Gateshead Community Team Learning Disability – patient information leaflet

This information is about the Community Learning Disability Team. If you are not sure about anything in this leaflet please ask a member of the team.

We work with adults who have a Learning Disability and are 18 years and over; who may find it hard to use mainstream services or who have specific mental health, physical health and challenging behaviour needs due to their learning disability.

We have an open referral system. This means anybody can refer themselves or somebody else.

The person being referred must agree to the referral being made when able to consent or can be made in the persons best interests.

Referrals can be made:

• by phone or letter
• by completing a referral form available from the Admin team at Gateshead Community Learning Disability Team

When a referral is made we can:

• talk to you about what we can do to help
• ask you if you are happy for us to work with you

You can say yes. You can say no. It is up to you.

If someone has to make a decision for you because you cannot make it yourself they must decide what is in your best interest.

To work out what is in your best interest, they must listen to what you want, ask people who know you and make sure you are involved where you are able to contribute.

When a referral is made to the Gateshead Community Learning Disability Team, the team then decide who would be the best person to work with you.

Speech and Language Therapists work with people who need help:

• communicating and understanding through speech or other methods
• or with eating and drinking

Community Nurses provide advice, support and treatment for people who have a variety of physical and mental health needs. We also work with people who have challenging behaviour using a positive behavioural support approach.

Clinical Psychologists
Provide assessment and treatment for a wide range of challenging behaviours, emotional problems and mental health problems.

Physiotherapists
Provide treatment for physical health conditions around mobility and postural management.

Psychiatrists
Provide assessment and treatment of mental health problems.

Non-medical Prescribers
Can prescribe and review your medication or tablets.

Occupational Therapists
Help people do what they want or need to do in their day to day lives as independently as possible. We can support you to develop your skills, help you find activities or ways of doing things to improve your health and well being.

We also work with family and carers to help them understand the needs of the person so they can support them in the best way.

• We talk about what is important to you.
• We talk about what you want to change.
• We talk about things you can do with our help.
• We help others look after you in the way you want.

The team work in a variety of places:

• see people on their own
• see people with their parents, paid carers and staff teams
• carry out group work
• speak to you and other professionals
• work with other professionals from social services, education and the voluntary sector
• give information or provide training
• offer general advice

The team is unable to offer an out of hour’s emergency response service.

Training Community Learning Disability Team offers a range of training specific to the persons needs to staff teams, parents or carers who support people who have a learning disability.

You can write to us at:

Gateshead Adult Community Learning
Disability Team
Bensham Hospital
82 -84 Fontwell Drive
Gateshead
NE8 4YL

Telephone 0191 478 0650

Email [email protected]

The team is based at Bensham Hospital.

Office hours: Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm

Nearest bus: TB29 from Gateshead Interchange stand 6.
Runs from 9am to 4pm

Nearest Metro: Gateshead Metro

For further travel information contact Traveline by telephone 0191 20 20 747.
The Traveline website is www.traveline.info.

If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:

• talk to the people directly involved in your care
• ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website www.cntw.nhs.uk/contact/complaints/
• telephone the Complaints Department on 0191 245 6672
• email [email protected]

We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention.

You can provide feedback in the following ways:

• the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at
  www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourvoice
• complete a Your Voice survey, available on wards, reception areas or from staff
• other options for sharing your feedback and experience www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourfeedback

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS provide confidential advice and support, helping you to sort out any concerns that you may have about any aspect of your or your loved ones care.

We act independently when handling patient and family concerns, liaising with staff, managers and, where appropriate, relevant organisations, to negotiate prompt solutions. If necessary, we can also refer patients and families to specific local or national-based support agencies.

PALS North of Tyne
Telephone: 0800 032 0202
Email: [email protected]
Post: FREEPOST PALS

PALS South of Tyne
Telephone: 0800 328 4397
Text: 07825 061 035
Email: [email protected]
Post: Patient Advice and Liaison Service, Garden Lodge, Hopewood Park, Ryhope, Sunderland, SR2 0NB

9.00 am – 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday
An answerphone is available at all times for you to leave a message. A member of the PALS team will aim to return your call as soon as possible.

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (eg Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre Telephone 0191 246 7288.

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2024 Copyright, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Ref: PIC/812/1223 December 2023 V4

www.cntw.nhs.uk

Telephone: 0191 246 7288

Review date 2025