CETRs are arranged for children and young people with a Learning Disability and/or Autism who are either already in a specialist mental health or learning disability hospital or are at imminent risk of admission.

The purpose of a CETR is to make sure the right care and support are available to avoid inappropriate hospital admission or, if the child or young person is already in the hospital, to help make ensure good quality care and make sure they do not stay in hospital any longer than necessary.

Where a person is at the point of ‘crisis’ action is urgent and it is unlikely a community C(E)TR can be set up quickly enough to direct this. However, even in urgent circumstances an assertive, fast and measured review needs to be undertaken to safeguard against the person being admitted unnecessarily to an inpatient service. A multi professional meeting, known as a Local Area Emergency Protocol (LAEP) possibly virtually, is set up to engage the person, their family and all those around them to think creatively about what potential alternative supports and interventions could be put in place. This does not constitute a community C(E)TR and should not be referred to as such.

CETRs are carried out by an independent panel. This includes an expert by experience, who is a person with a learning disability or autism or a family carer with lived experience of services. The panel also includes a clinical expert who is qualified to work in healthcare and the commissioner who pays for the person’s care.

How can this support be accessed?

If you are a professional, a parent or a young person with an Autism or Learning Disability diagnosis, and think you meet our criteria, please email the Keyworker Team on:

Torbay: cfhd.ldapkeyworkerteam@nhs.net