Wakefield adult learning disability health service
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About the service
The team provide specialised support to people with learning disabilities who are unable to access mainstream health services and aims to improve their overall health and wellbeing. It includes psychiatry, psychology, specialist learning disability nursing, therapists and an intensive support team with many different skills.
The team works with adults of all ages and people in transition who require specialist planning and support. The team works in partnership with social work staff, primary and secondary health services, and care providers.
The intensive support team works with a small number of service users who require intensive support to prevent admission to hospital, loss of placement or contact with the criminal justice system due to behaviours or mental health needs that cannot be managed by mainstream services.
Why would someone choose the service?
People with learning disabilities can access all their specialist health professionals in one team and our multidisciplinary team can help them to enjoy better health.
Waiting times
We aim to see every service user within 18 weeks from the point of referral where possible and referrals are prioritised by clinical need.
Staff you may meet
- Administrative staff provide essential support to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. This can be in a variety of different settings, with administrators working as a receptionist in a clinic or a clerk on a ward. They may also be working closely with a consultant as a medical secretary.
- There are more than 60 different specialities that doctors work within the NHS. Each is unique but there are many characteristics which are common. Roles range from working in a hospital to being based in the community as a GP.
- There are many people who work behind the scenes to keep services running and you may meet them in hospital or community settings. They include porters, cleaners, plumbers, electricians, decorators receptionists and secretaries who all work to make sure healthcare settings are kept clean, tidy and safe.
- Registered nurses use evidence based knowledge, and their professional and clinical judgement to assess, plan, implement and evaluate high quality person centred care. The work of registered nurses consists of many specialised and complex interventions to ensure people and their families can improve, maintain or recover health, or experience a dignified death.
- Adult psychotherapists work with people to assess and treat a range of emotional, social or mental health issues. They help people tackle problems such as behavioural issues, common challenges such as anxiety and depression or more complex or severe issues, such as psychosis or a personality disorder diagnosis.
- We have a range of health workers who all have different specialities. This could be in a certain condition, a therapy or the advice they can give you. Our specialists our highly skilled and trained professionals, ready to offer you help and advice whenever you need it.
- Therapy is a broad term and can range from occupational therapists to behavioural therapists. Our therapists are trained in their specialist area and type of therapy to make sure we can offer the very best care.