Service : Learning Disability Intensive Support Team

A person has a learning disability when their ability to learn new things (intelligence) and cope independently (social functioning) is reduced by a large amount compared to most other people’s abilities.

Learning disabilities start before adulthood and have a lasting effect on development.

Problems with intelligence or social functioning which start later in life due to ageing, illness, or injury, are not learning disabilities.

A learning disability is not the same as a learning difficulty, like dyslexia.

A learning difficulty affects specific areas of learning, but a learning disability affects overall intellectual ability.

A learning disability is usually caused by something that affects brain development before birth, during birth, or in early childhood.

In many cases, the exact cause is unknown.

Common factors can include:

• genetic conditions, such as Down’s syndrome or Fragile X syndrome
• illness or infections during pregnancy
• exposure to harmful substances, like alcohol, during pregnancy
• complications during birth that reduce oxygen to the baby’s brain
• being born very early (premature birth)
• serious illnesses, such as meningitis or measles, in early childhood
• head injuries in early childhood

Conditions like cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism are more common in people with a learning disability.

Specialist health support is care that cannot be provided by mainstream health services because extra skills, knowledge, or equipment are needed to give the right help.

Common signs of constipation include not eating much or at all, frequently touching their anus, or signs of streaking on underwear or pads.

People with a learning disability are at higher risk of constipation and if left untreated it can cause serious problems.

• Read more about managing constipation in a person with a learning disability

If you’re a family member, carer, or you look after someone, there’s practical, financial, and emotional support available from a range of local communities and national organisations.  

• Find out more

We can provide language translation and interpretation support.

Tell our staff which language you prefer to use, and we will make sure the right communication support is in place for your assessment and treatment. Please let us know as early as possible so we can ensure the appropriate translation or interpreting support is available.

We offer a range of professional services to ensure everyone can understand and be understood:

• Telephone interpreting
• Video remote interpreting (VRI)
• Face‑to‑face interpreting
• Written translation
• British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting

• Learn more

Anyone with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss has the right to get information in a format that meets their needs.

The Accessible Information Standard (AIS) is a legal requirement for all health and adult social care providers. This means making sure that people who use our services, including carers and families, can understand our information and communicate with us easily.

We can offer information in a range of accessible formats, including:

• British Sign Language (BSL)
• Large print
• Braille
• Audio
• Easy read
• Email
• Text message
• Face‑to‑face support with a carer or advocate present

If you need information in any of these formats, please tell a member of our team and we will make sure your communication needs are met.

• Learn more

Yes, you are welcome to bring your registered service animal, such as a guide dog, hearing dog, medical alert dog, or other trained assistance dog to your appointment.

These animals are recognised as essential support and are permitted in most areas of our services.

To help us prepare, please let the team know before your appointment if you will be attending with a service animal. This allows us to make sure the environment is safe and comfortable for you, your animal, and other patients.

Please note that service animals may not be able to enter certain restricted clinical areas for safety or infection‑control reasons, but we will always work with you to find an appropriate alternative.

Respect is important.

We will be polite and kind and we expect that you treat our staff in the same way.

Abuse, hate and discrimination against our staff is unacceptable.

We will take strong action against anyone who is verbally, racially, physically, or sexually abusive to them.

This may include contacting the police to prosecute, and stopping future access to our healthcare services.

The easiest way to find your NHS number is using the official NHS online service which can be accessed below.

You may also want to read our guidance page for more information about other ways to find your NHS number or what to do if you cannot find yours.

• Find your NHS number
• How to find your NHS number