Specialist Healthcare Team for Adults with a Learning Disability Guide

Specialist Healthcare Team

Who do we see?

• Anybody with a diagnosis of a Learning Disability can be referred to us.
• Anyone can make a referral into the service.
• We provide support around specific health related needs.
• You might see more than one member of our team at the same time.

How can you be referred to us?

• You, or somebody who knows you well, can fill in a referral form. You can ask for one by using the phone number or email address at the end of this guide.
• You can send the form back to us in the post, or to the email address on the referral form.
• We will discuss the referral at our weekly meeting and make sure you are seen by the right person.
• We will write to you to let you know the outcome of our meeting and if we can offer support within our service.

Where will we see you?

You may come to one of our clinical centres called Twinwoods (near Bedford) or Beech Close (near Dunstable)

• Twinwoods Health Resource Centre, Milton Rd, Clapham, Bedford, MK41 6AT
• Beech Close Resource Centre, Beech Close, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 3SD

We may sometimes come to your home, day centre or college.

Speech and Language Therapy

What do we do?

• We help people with communication and their eating and drinking
• We make sure people who support you know the best ways to help you understand.
• We make sure people who support you know the best ways to help you to communicate; this could be speech, signing, pictures, devices, objects or a mixture!
• Make sure that the people who support you know how to help you eat and drink safely.

Psychology

We can help you when

• You feel sad. You feel worried or anxious.
• Your carers may be having difficulties helping to manage your behaviours. We will talk to you.
• We might work together with you in therapy.
• We may help your carers to find new ways to support you- this might be in a report or a Positive Behaviour Support Plan.

Art Therapies

How can we help you?

• Arts Therapies can help you explore your feelings, thoughts and life experiences.
• They might help you if you find it hard to say how you feel.
• You do not need to be ‘good’ at art or drama or music.
• We help you think about how you are feeling and help you manage these feelings using: Talking, Art, Music, Drama, Dance and movement.

Occupational Therapy

What do we do?

• We will support your independence by giving advice on using equipment aids
• We can help you find self care/ dressing tasks easier to do
• We can help to support you to do more meaningful activities
• We can help to suggest changes to your home
• We can help support with your sensory integration needs
• We can help to find activities that are right for you
• We can help to find ways to improve your access in the community
• We can find ways to help with your routines

Sports Therapy

How can we help?

• Help you access sports facilities that are accessible to you
• Help you find the right exercise and sport for you
• We can do individual sessions for you to get fit and healthy!
• We can also signpost to other services and places

Psychiatry

What do we do?

• The doctors are there to: Look at your medications with you.
• Support you to look after your health
• Talking to you if you are not feeling well in your mind and give treatment if you need it
• Help your carers to learn more about dementia and other health problems that can affect you.

Physiotherapy

What do we do?

• We encourage you to have an active lifestyle and be as independent as possible.
• We might give you a walking aid or other specialist equipment you might need.
• We provide 24 hour postural management plans, including exercise and equipment. This helps you to:

1. Maintain body alignment 24 hours a day
2. Prevent some health difficulties if you have a long-term condition or cannot move.

• We can help you to move more easily and safely, giving advice on equipment and exercise:

1. At home
2. At work
3. In the community
4. In your leisure time

Health Facilitation Team

What do we do?

• We support you to stay healthy and have a Health Action Plan.
• We can help you with completing a My Health and Me document. This helps professionals know more about your health and well being
• We can support you to have an Annual Health Check with your Doctor or Nurse at your GP Practice.
• We can help you to to health appointments at:

1. Your doctor’s surgery
2. The hospital
3. The dentist
4. Your chiropodist/podiatrist

Learning Disability Hospital Liaison

What do we do?

• We work in Bedford, and Luton and Dunstable Hospitals
• We support families and patients when they are staying in hospital. This might include discharge planning and supporting you to make the best interest decisions.
• We increase staff’s knowledge about Learning Disabilities. This will help to give you a better experience in hospital.
• We advise on reasonable adjustments, so you can access hospital services like everyone else. This might include:

1. Easy Read information
2. Using language that is easier to understand.
3. Arranging appointments for when it is quieter.
4. Having a side room so someone can stay with you if you are in hospital overnight
5. Allowing your family/carers to visit you at any time

Sight and Hearing Team

What do we do?

• Help you to have your sight tested and make sure your eyes are healthy.
• Check your ears and carry out treatment if you need it.
• Help you to look after your hearing aids and make new ear moulds.
• Help you to have your hearing tested.
• Support you to choose glasses or hearing aids and help you to use them.
• We can help you get equipment to make life easier for you, such as a magnifier for reading or listening equipment to hear
• Support you to access the hospital or the opticians, if you need it.

Specialist Healthcare Team

We share information about you with other people.

• We will always keep your information private and safe. You can ask to see your own notes.
• We have to tell other people if someone might get hurt. We will always tell you first.
• We work in a team of other people who also help you.
• We will ask you if it is OK before we send someone a report or talk to them.
• You will get a copy of any report we send.
• Sometimes we write or talk to them.

Other teams we work with

Intensive Support Team

For people with a learning disability who are experiencing a mental health crisis or challenging behaviours requiring urgent assessment and treatment.

Between 8am and 9pm from Monday to Sunday: 01234310538

Outside of these hours call the NHS Mental Crisis Line on 111 and press option 2.

Autism Diagnostic Service

Assessment of someone who may have an autism spectrum disorder and requires a diagnosis.

Assessment and help to access services www.elft.nhs.uk/adult-autism-diagnostic-services

Dementia Screening

We screen people who are at risk of dementia, and complete memory screening for people over age of 30 for people with Downs Syndrome, and to monitor for signs of cognitive and functional decline as they get older

Other

We work together with other people who also help you

• Your GP
• Adult social services
• Safeguarding and other wider teams

Contact us

Specialist Services for People with a Learning Disability (SPLD)- (Bedfordshire and Luton)

Clinical Resource Centre, Milton Road, Clapham, Bedfordshire, MK41 6AT

Tel: 01234310589

Email: Elt-tr.spldreferrals@nhs.net

Website: www.elft.nhs.uk/services/specialist-services-people-learning-disability-bedfordshire-and-luton