Referral Information

Before making a referral, please ensure the individual meets the criteria for the South Yorkshire Keyworker Service. Referrals are appropriate for autistic people or people with a learning disability who would benefit from coordination and navigation support, or where there is an increased risk of inpatient admission or placement/living arrangement breakdown.


The service cannot accept referrals for mental health support, family support, advocacy, or as part of a planned step down from statutory services. 

 

Before completing the referral form please ensure that you have read the Keyworker Service Offer below

 

1. Person‑Centred Information Gathering & Understanding

  • Supporting people to complete documents and resources about them.
  • Completing “a day in the life of the person.”
  • Individual world experience and their understanding of the world.
  • Strengths‑based “who are you” work.
  • Observations of presentation in different environments.
  • Conversations.
  • Question and answer sessions.
  • Playing with individuals to identify outcomes.
  • Mapping information – people involved, outcomes of meetings, understanding of systems/processes.
  • Clarification and validation of what has been agreed, offered, and understood.

 

2. Communication Support & Development

  • Supporting people to identify their preferred communication method.
  • Identifying communication indicators – what certain behaviours mean and how this is known.
  • Emotional literacy.

 

3. Engagement With Systems, Services & Processes

  • Supporting people to engage with the system, services and processes – with a graduated approach aiming toward independence or identifying a sustainable long‑term support person.
  • Supporting people to build confidence in systems, services and processes.
  • Supporting people to understand and articulate their needs.
  • Supporting people to understand service expectations around engagement, and what could cause care/support/treatment to stop.
  • Passports.

 

4.  Supporting Relationship Building & Collaboration

  • Supporting relationships between people, families/carers, and services under the principles of:
    • Person‑centred
    • Collaborative
    • Transparent
    • Bridging gaps
    • Solution‑focused

 

5. Skill Development (Non‑Clinical)

  • Developing emotional, social, developmental, coping, resilience, life skills and caring skills.
  • Goal setting, including identifying boundaries and planning to break them down.

 

6. Promoting Independence & Future Planning

  • Promoting independence and encouraging ownership.
  • Signposting to services.

 

To make a referral or request a professional consultation, please complete the form LDA Key Worker Service Access Form 2026 (2) – Fill in form

 

Alternatively, you can contact the team via email: syicb.keyworkerlda@nhs.net