The Intensive Support Team is a 24-hour service, and calls are directed to the out of hours team for support required after 9PM, during weekends and bank holidays.

To contact the team:

Telephone: 0300 3001719 

Email: ist@nelft.nhs.uk

Mental Health Out of hours support (Monday to Friday 5pm to 9am, during weekends and bank holidays)

Mental Health Direct

If you need urgent assistance or crisis support for mental health, please call our NELFT Crisis Line Mental Health Direct on 0800 995 1000. This is a freephone number and callers will not be charged.

We can arrange for you to speak with a mental health professional. We can also advise you about what service to contact to get the support you need.

Or you can telephone/dial 111 for NHS 111, and select 'Option 2' for Mental Health . This will be an additional way to contact crisis services and will not be replacing the 0800 number above.

Safeguarding

For safeguarding concerns please contact the Safeguarding team for the borough where the client lives in the local Community Learning Disability Team links below.  Please go to the Safeguarding section within.

Community Learning and Disability Team (CLDT) Barking and Dagenham | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

Community learning disability team- Havering | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

Community Learning Disability Team - Redbridge | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

Community Learning Disability Team - Waltham Forest | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

Referrals

Please refer to the IST referral form on this service page.

To contact the service:

Email:  ist@nelft.nhs.uk

Telephone: 0300 3001719

All referrals will be screened to determine if the IST is the most appropriate team to meet client need. Some individuals may be sign posted to more appropriate services.

Eligible

The client/patient/service user must:

• Reside in either Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham or Havering and are an LD client who has been/is being seen by our local Community Learning Disability Teams
• Be over 18 years old
• Be presenting in crisis which requires more intensive support in order to avoid hospital admission.
• Be registered with a GP of either Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Havering, Barking or Dagenham.

Definition of Learning Disability 

• A service user with formal diagnosis of Learning Disability with impact of LD as predominant need. Learning disability defined as significantly below intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour functions.
• Formal diagnosis is preferable, but not essential, if LD diagnosis is confirmed at referral, with evidence of diagnosis.  
• Has a significantly reduced ability to understand new or more complex information or to learn new skills. A person’s I.Q. (Intelligence Quotient) is not the only defining factor, but those with an I.Q. below 70 would be considered for the purpose of this definition.
• Alongside the above, has a significantly reduced ability to cope independently, i.e. they have impaired personal and social skills (for example: with communication, self-care, daily living skills, use of community resources, health and safety, leisure, or work),
• Has a disability that started before adulthood (18 yrs) with a lasting effect on their development.
• Where the LD diagnosis is unclear, further screening (‘Eligibility Assessment’) will be undertaken.
• Some service users with a Learning Disability can access mainstream services with support of Learning Disability Specialists with reasonable adjustments considered (Equality Act 2010).

Non-eligible

• Service users whose primary need is related to social care issues who could otherwise be managed by their local community learning disability team.
• Learning difficulty (e.g. Dyslexia, ADHD, Dyspraxia) only
• ‘Borderline’ LD suggestive of ability to access mainstream services with reasonable adjustments.
• Where learning disability is not the predominant need and/or another service may be more appropriate.
• Acquired brain damage after the age of 18 years old leading to the loss of the ability to understand new or more complex information or to learn new skills (e.g. victims of road traffic accidents).
• Those adults with social/communication disorders with average or above average intelligence.
• Those whose function has been affected by environmental/emotional circumstances e.g. emotional trauma, abuse, limited educational opportunities, (people in these situations may be subject to further clinical assessment).
• Those whose primary disorder and support needs are related to alcohol and drug misuse, sensory impairment, psychiatric illness, or physical impairment.
• Develop an adult onset medical condition that leads to difficulties with cognitive functioning e.g. degenerative neurological conditions, dementia, stroke etc.

NELFT PALS
Newbury Park Health Centre
40 Perrymans Farm Road
Ilford
Essex
IG2 7LE

Tel: 0300 300 1711
Email: nelftpals@nelft.nhs.uk

Patient Advice and Liaison and Complaints leaflet 2023 - Easy Read version [pdf] 628KB

Talking Therapies

Talking Therapies services are available free to anyone over the age of 18 who are registered with a GP in Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge and Waltham Forest.

Visit the website:  NELFT Talking Therapies

Health conditions information in Easy Read

For information on common health conditions, visit the EasyHealth website here:    Common Health Conditions

For information on other health conditions, visit the EasyHealth website here:    Other health conditions

Medication information for mental health in Easy Read: Birmingham.ac.uk Mental Health Medication Easy Read Leaflets

Health conditions information: Leder Resource Bank

Mental health and your rights — Information in Easy Read

Your rights under the Mental Health Act: Mental Health Act (easy read) - NHS

Independent mental health advocates: Independent mental health advocates - Department of Health

Treatment, consent and care plan: Your treatment and care plan - Department of Health

Scope

The disability equality charity in England and Wales. They provide practical information and emotional support when it's most needed, and campaign relentlessly to create a fairer society.

For more information and to access support, please visit their website: Scope