Learning disabilities

We offer assessment and support to people who have a learning disability (sometimes called an intellectual disability). Read on to learn more. Or view these pages:

And watch our videos at the bottom of this page on STOMP - stopping over-medicating people with a learning disabilty, autism or both; on sepsis awareness; and on constipation awareness.

What services do you provide?

We have a number of community teams covering: 

• Amber Valley and Derbyshire Dales
• Erewash
• Derby City
• South Derbyshire

We also have:

• A support service for Royal Derby Hospital (see below)
• A forensic service supporting people in the criminal justice system who have learning disabilities, based at St Andrew's House in Derby
• A team that supports GP Practices with their Learning Disability Annual Health Checks
• An Intensive Support Service based at St Andrew's House in Derby.

Who works in the learning disability service?

Our team includes:

• Clinical psychologists
• Learning disability nurses
• Occupational therapists
• Physiotherapists
• Psychiatrists
• Speech and language therapists
• Strategic health facilitators - working with GPs, dentists, pharmacists and others to make sure people with a learning disability get the best possible care
• Team administrators.

How do you support people?

We use lots of person-centred approaches:     

• Provide education – with regards to diagnosis and health problems, with further work as necessary      
• Family and carer work – helping families and carers to understand behaviour, facilitating the development of skills, positive behaviour plans, enhancing coping mechanisms and promoting appropriate activity, occupation and communication
• Specialised individual therapies – behavioural approaches adapted for use with learning disabilities e.g. family work, Occupational Therapy, Sensory Processing Assessments and interventions, Social Stories, Special Hearing Clinic, eating and drinking advice, postural and mobility care.
• Pharmacological therapy (medicines) used sometimes when an individual has complex conditions                       
• Liaising and joint working.      

Will you involve others?

We work closely with other people involved, with consent, to ensure a smooth and coordinated approach.

We might not just see you. We will talk to others involved in your care, and help other services to understand your needs (liaison). Some workers may contact us for advice (consultation) and we may also provide training for services that help you. Sometimes we will act as the main person to contact about your care (coordination).

How do I get an appointment with the learning disability service?

Referrals can come to us from you, your family or carer, your GP, or other profession and then we will invite you or your parent for a first appointment to learn more about you. We will often visit you at home or anywhere else more suitable for you.

What happens on my first appointment?

At the first appointment often we will meet with you and your parents or carers, sometimes we may see them on their own. We will try and work out if our service can help you. If we find out that your difficulties are not because of a learning disability, or you are a child or young person then we will ask another service to help. We also sometimes also gather all of the people involved in your care together to try and work together. We will meet you with your parents/carers at a place that suits you.

What happens next?

We will ask lots of questions and maybe watch the things that you do. Our assessment and advice or support will be in your community or where you live. We will provide help that is personal to you which will meet your health needs and support your family. We will consider the right things for your age, ability and culture. We will plan how to help with you and your carers. We think the best outcomes for people are when families and their wider support networks are fully engaged and invested and working in partnership with our team.   

How can I learn more?

Click on the links above, or the buttons below, to find out more about the work of our team.

Learn more about the different types of learning disabilities, how to cope with a diagnosis and challenging behaviour, and much more, by visiting the NHS website.

Downloads

• Adult Neurodevelopmental Services  - Referral Form
• Assuring Transformation Data - how information about you is collected

Videos

You can watch videos on this page about:

STOMP

STOMP - stopping over-medicating people with a learning disability, autism or both.

There are a series of videos on how to make sure medication levels are right for people with a learning disability, autism or both. You can also watch this as a playlist on our YouTube channel.

Video on sepsis

The video below provides useful information on sepsis for paid carers and professionals who support people with a learning disability.

Video on constipation - Poobusters!