Learning Disabilities and Autism

Our services

We provide specialist health support to people with learning disabilities who require assessment and/or treatment for their physical or mental health, including support with behaviours of concern.

• A single point of access (SPA) for all referrals
• Four community hubs - a multi-disciplinary team which provides the whole range of specialist learning disability professions
• Autism diagnosis and liaison - providing a liaison service which supports access to mainstream health services and ensures reasonable adjustments are made
• County-wide community home assessment and treatment team

Referrals

The service will work with adults over 18 who have a diagnosis of learning disability and associated physical and/ or mental health needs who are registered with a Lincolnshire GP. For a referral please contact your local GP or speak to your learning disability community team worker at Lincolnshire County Council.

All referrals are made through our Single Point of Access on:

• Telephone: 0303 123 4000 or
• Email: lincs.spa@nhs.net

Community Learning Disability Hubs

The service is provided in four community hubs across Lincolnshire. These hubs are based at:

• Beech House, Boston
• Sycamore Centre, Grantham
• Units 1 and 2, St George's site, Lincoln
• Johnson Community Hospital, Spalding

As well as a number of satellite clinics which are used to enable choice and care close to home, when required.

The four community hubs provide a integrated multi-discplinary approach to supporting people with a learning disability.

Each hub has specialist nurses, psychology, physical and mental health liaison nurses, psychiatry, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and specialist liaison nurses for people with autism.

The team work together, with other organisations to provide a single assessment process to reduce how often people have to tell their story. The team then discuss all referrals and allocate the appropriate professional to support service users and carers with their individual needs.

Liaison with health services

In each hub there are liaison nurses for physical health, mental health and autism. They work with local health services and service users and carers to ensure equal access to mainstream services, helping to develop reasonable adjustments and provide appropriate training for professionals.

Community Home Assessment and Treatment (CHAT)

Working closely with the community hubs the Community Home Assessment and Treatment (CHAT) team provide home assessment, intervention and treatment anywhere in Lincolnshire to service users in their home environment, whether that be a family home, supported living or a care home.

The CHAT team work to a Positive Behaviour Support model to provide intensive support to people who are experiencing a deterioration in their mental health, or an increase in behaviours of concern and associated risk to self and others. The service will respond quickly and positively to assess the level of risk and put in place a plan of care to address the immediate concerns. Initially for 72 hours, with additional support for a further two weeks.

Once the immediate risks have been addressed and a clear plan is in place the CHAT team will liaise with the community hubs who will then continue with the ongoing care plan as needed.

Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis and liaison

The service provides a diagnostic pathway for Autism Spectrum Disorder which follows NICE guidance. This includes feedback to the referrer and service user, with post diagnostic recommendations and signposting.

Referrals for diagnostic assessment should be made via our Single Point of Access (SPA) by your GP.

Information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine

Below you will find some information which may be useful in supporting individuals with learning disabilities/their families and carers to understand the importance of considering the COVID-19 vaccine and the process that should be followed for individuals who lack the capacity to consent to having the vaccine.

COVID-19 Vaccine - Accessibility and reasonable adjustments for individuals with severe learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges

Easy Read Leaflet: A guide to your COVID-19 vaccination

Easy Read Leaflet: What to expect after the vaccine 

Easy Read: Adult consent form 

Click here to view a visual social story video to help individuals understand Coronavirus and the vaccine

Click here to view a video produced by NHS England and NHS Improvement regarding information about the COVID vaccine for people with a learning disability and autistic people 

Learning Disability England Leaflet

If an individual is deemed to lack capacity under the Mental Capacity Act, which means they are unable to understand, weigh up or communicate the risks and benefits of a specific decision then the decision needs to be considered in their best interests.

It is important to remember that any capacity assessment must be decision specific. An individual may have capacity to make some decisions and lack the capacity to make other decisions. In terms of having the COVID-19 vaccine the decision to administer the vaccine to an individual who lacks capacity must be taken by the person administering the vaccine. No one, not even family members or carers, can consent for another individual over the age of 18. If an individual is assessed as lacking the capacity to consent to the procedure then this decision should be taken in their best interests.

The links below provide detailed guidance of the process that needs to be followed:

The Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA) and deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: additional guidance

Rapid response guidance note: vaccination and mental capacity

The learning disabilities service can support people to consider reasonable adjustments to support individuals with learning disabilities to have the COVID-19 vaccination, but referrals cannot be accepted to consider capacity or undertake best interest decisions as this needs to done by the professional administering the vaccine.

Moving into my own home - Wayne's story

[Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAKr2elJSVg&feature=youtu.be]

Annual health checks - Lorraine's story

[Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWJvQfe7mu8]