Adult community learning disability teams

Adult community learning disability teams provide healthcare and social support to adults with learning disabilities. The teams are made up of social workers, support workers, nurses, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, dietician, psychiatry services (in outpatient clinics and community care) and clinical psychology staff.

Their aim is to promote independence and wellbeing for adults with learning disabilities. They work together with individuals, families, and carers to create person-centred support plans.

Support from the community learning disability teams can include assistance with daily living and helping you become a member of your local community. They can also provide help with managing complex needs, and other assistance.

Depending on assessed needs, the community learning disability teams can also refer a person with learning disability onto other services such as:

Day services
Day opportunities programme.
Short breaks
Domiciliary care
Supported living
Residential and nursing care
Self Directed Support

Self Directed Support including Direct Payments

Self-Directed Support is available to those who have been assessed as being in need of social care support. It enables people to have a package of support that best suits their lifestyle and allows the individual and family to live their life in the way that they want to.

There are four options available:

Direct Payments
Managed budgets
The Trust arranging a service
Mixed package of all three of the above options

If you do not already have social care support, you can ask for an assessment from a social worker or keyworker, to ensure you are eligible.

Following this assessment, a personal budget will be agreed to meet your support needs – and a support plan, agreed with your social worker or keyworker.

Direct payments are currently being offered to families on the basis of critical need on either a one-off or recurrent basis (with built in review periods) to ensure that needs assessment remains current and up to date.

Advocacy services for adults with learning disabilities

If you find it difficult to understand your care and support, or find it hard to speak up, there are people who can act as a spokesperson for you. They can make sure that you are heard. They are called advocates.

For example, an advocate can help you: