Learning Disability Adult

Who can refer:

We operate an open referral system. Anyone can refer, if the adult with learning disability agrees or their legal guardian consents.

Who to refer:

Anyone with Learning Disabilities, suffering from physical, psychological, social or behavioural problems that you feel would benefit from the input of the Community Learning Disability Team whose roles are described above

Who not to refer:

• Adults without a confirmed learning disability diagnosis. Unless requesting a diagnostic assessment.
• Adults with learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, unless they have an additional learning disability diagnosis.

How to refer:

• Referral for GPs is via SCI Gateway (Learning Disability > Desired Location > LI Learning Disability)
• For other Allied Health Professionals, a referral form requires to be completed containing relevant details including a description of health and/or behavioural reasons for referral. This should also include details regarding the evidence of LD.
•  
• Detail if there are any Adult Protection concerns. This will enable us to assess the level of urgency of the referral.
• We accept referrals from age 16 for people who are not in the education system
• For young people still in education at 16 we will accept referral once they are no longer in the education system.

After referral

• CLDT complete screening visits on all new referrals: two professionals will visit to gather more information and to ascertain that the referral is appropriate.
• If the referral is not appropriate; we will signpost to other services where appropriate.
• If LD is unclear, referral to clinical psychology for cognitive assessment will be arranged.
• Feedback will be provided to the referrer

Additional guidance for referrals for learning disability assessment

If an individual does not have a confirmed learning disability diagnosis the CLDT can assess to ascertain whether the person meets diagnostic criteria. If you are referring an individual for a learning disability assessment, please provide the following information:

• Whether the person has previously been assessed and/or had previous contact with learning disability services; whether the person has diagnoses of other developmental differences (e.g. autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia), or any mental or physical health conditions that impact their day-to-day functioning.
• Indicators of difficulties in the person’s early development and schooling, such as: whether the person attended specialist educational provision or had any other kind of additional learning support; whether the person learnt to read, write, and perform simple numerical calculations; whether the person obtained any qualifications; any other difficulties you are aware of with developing appropriate skills in social functioning and daily living before the person was 18.
• Indicators of difficulties in the person’s current day-to-day living skills and social functioning, such as: whether they currently have a job or have previously had jobs; whether they are able to attend to personal care and hygiene; whether they are able to navigate transport to find their own way to new places; whether they live independently and manage their own finances; or any other evidence you are aware of that the person requires significant assistance to undertake activities of daily living.

Contact details for the different locality Community Learning Disability Teams can be found under the Resources and Links Tab

Contact details

There are seven Community Learning Disability Teams across Lothian across four health and social care partnerships: East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian and the City of Edinburgh. See contact details below.