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Norfolk Learning Disability Service

What is the service?

The Norfolk Learning Disability Service supports adults aged 18+ who have been diagnosed with a learning disability, autism or both. We are a team of health and social care professionals from Norfolk County Council and Norfolk Community Health and Care Trust. Together we provide a range of support services to people with learning disabilities. Depending on your needs we may help you with any of the following areas:

  • Communication
  • Eating and drinking
  • Accommodation
  • Behaviour and mental health
  • Emotional wellbeing
  • Diagnostic assessments
  • Epilepsy
  • Employment and volunteering
  • Carers' assessments
  • Sexual health
  • Keeping safe and risk management
  • Support at home
  • Medication
  • Mobility and posture
  • Day activities

Who can get support?

To receive support from our team you must have a learning disability, autism or both and be registered with a Norfolk GP. Depending on your needs you may get support from us or your local health and social care services.

What is a learning disability?

A learning disability is a permanent developmental disability. It affects a person's ability to learn and cope with everyday activities, such as housework, socialising and managing money.

It will have been present since before the person was 18, and usually from birth. A learning disability is permanent and affects a person's entire life. It is different from difficulties such as reading and writing problems (eg dyslexia).

Who is in the team?

Each team has a health team manager and social care team manager who are supported by an operational health lead and practice consultant social worker. The team is made up of:

  • Occupational therapists
  • Community learning disability nurses
  • Social workers and assistant practitioners
  • Clinical psychologists and assistant psychologists
  • Health care assistants
  • Speech and language therapists
  • Dietitians
  • Transition social workers
  • Physiotherapists
  • Psychiatry (provided by Hertfordshire partnership NHS Foundation Trust)
  • Business support
  • Intensive support team and enhanced assessment team (provided by Norfolk & Suffolk NHS foundation trust)

How is the service organised?

The Norfolk Learning Disabilities Service is organised through five locality teams:

  • Norwich
  • North
  • East
  • West
  • South

How do I refer to the team?

If you need an assessment from the Norfolk Learning Disability Service you should contact the Social Care Community Engagement (SCCE) on 0344 800 8020, who will help you with the assessment process. SCCE may decide you also need to have an assessment from the Learning Disabilities Service. To do this they will refer you to your local Learning Disability Locality Team.

How does the service change between children's services and adult services?

Children who get support when they are under 18 years of age, and who are likely to still need support after they turn 18, should be referred from the age of 15 onwards for an initial Care Act assessment. Each locality has their own transition social worker who will make the referral.