Who these services are for
We offer services for adults with learning disabilities across the range, from mild to severe. We also accept referrals of people with autistic spectrum disorders including Asperger’s syndrome, and emotional problems linked to brain damage.
The Learning and Complex Disabilities Service is for people of all ages with mild to severe learning disabilities. We also accept referrals for people with autistic spectrum disorders including Asperger’s syndrome, and emotional problems linked to brain damage.
The service is aimed at people with learning and complex disabilities who may have a range of emotional, relationship and mental health difficulties. We will consider referrals of people who have borderline or unclearly defined learning disabilities in which complex factors such as trauma, abuse or brain injury may play a part.
Why refer to these services?
Learning and complex disabilities can have a profound impact upon the whole family. Extra support is often needed to deal with the challenges resulting from these diagnoses.
Our services for patients and their families recognise that each individual is unique and their needs differ. For this reason we tailor a service appropriate for each individual’s needs.
We know that an individual’s difficulties might not just be related to their diagnosis, after all they are people first. We think it’s important to listen properly to the individual and where appropriate to look at the wider picture, including family.
This specialist service is staffed by a multi-disciplinary group with contributions from child and adolescent psychiatry, psychology, social work and psychotherapy. The teams work closely together to make the best use of skills and expertise.
Kinds of treatment offered
We offer psychodynamic assessment and treatment. Alongside individual therapy we offer supportive work to parents and carers, and a consultancy service can be provided to professionals in the field.
When a patient is referred to the service they are usually seen for an assessment, to decide with the clinician what sort of help will be most appropriate. There will then be a number of appointments with a clinician to discuss concerns, and if the patient cannot talk, then other means such as drawing are used to help the patient to be understood.
Parents, carers and other people involved in the patient’s life (such as social workers, teachers and doctors) can also be seen.
The patient may be offered regular psychotherapy sessions. They may also be offered family or group therapy. Sometimes, following an assessment, learning and complex disabilities service staff offer meetings to support those who look after the patient, to help them think about how best to meet the patient’s needs. People usually attend therapy for at least a year.
How to refer
We encourage referrals from professionals including psychiatrists, psychotherapists, psychologists, paediatricians and GPs (although we do welcome enquiries from other agencies).
Please call our team administrator for more information on 020 8938 2537.
