Advice Centre

Specialist Care

If your local authority arranges a care home placement for you, you should check a number of issues. What choices of home do you have and is this restricted by the amount of care you need? Is the provision in accordance with CQC standards? Does the staff team in the home have good links Adults with a learning disability may still be young when they enter residential/nursing care and they will have a whole range of different needs. Homes often specialise and a good home will provide opportunities to learn and maintain skills and opportunities to take part in enjoyable and Physical disability with the local Physical Disability Care Management Team? The official CQC categories used to describe the services offered in care homes for people with disabilities can be confusing. For clarity, in our directory we list in full the type of care each home offers.

Learning disability

stimulating activities. Social workers and community nurses in Community Teams for Learning Disabilities are able to give information to enable people to make the right choices for themselves.

Mental health

If you have mental health needs, residential care can help improve the quality of your life - the structured environment and activities provided can build up your confidence. The care providers should assess you carefully to make sure the placement is right for you. A qualified member of the residential care staff may visit you at home, talk to you and look at your assessments of health/social care need. To find out more about mental health care in your region, organise visits to prospective care homes. Ask the residents about the care they receive. Are psychiatric nurses available if needed? Do the activities provided assist rehabilitation? What are the attitudes to medication and other therapies? How does the care home approach different types of challenging behaviour? Do the staff have close links with the Community Mental Health Team?