Services for adults with learning disabilities

Support services for adults with learning disabilities are provided by the Scottish Borders Learning Disability Service. This is a joint Scottish Borders Council and NHS Borders service and provides a range of specialist social care and health services for people with a learning disability. The service is made up of the following:

Community Learning Disability Teams (East and West)
Both teams are staffed by social workers, community nurses, allied health professionals and a learning disability psychiatric service. They provide both an assessment and care management service for adults with a learning disability as well as an assessment and treatment service for individuals who have complex heath care needs.
Assertive Outreach Team
This team provides intensive support to individuals in their own homes in order to prevent hospital admission. The service is supported by access to inpatient beds through the South East Learning Disability Managed Care Network (SEAT) and replaces the Hume in-patient unit.
Day Support services
These include three day centres, a local area co-ordination service and an employment support project, Ways2Work.

The service is managed by the Learning Disability Board, which is accountable to the Community Health and Care Partnership Committee. Its membership includes representatives from Social Work, NHS Borders, service users, carers, staff and the independent sector.

Who is the service for?

The service is for anyone aged 16+ who has a significant, lifelong condition that has the following three components:

reduced ability to understand new or complex information or to learn new skills, in global rather than specific areas
reduced ability to cope independently
onset before adulthood (before the age of 18) with a lasting effect on the individual's development.

This definition does not include people who have:

specific learning difficulties e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia
high functioning Asperger's Syndrome
learning difficulties arising from a sensory impairment
needs and vulnerabilities from social or emotional experiences
acquired brain injury.

How do I get a service?

To find out more, please contact:

Scottish Borders Learning Disability Service
West Grove Annexe
Waverley Road
Melrose TD6 9SJ
Tel: 01896 824582

If you would like to be referred for a service, you will be asked to have an assessment. This is because the Council has a set amount of money for specialist social work/social care services and has to make sure that people in greatest need and at most risk are first to receive services. Guidelines known as eligibility criteria are used along with your assessment to work out whether you qualify for help. Contact the Learning Disability Service for more information.

Performance Monitoring

The service is subject to regular inspection by the following agencies. These links will take you to external websites:

The Information Systems Division of NHS Borders publishes information each year on progress being made toward the implementation of The Same as You National Performance Information. This can be found on the ISD website.