28th August 2025
A local parent has spoken out against a decision by health and social care authorities to remove their daughter from the Dynamic Support Register (DSR) — a system designed to monitor people with learning disabilities or autism who may be at risk of hospital admission.
In correspondence seen by the Gazette, the parent strongly disagreed with the move, warning that their child’s “educational, mental health, social care and medical needs remain unmet” and that removal from the register would be “reckless and premature.”
Education Failures
The child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) still does not name a school. She has been out of formal education for a prolonged period with no tuition in place, despite statutory duties on the local authority.
A Care, Education and Treatment Review (CETR) earlier this year identified prolonged absence from education as a major mental health risk and called for urgent action — recommendations the parent says have not been implemented.
Health and Personal Budget Gaps
The CETR also recommended a personal health budget to fund psychiatry and therapy. According to the parent, this has never been granted by the local Integrated Care Board. In addition, a separate local authority–agreed personal budget for therapy was never delivered.
“As a result, my child remains without either the requested health funding or the agreed local authority budget, leaving her mental health needs unmet,” the parent explained.
Safeguarding and Family Pressures
The CETR further rated family risk factors as red/high, including carer burnout and educational breakdown. The parent, who is raising several neurodiverse children alone, said pressures have escalated in recent months, with multiple hospitalisations and significant health concerns affecting siblings.
Medical Neglect Concerns
Concerns were also raised over unresolved immunology findings within the family, which suggested possible immune dysregulation. Recommendations for genetic testing and specialist referrals have not been acted upon, the parent claims.
“These are red-flag findings, and failure to act shows that my child’s wider health needs are not being met,” they said.
Authorities Respond
A spokesperson from the Transforming Care Team confirmed that the child no longer met the DSR inclusion criteria, stating:
“Stepping off the DSR does not mean support will be reduced or withdrawn. It simply reflects that the child is no longer considered at immediate risk of crisis or admission, which is a positive indicator of stability. We remain available for a referral should any concerns arise in the future.”
Ongoing Dispute
The parent remains unconvinced:
“I do not agree with her removal and I want it clearly documented that I disagree. High risks remain, and this decision goes against CETR findings, NHS Transforming Care principles, and the Local Authority’s statutory duties.”
This case raises wider questions about whether systemic failings in education, health and social care are leaving vulnerable families without the support they urgently require.
