parent/carer or the young person themselves (if over 18) can request for someone to be added to the DSR. Consent must be obtained from either a parent/carer of a child under 18 or the young person themselves if over 18. In the case of young person that lacks capacity a best interest decision can be made.

Consent can be given for details be passed to the Peer Support Service (Barnardo’s and EnFold) on the DSR consent form. Barnardo’s have 3 Keyworkers that work across Northamptonshire and EnFold has 3 Peer Support workers. Please contact us for more information at: Northamptonshire.Keyworker.Service@barnardos.org.uk

How it works

Referral to the Peer Support Service

Following a referral to the Keyworker Service a young person may be allocated a Keyworker, a Peer Support Worker or both. This will be dependent on individual circumstances.

Keyworkers

Key Workers are system navigators. They will find out about the young person, what support they have in place, what support they might need, what they would like to work towards/achieve. They can advocate for the young person and make sure that all professionals are working together and delivering on what they promise.

Peer Worker Support

EnFold’s Peer support workers offer practical support to the young person (and their family) helping them develop skills, strategies, confidence and self esteem in order to promote well-being and empower young people to take control over their lives and access activities and support available in the community.

What support is offered?

EnFold’s Peer Support Workers will get to know each young person and work with them to identify their own personalised goals, therefore the support offered will be personalised and tailored to each young person. Please use this social story resource to help explain what the first visit will be like to your Young Person. Some examples of the other activities our team will support with are:

  • Building/maintaining relationships
  • Finding out about and accompanying the young person to local community groups/activities
  • Support to make and attend appointments
  • Independent travel training – Planning and carrying out journeys together
  • Visiting a coffee shop, shopping centre, or local place of interest
  • Support around the home with a focus on developing life skills and promoting independence

  • Helping develop communication/hospital passports

  • Help to develop coping strategies, recognising emotions or understanding sensory needs.
  • Build social skills

  • Helping apply for appropriate voluntary/employment/education opportunities

  • Signposting to other support services

Meet the Peer Support Workers

Rachel Pickering

Rachel is an avid collector of board games

Bee Manners

Bee loves colourful clothing and a fabulous set of nails!

Donna

Donna Holmes Elmore

Donna enjoys volunteering within her town as a youth leader.

Any questions?

Please ask!! We really want everyone to be involved that wants to be… If we need to do something different to make it easier for you, we will, but we need you to let us know.

If you have any specific questions, or would simply like more information, you can use the Contact Form or email us at info@enfold.org.uk