Learning Disability Services
Psychiatry
Assessment and treatment of people with intellectual disability or learning disability, suffering from a range of mental health problems and neurodevelopmental disorders.
About our service
Psychiatrists working in intellectual disability assess and treat people with intellectual disability or learning disability suffering from a range of mental health problems and neurodevelopmental disorders.
People with intellectual disability are much more likely than the general population to experience mental health conditions and this may be particularly challenging to diagnose.
The methods of assessment used within the general population are also relevant when working with people with intellectual disabilities, supplemented by some additional special considerations, which include spending time with the person to hear their concerns and experiences, conducting examination, taking collateral history from close relatives or carers, reviewing previous medical case notes and speaking to professionals from other disciplines such as community nurses, psychologists and social workers, who are involved in supporting the person.
What support is offered?
- Assessment and treatment of underlying mental health conditions.
- Management of behaviours that challenge with the use of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
- Monitoring of side effects from medications with blood tests performed by primary care.
What is the aim of the service?
To provide holistic care to patients with learning disability who develop common mental health conditions such as anxiety, bipolar affective disorder, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and schizophrenia, whose needs cannot be met by mainstream services alone.
To identify possible risk factors for mental health conditions using a biological-psychological-social-development framework and using this framework when designing plans of treatment/ intervention/ support.
We also liaise with the GP and other specialists when there are concerns around physical health which may be impacting on behaviour.
Psychiatrists work in collaboration with other professionals and agencies to ensure that the person's health needs are met both physically and emotionally.
Referrals
Eligibility criteria:
- Aged 19 years and over (or within 6 weeks of their 19th birthday).
- Diagnosed learning disability and needs specialist health support that cannot be met through mainstream services even with the use of reasonable adjustments.
- Registered with a Birmingham GP.
- Moving into the Birmingham area with a Birmingham residential postcode and an identified Birmingham GP, but are unable to register with the GP until they have moved into their property (for example, a service user discharged from hospital or a complex case moving into the area and going through the transfer or handover of care process). Confirmation will be required for service users eligible for s117 that the transferring Learning Disability Service have had a conversation with the local Integrated Care Board (ICB).
A referral to the service can be made through a number of means including a patient’s GP, carer, or family member.
You can make a referral by calling the Learning Disability’s Single Point of Access:
- Phone: 0121 466 4980
- Email: BCHNT.ldreferrals@nhs.net.
This will require completion of a referral form that needs to be sent through.