Commissioning specialist adult learning disability health services - Good practice guidance

Good practice guidance on the commissioning of specialist adult learning disability health services for adults.

Consideration has been given to assist in responding to shortcomings identified in these services in recent Healthcare Commission reports including those into abuse in Cornwall and Merton and Sutton.

Within the current environment of separating out purchaser and provider arms of PCTs services are currently debating who should employ specialist learning disability staff - another health provider, mental health trust, social services, social enterprise....

The report states that:

"Specialist learning disability health staff are most likely to be employed within the local NHS, with those not in in-patient settings, operating as part of, and being accountable within, a multi-disciplinary structure such as a community learning disability team (CLDT) that is led or jointly led by the local authority. 

 

Employment within the NHS alongside other health professionals is important in order to maintain appropriate clinical governance, professional development, relationships and learning from colleagues working in other specialisms and to avoid recruitment and retention problems. However, day-to-day operation within a multi-agency framework is essential for the achievement of good person centred outcomes.  Being recognised as part of the NHS is particularly important for staff working to promote access to mainstream primary care and acute hospitals in order to facilitate day to day working relationships with NHS colleagues."

To download the report

Download Commissioning specialist adult learning disability health services (PDF, 337K)