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 Learning Disabilities

This information describes the range of services that may be provided for people with a learning disability (mental handicap) and their families in Denbighshire. The aim of all the agencies described is to work together to provide services that meet individual needs and that are based on the principles set out in the All Wales Strategy. These principles are:

People with a learning disability and their families: 

• should get help according to their needs;
• have the same human value as anyone else;
• have a right to live like others in their community;
• have a right to be treated as individuals.

The range of services available are: -

• Work Opportunities Service;
• Community Living Service;
• Community Nursing for Adults & Children with a Learning Disability (Mental Handicap);
• Specialist Health Services;
• Denbighshire Learning Disability Forum (Mental Handicap);
• Denbighshire Strategic Planning Group;
• Education Services.

Work Opportunities Service 

There is a range of employment and training opportunities that may be available to people with a learning disability and there are two main approaches to providing these opportunities:

The Supported Employment Service has a team of workers whose role it is to locate employment and training opportunities locally, to support individuals by structured training in the workplace and to provide ongoing support to the business and to the individual and their carer/s.

The creation of small businesses provides opportunities for people with severe learning disabilities and with additional difficulties.

The Work Opportunities Service may also work closely with the Community Living Service to provide a range of activities in the community.

Priority for this service will usually be given to people with a learning disability (mental handicap) who are in danger of losing their place in the community as a result of severe learning disabilities or additional physical disabilities or severe challenging behaviours or those living with elderly carers.

Community Living Service 

This service is responsible for assessing the needs of adults with a learning disability  and their families. The service supports people in living in their own homes in the local community. The service also provides family support to people who live at home with their families / carers.

The Community Living Service has built up a lot of expertise in assisting people to live in their own homes, offering assistance in obtaining a suitable home and recruiting staff to enable the individual to have their daily support needs met. The service will assist the individual in exercising an informed choice about who they live with.

Priority for this service will usually be given to people with a learning disability (mental handicap) who are in danger of losing their place in the community as a result of severe learning disabilities or additional physical disabilities or severe challenging behaviours or those living with elderly carers.

Community Nursing for Adults & Children with a Learning Disability (Mental Handicap) 

Learning Disability Community Nurses are employed by the Conwy and Denbighshire (NHS) Trust. There are nursing teams working in pre-school, school age and adult age groups. Learning Disability Nurses work in close partnership with GPs, Social Services and Education to provide a comprehensive range of services including: individual care planning, enabling people with a learning disability to access general health services and providing health support and advice.
 
Specialist Health Services 

People with a learning disability and their families may also have access to other learning disability health professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech & language therapists and physiotherapists. To assist families and carers with managing difficult (challenging) behaviours, there is an intensive support service.

County Forum for People with a Learning Disability (Mental Handicap) - Denbighshire Learning Disability Forum

The County Forum is an independent organisation which aims to enable people to put forward their views about the services they feel should be provided by health, education and social services in order to meet the needs of people with a learning disability and their carers. The Forum is made up of people with a learning disability, parents and carers and voluntary organisations. The aims of the Forum include lobbying, keeping up to date on learning disability issues and acting as an information centre, organising meetings and seminars on relevant subjects and  actively taking part in planning and consultation with service providers.

Denbighshire Strategic Planning Group 

The Denbighshire Strategic Planning Group is an elected group whose membership includes people with a learning disability and their families, health, education and social services personnel and representatives from the voluntary sector. The group provides an important forum for joint planning and consultation about the future direction and development of services. The group consists of a small task group which meets at least monthly and a larger, information sharing group which meets three monthly.

Education Services 

Denbighshire Local Education Authority agreed with the key themes outlined in the Welsh Office document 'Shaping the Future for Special Education - An Action Programme for Wales'. These themes have formed the basis for the strategic objectives incorporated in the Education Strategic Plan. They are:

• Supporting parents and children by providing better support and advice for parents and carers.
• Developing and improving the S.E.N. framework for provision.
• Promoting a more inclusive system.
• Developing the knowledge and skills of all staff.
• Promoting partnership and working together with all relevent agencies.

Lead Officer - Education Officer SEN / Principal Psychologist
Services - Statementing, Educational, Psychology, Learning Development Team.