A pathway coordinator needs to be identified as part of the pathway. The pathway coordinator will be someone who is in direct and regular contact with the child or young person. Everyone who is involved in the pathway implementation for a child or young person should know who the pathway coordinator is.
If a child or young person already has a Common Assessment Framework (CAF) in place, or if a CAF is initiated, she or he will have an identified lead professional. This lead professional can act as the pathway coordinator. If however, the lead professional is not in direct and regular contact with the child/young person, it is recommended that an alternative pathway coordinator is identified.
For example, a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) may be a lead professional but may, with the family’s consent, identify and agree for a family support worker to be the pathway coordinator. They can then support day to day implementation of the pathway.
A child or young person who has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in place may already have an identified key worker who could also act as the pathway coordinator.
The pathway coordinator may change to the most appropriate professional across the course of the pathway depending on the needs of the child or young person.
