People with a learning disability should, under the Disability Discrimination Act, be able to access mainstream services. Services cannot treat a person with a disability less favourably because of a reason related to their disability unless it is for a justified and medical reason. Services should assess and approach the needs of people with learning disabilities flexibly and put in place any reasonable adjustments that are required and possible. Examples of adjustments include longer appointment times, additional sessions offered, staff trained in understanding communication difficulties and easy to read versions of printed material. People with a mild learning disability should access mainstream services.

The Joint Learning Disability Service, which is provided by Sheffield Health and Social Care Foundation Trust and Sheffield City Council's Neighbourhoods and Community Care Services, is for people with severe learning disabilities who may also have mental health needs.  This service is made up of a number of teams, including two Community Learning Disability Teams (CLDTs), which provide the first line of support.  The Improving Mental Wellbeing Service works with adults who have a learning disability and also have significant mental health problems, offering specialist psychiatric assessment and ongoing support through individual care packages.  Signpost Sheffield is the homepage of the Joint Learning Disability Service.

The Community Assessment and Intensive Support Service (CAISS) provides more intensive and complex support for individuals whose carers and/or services are challenged by their behaviour, and the Assessment and Treatment Unit is a 7-bed inpatient unit for individuals with learning disabilities who present complex and challenging behavioural needs.  In addition, there are five identified specialist learning disability beds on one of the adult mental health inpatient wards.

Click here to view or download a guide to getting help through the Joint Learning Disability Service.