Dynamic Support Register

The Dynamic Support Register (DSR) is a register of children and young people who are under the age of 18 where there are concerns that they are at risk of being admitted to a specialist learning disability or mental health hospital.

This will mainly be for children and young people who have a learning disability or autism or both who display or are at risk of developing:

  • behaviour that challenges
  • mental health conditions who are most likely to be at risk of admission

Risk factors

Some relevant risk factors include if a child or young person:

  • is already in a residential 52 or 38-week placement but providers are raising concern at their ability to be able to meet their ongoing needs
  • is in a placement which is considered to be unstable
  • is displaying significant challenging behaviours that providers are raising as being of significant concern
  • has previously had an in-patient admission to a mental health unit and there remain concerns
  • is known to the criminal justice system or Youth Offending Service and there are concerns about mental health or challenging behaviour

How a child or young person can be included on the register

A child or young person can only be included on the register if they give their consent. Or if their parent, guardian or carer has.

There is a form that needs to be completed and signed. This can be requested from your social worker, SEN or health professional who leads on your or your child’s care.

Many of the children and young people who are on the Dynamic Risk Register will be known to existing services such as

  • Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
  • Children and Young People’s Disabled Children’s services
  • Children Looked After

If a child or young person is placed on the Dynamic Risk Register, this means that:

  • we can make sure that they are receiving support to stay in the community
  • their needs are less likely to escalate to the point of needing a care, education and treatment review (CETR) and are at risk of being admitted to hospital

A child or young person will only require a CETR at the point at which all current community services have been exhausted.

There is a separate DSR process for young people and adults who are 18 years and over.