Adult and Community Services

Learning Disability Service

What is a learning disability?

A learning disability can happen when you are born or because of an illness or injury during the early years of life. This means that learning, remembering and doing every day things may be difficult without extra help. People with a learning disability may also have difficulty in communicating.

Where do I get help and information?

If you are an adult with a learning disability or the carer of a family member we may be able to help. If you would like to see whether you are eligible for a service or would like some more information, please contact the Community Learning Disability Team.

What services do we provide?

Here are some of the ways we may be able to provide support depending on your needs:

Community Learning Disability Team|

These are integrated teams between Health Professionals and Social Workers who can provide support for people with learning disabilities and their carers to maintain or enhance their independence. The sort of services they can provide or access for you include:

Art therapy
Community care assessment
Physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy
Psychiatry/psychology
Organise respite care
Health education/promotion
Health facilitation to primary care services
Promotion or independence
Information around housing
Advice on employment opportunities
Health screening
Links to other agencies

Day Services|

We can provide day care planned to suit the needs of each person. They include for example:

Support in developing independent living skills
Support to enable you to access opportunities in the community such as leisure, education and work opportunities where appropriate
Access to specialist health services
Where identified you will be supported to access health services such as physiotherapy, psychology or speech therapy. Some of these services may be provided at the centre itself
We can arrange a break for you or the people looking after you

Somewhere to Live|

There are different types of places to live available for people with learning disabilities, e.g.

Living on your own or with a friend in your own home and being supported to achieve your potential as a valued citizen in the community
Living as part of another family
Living in a staffed home, with 24 hour support, which is registered with the Commission for Social Care Inspection

Support in the Home|

We can provide services for some people who need help with personal care and practical tasks in the home. We can either assist carers to do these things or provide support for people with learning disabilities to enable them to look after themselves.

The support may be provided by Adult and Community Services' own home care teams, community support teams or by private agency staff arranged by Adult and Community Services.

Am I able to receive a service?

The Adult Assessment Team decides whether you are eligible for a service. Not everyone who asks us for help can be given a service because we must make sure we can help those in greatest need. In order to obtain services, you will have to meet our eligibility criteria.

Once a referral is accepted you will be contacted by a member of our team who will talk to you about what sort of help you might need. They may also talk to anyone who currently helps you at home. This will lead to an assessment, which will help us to decide which services we can arrange for you.

Complaints, compliments and comments

If you want to speak to someone about a complaint or suggestion, please get in touch with complaints, comments and suggestions.

Art Blanche

Art Blanche is art produced by people with learning disabilities, many of whom also have complex needs / physical disabilities.

Related services

Support for Carers|

Respite Care|

Welfare Benefits Advice|