Learning disabilities (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)

Projected Need and Demand

Services at present are predominantly designed for those individual how have additional health and social needs over and over what informal support can provided, and it is clear that this has lead to the development of a reactionary service focus.

There is a clear demand and need for services for individuals with autism with present data for South Tyneside indicating that there is a greater degree of individuals who have a diagnosis of autism

There is a clear need for the development of a community infrastructure that assists in building resilience for people with a learning disabilities and or autism and carers. As part of the review it has been establish that this requires :

• Step up and step down services
• Voluntary and employment ops
• Crisis support
• Housing solutions
• Education opportunities
• Skills therapy support

There is a need to ensure that more people with learning disabilities, and their carers, have access to personal health budgets and that they use them in a way that they choose.

There is a need for safe, secure housing for people with Learning Disabilities in the local community.

Partnership work is required to:

• Review health and social care funding arrangements to support early discharge from inpatient and are home settings; strengthen community outreach healthcare support services to support people in crisis.
• Review levels of inpatient assessment and treatment as a result of strengthened community teams.
• Make sure that out of county inpatient placements are necessary only in very exceptional circumstances.

There is a need to ensure that people with Learning Disabilities have enhanced opportunities to gain skills and support to get a job and remain employed.

There is a need to assess carers' needs and make sure that they have opportunities for a variety of respite.