Learning disabilities
What is a learning disability?
For someone to be diagnosed as having a learning disability, they must have:
- significantly below average intellectual functioning, i.e. IQ below 70 (WAIS test)
- impairments in at least two of the following areas - communication, self care/home living, social functioning, interpersonal skills, use of community resources, self direction, functional academic skills, work and leisure, health and safety
- been experiencing these difficulties since before the age of 18.
How can we help you?
We can provide information, advice and support to adults with a learning disability or Autism and their carers. Barnet Learning Disabilities Service is a joint service made up of health and social care staff working together. Following an assessment, we can help clients to:
- find out about Personal Budgets and self-directed support
- use health services
- find out about benefits
- find a home
- explore day time opportunities
- arrange respite care
- discuss safeguarding issues.
Where appropriate, we can refer you to one of the services provided by Your Choice Barnet for people with a learning disability who have specific needs.
We can also refer you to one of the local support organisations for people with a learning disability. See the Social Care Connect website for more information about these organisations.
How do I access these services?
If you think you need a service or have questions you would like to ask, you can contact the Learning Disabilities Team:
Barnet Learning Disabilties Service
Building 4, North London Business Park
Oakleigh Road South
London N11 1NP
- Tel: 020 8359 6161
- Fax: 020 8368 4108
The team is made up of both social work staff and health staff, including community nurses, speech and language therapists, and psychologists and psychiatrists. The staff all work together to meet the needs of the people that they support.
Visiting the team
Visits to the team must be arranged by appointment. All appointments with people with learning disabilities and their carers take place at:
Vale Drive Primary Care Centre
Vale Drive
Barnet
EN5 2ED
Will I be charged for services?
You may need to contribute towards the cost of the services you receive. How much you pay will depend on your income and the amount of help you need. We will ask you to complete a financial assessment form. You may be entitled to benefits and if so we will help you to claim them. More information about contributions can be found in the Fairer Contributions Policy 2011-12: Oct 2011
(PDF: 303KB).
Call our Fairer Contributions Helpline on 020 8359 7107 or email adultsocialservices@barnet.gov.uk if you have any questions about contributions towards social care services.
If you pay for your own services, it may be advisable to seek independent financial advice about covering the costs of your care in the future. See our information about paying for long-term care.
'Valuing People Now'
In January 2009, Valuing People Now was published setting out a three year strategy to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities. Called ‘Making it Happen for Everyone’, Valuing People Now is an opportunity to help get better lives for all people with learning disabilities and their families, including those with complex needs, and people from black and minority ethnic communities. In Barnet, the Learning Disability Partnership Board has jointly produced the 'Small plan to make an even bigger difference'Getting involved
There are many ways that you can have your say on health and social care services for people with learning disabilities in Barnet:
1. The Barnet Learning Disability Parliament is a made up of a group of MPs with learning disabilities. They have been chosen to speak up for other people with learning disabilities living in the London Borough of Barnet to make sure people with learning disabilities have a say and are listened to.
2. Barnet People's Choice are an advocacy group run by and for people with learning disabilities. You can contact them to get involved in the work that they do or to get their support:
- Tel: 020 8905 4112
- Email: info@barnetpc.org.uk
3. The Learning Disability Partnership Board is made up of health and social care professionals, organisations who work with people with learning disabilities, carers and people who have a learning disability themselves. They look at ways to improve local services.
Useful publications
- Choice based lettings - a guide to choosing a home through Barnet Council
(PDF: 728KB) - Small plan to make an ever bigger difference
(PDF: 1.3MB) - How to make Easy Read information
(PDF: 1.4MB) - Involving people to have a say in their own way in meetings
(PDF: 896KB).
People's Voice Newsletters
- People's Voice newsletter October 2010
(PDF: 4.6MB) - People's Voice newsletter March 2010
(PDF: 0.98MB) - People's Voice newsletter March 2009
(PDF: 744KB) - People's Voice newsletter December 2008
(PDF: 3MB) - People's Voice newsletter July 2008
(PDF: 1MB) - People's Voice newsletter December 2007
(PDF: 515KB) - People's Voice Newsletter April 2007
(PDF:765KB).
Other links worth noting
Comments, Compliments and Complaints
Adult Social Care and Health home page
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Email this pageLast modified by: Dawn Rowe on 31/01/2012