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Learning Disabilities
We offer services to people with learning disabilities and mental health needs who require specialist assessment and treatment. We are committed to promoting wellbeing and supporting service users, families and carers.
What is a learning disability?
- understanding new or complex information
- learning new skills
- coping independently
It is thought that up to 350,000 people have severe learning disabilities. This figure is increasing.
Getting help
We also work closely with GP’s, education, housing, hospitals, community adult, care directorate, children’s services, day centres, mental health services, advocacy and respite services and voluntary services.
Find out more about the team who can help you in the ‘Our teams and services’ section below.
Our teams and services
Living with a learning disability
Five Ways to Wellbeing
- Connect with people – your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Speaking to people over the telephone or online can help, but there’s nothing like being in the company of others to boost your mood.
- Get active – take a walk, go cycling, join a dance class, go swimming or play a game of football. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life. Anything that raises your heart rate – even cleaning the house – can help.
- Keep learning – give yourself a sense of achievement and a new confidence. Why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, learn a new language, or figure out how to fix your bike?
- Give – even the smallest act can count – whether it’s a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you make new friends.
- Be mindful – be more aware of the present moment, including your feelings and thoughts, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness ‘mindfulness’ and it can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.
These are proven techniques to help boost your general wellbeing and they are things we can all incorporate into our daily lives. If you want to make your mental health and wellbeing a priority, following these steps is a good place to start.
Employment
Medical records
If you wish to see a copy of your health record, please ask the person providing your care or write to: Head of Health Records, Rikenel, Montpellier, Gloucester GL1 1LY.
In your letter, give:
- your name
- address
- date of birth
- any other information which would help locate your file
Please note: there may be a charge for this service.
If you think that information in your health records may not be accurate, please notify us in writing.
Medication
Smoking
Did you know?
- Smoking is the primary reason for the 10 to 20 year shortened life expectancy for people with a mental health disorder. Smoking causes cancer, cardio vascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- People with mental health conditions consume 42 per cent of all tobacco bought in the UK
- Many think smoking is a mood enhancer – in fact it causes depression, stress and anxiety
- Smokers have a 79 per cent increased risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease
These are just some of the reasons why cutting down or giving up smoking altogether can have a huge impact on improving your health and wellbeing.
How to get help quitting
- If you are one of our service users, ask to speak to a Smokefree Champion or Quit Advisor
- If you live in Gloucestershire, visit hlsglos.org or ring 0800 122 3788
- You can also call the national Smokefree helpline on 0800 022 4332 (Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm)
- GPs can provide advice and prescriptions for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products and most surgeries have nurses who offer a stop smoking service
- The national Smokefree website includes a wide range of support options and advice
Easy read information
Easy read guides on money – United Response
Easy read leaflets on a range of topics including health issues – Easy Health
Easy read information on lots of health topics – A Picture of Health
Leaflets and downloads
The Hospital Communication Book
Transition – Moving from children’s healthcare to adult healthcare
Confidential Inquiry into the premature deaths of people with learning disabilities (CIPOLD)
Health Action Planning Monitoring Form
My Health Book and Health Action Plan Summary
Questions to ask when you go to the doctor or go to a hospital
Housing information
Information for professionals
Referral information for Gloucestershire GPs and Healthcare Practitioners
Referral information for Herefordshire GPs and Healthcare Practitioners
Some good ways of communicating with people with complex needs
Further help and support
Inclusion Gloucestershire
Our focus is championing people of all ages, whatever their disability, including people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory impairment and mental ill health. We are a registered charity and user-led organisation, run by people with disabilities for people with disabilities.
01452 623120
www.inclusiongloucestershire.co.uk/
Down’s Syndrome Association
Helping people with Down’s syndrome to live full and rewarding lives.
Healthwatch Gloucestershire
The consumer champion for health and social care in England.
NDTi – National Development Team for Inclusion
An organisation working to enable people at risk of exclusion to live the life they choose.
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation
The the only charity for people with severe learning disabilities who display behaviour described as challenging.
Building Circles in Gloucestershire
Working to transform lives of people with learning disabilities.
British Institute of Learning Disabilities
Working to ensure people with learning disabilities are valued equally, participate fully in their communities and are treated with dignity and respect.
News
Team of the Week: Learning Disability Inpatient Services
Our Team of The Week this week is our Learning Disability Inpatient Services based at Berkley House in Stroud. The service is for individuals with a diagnosis of learning disabilities or with behaviours that can be described as challenging and/or mental health needs...
Lockdown Experiences – Learning Disabilities Week
Dawn and Maisie Dawn and Maisie first met each other in 2009 when they both worked on a Learning Disability Partnership Board. They have known each other for 11 years and have been friends since they stopped working together. Maisie and Dawn speak on the phone...
A GPs Perspective on Lockdown
‘New ways of working’ is a phrase that has been bandied about in General Practice for a few years. We felt the need to do things differently because we have been stretched, at times to breaking point. Then the tragedy of Covid19 and lockdown came along. Suddenly we...
