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Community Adult Learning Disability & Autism Service (East & West Suffolk)

  • The Adult Learning Disability & Autism (LD&A) is a community-based service in East and West Suffolk for adults with a moderate to severe Learning Disability and/or Autism aged 18 years or over and those who cannot have their needs met through mainstream services or require additional support to access mainstream services. The teams offer a range of specialist, evidence-based treatments and interventions which can cover mental health, behaviours that challenge and physical health supported by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals. Input can be provided individually or in a group setting.

  • Service Manager Lead: Rachael Shipley, RNLD
  • Address:
    Mariner House,  43 Handford Road, Ipswich, IP1 2GA F Block,  Hospital Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3NR
  • Reception phone number: 01473 341100 (Ipswich), 01284 733300 (Bury St Edmunds)

What this service offers

The Adult Learning Disability & Autism community teams in East and West Suffolk offers specialist assessments, treatment and interventions for adults with complex needs relating to their learning disability and/or autism. This may include support for mental illness, physical health difficulties or behaviours that challenge others or cause distress. The teams can also take self-referrals for the Dynamic Support Register.

The teams consist of specialist LD nurses, mental health nurses, support workers, OT’s, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, art and dance psychotherapist and speech and language therapists.

Inteventions can include

  • Positive behaviour support
  • Person centred planning
  • Sensory
  • Speech and language therapy
  • Desensitisation
  • Transition from children/young peoples services
  • Adapted psychological therapies
  • Education and training

Access this service

To access the LD&A community teams in Suffolk a referral must be made by a GP or other health or social care professional.

People who are referred to this service must have a learning disability and/or autism as well as associated mental health, physical health and, or behavioural needs. The LD&A community teams offer an assessment within 28 days of receiving a referral depending on urgency. Care and treatment is then provided in the community or at various sites across Suffolk.

Visiting and onsite facilities

Disabled parking is available at both main sites along with wheelchair access and toilet facilities for those with disabilities.

Tea, coffee and water is available on request.

How this service support carers including friends and family

The LD&A community teams can offer advice and support to carers and families. Our teams can refer or signpost carers to other services, for example social services for carer assessment and mental health wellbeing services.

Urgent help

For service users/carers already open to the team please make contact using the usual contact details within the hours of the service.

Out of hours for the team Call the NHS 111 service and choose the mental health option for urgent help/support.

If anyone is at serious risk of harm, call 999 and ask for the police.

For non-life threatening medical/physical health situations, call the NHS 111 service and select the 'mental health option'.

For more information, see Help in a Crisis.

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