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.