Community Learning Disability Team – Learning Disabilities

Community Learning Disability Teams

The Community Learning Disability service aims to provide specialist health care, advice and treatment to adults with a learning disability through locally based multidisciplinary teams. This also includes advice and support for families / carers.

It supports other health and social care agencies to provide mainstream services to people with learning disabilities that will enable health improvement and reduce barriers when accessing services.

The service strives to improve both the physical and mental health of people with learning disabilities by providing efficient and effective health care based on individual needs.

Eligibility for Service / referral criteria

The service is for adults with a learning disability aged 16 or over and no longer in full time statutory education.

The person must be registered with a GP in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Without the additional diagnosis of learning disability people with the following diagnosis would not be appropriate for our service:-

dyslexia or dyspraxia
autistic spectrum disorder (ASD)
learning difficulties arising from sensory impairment
brain injury acquired after the age of 18

Multidisciplinary Teams made up of

Art Therapy
Community Learning Disability Nursing
Dietetics
Occupational Therapy
Psychiatry
Psychologists
Physiotherapy
Speech & language Therapy

How to refer

Recommended primary source of referral is through the GP however referrals are accepted from all sources and should be made directly to the local community team. Referrals can be made using the Team Referral Form or through SCI Gateway.