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Learning disabilities

We aim is to ensure that people with a learning disability have access to a range of high quality services in North Somerset.

We offer a wide range of services for people with learning disabilities. The main purpose of the service is to work to remove barriers that exclude disabled people from full participation in the community.

The services we provide aim to:

  • Promote independence and dignity
  • Are free from discrimination
  • Provide a person-centred approach
  • Help to access other services

A team of care managers (social workers) are available to work with people with learning disabilities and their carers to assess needs, offer advice and arrange services following an assessment of need, within available resources

Whether people with learning disabilities qualify for specific services is dependent on their particular needs. Priority will be given to those in greatest need. If you feel you need help or advice, a care manager can make contact with you to discuss your needs and ways to meet them.

We work closely with health colleagues from the North Somerset Primary Health Care Trust to provide a multi-disciplinary response to assessed needs.

The learning disabilities team is located at Partnership House in Weston-super-Mare. Health professionals working within the teams include:

  • Psychiatrist
  • Psychologists
  • Community nurses
  • Speech & Language therapists
  • Physiotherapist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Art and Music and Drama therapist

We offer help with:

  • Medical issues
  • Physical difficulties
  • Behavioural difficulties
  • Mental health problems
  • Counselling
  • Communication difficulties
  • Sexuality and personal relationship issues
  • Help and advice regarding activities of daily living or equipment/adaptation to increase or maintain independence

If you have a wide range of needs, you may want a fuller assessment, which, with your agreement, can include other agencies such as health, housing and further education.

Carers can also ask for an assessment in their own right.

Following the assessment, your care manager may arrange for you to receive a combination of the community care services available.

Help can be given with personal care and other practical tasks.

Community Support Workers

We provide a small team of community support workers to help adults with a learning difficulty living at home, alone, or with their family, to maintain and develop their independence skills. We also provide support for carers and offer advice and assistance in budgeting, community presence and linking with other professionals whose services may be needed.

All information given to staff during an assessment is treated as confidential and only passed on with the person's agreement, except in child protection cases, or where illegal situations have been disclosed.

Information is stored on a combination of our central computer system and paper files, which make up our client record system. Only authorised staff have access to these documents and anyone whose personal details are recorded can ask to see them.

Further information about services for people with learning disabilities contact:

The Community Team
Partnership House
Building 400
Worle Parkway
Weston super Mare
BS22 6WA
Tel: (01934) 427 600

The office is open:
Monday to Thursday: 8.45am to 5pm
Friday: 8.45am to 4.30pm.

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