Measuring learning disability.

[Siscarer]

My sister was diagnosed at birth with learning disability. She is now 43 years old and although the GP has recorded her as mild I reckon she is moderate. Who can assess her and what is the assessment called? I need this to prove to social services that she needs more support as she’s moderate.

[Jofisher]

Your sister was obviously assessed many years ago and things have moved on a great deal since then. Learning disability comes under mental health services weirdly Im guessing it would a phychologist but I’m going to find out and come back to you but I would contact the mencap helpline and ask them as well.

[49Twister in reply to Jofisher]

Usually an educational psychologist. Not sure if you can refer yourself but your sisters GP could.

[Jofisher]

Hi I found this I hope it helps

Useful Information

[White25 in reply to Jofisher]

Hello Jofisher, you advised me about five weeks ago to write to the care home, regarding the way in which my daughter was treated, I wrote about the way she was treated, and I got a reply yesterday saying that my complaints cannot be upheld, do you happen to know what upheld means. Do you think it would be worth going to the press, to see if they can do anything, thanks?Thanks again.

[Jofisher in reply to White25]

Surely there’s an official complaints procedure that needs to be followed here I would speak to whoever pays for your daughter to be there and ask for a meeting to discuss your concerns with them. You could also speak to the care quality commission as well.

[FELTSPAR in reply to Jofisher]

If the complaint process isn’t successful ask the LGSCO (local government and social care ombudsman) to see if they can intervene.

[49Twister in reply to White25]

Hi White 25 this means that they don’t agree with your complaints. As jo says contact the Care Quality Commission and make an official complaint. Do you not have someone to support your complaints ie social worker. I would do that first before going to the press.

[White25 in reply to 49Twister]

Hi, thanks for your reply, I have already spoken to Quality Care Commission, they said my daughter is outside their remit. Social worker said I was not working with you when these things happened to your daughter, and all the old social workers have left.

[49Twister in reply to White25]

I really don't know what else to suggest apart from contacting the people who fund your daughters care and support. I believe the social worker can't make a complaint on your behalf but she could advise you on what to do. Social workers are constantly changing so they just have to pick up where the last one left off. The fact that she wasn't involved at the time and those that were have left is immaterial. I'm not surprised though everyone seems to pass the buck these days. Hope you get the help you need.

[FragileXmum in reply to White25]

You could try going to the local Member of Parliament who covers the area where the care home is. There should also be a duty social worker who can pick up the case and investigate. Good luck.

[White25 in reply to FragileXmum]

Hi thanks for your response, the MP is useless in London, we have tried everything, what would you think of us going to the BBC and getting them to investigate. My daughter is now in Slough but she is mentally damaged after 5 years of therapeutic care, and all the money it cost.

[LDAutie]

hi Siscarer i just houthgt id add a bit to what jo has said as i know a little threw my own experience.

is yur sister under the social services community learning disability team? if so,ask them to reasess her, she needs to be given the WAIS test under by the pysc in the team and then asesed by the other team specialists as part of finding out her level. learning disability shoudnt be ever diagnosed based on just doing an IQ test such as thr WAIS on its own thoufh,as lots of people can come off as having learning disability by just taking the test.

i was originaly diagnosed with severe MR (what the UK call learning disability) when i was young as i was also severely classic autistic to,but when i was sectioned into a learning disability hospital, it was changed to mild MR after months of testing by different specialists and they talked to my parents about my childhood and schooling history.

at the moment, if your sister is under some form of care like residential or supported living, you can ask social services to show you (or a parent-anyone close to her who she can trust) her care plan,and if needed-changes to be made while waiting to get reasesed. even speaking to the care company,and askingf can x,y or z changes be made or added to her care will help a lot quicker while waiting for reasesment. lots of them wont make ofcial changes to care plans if they know the care company cant keep up with it though as itd mean having to follow the plan and rehouse her somewhere else,i know this threw my own experience sadly-one such change i wanted in my own care plan was a driving support staff every day as im physicaly disabled and severely affected when out in envirment,i have had motability cars for many years and cant get about very far in my manual wheelchair and cant use public transport,yet at the very most ill get out of the house is three shifts a week and never on certin days as id like to be able to go back to the david lewis centre.

[SpeedyH]

It is a clinical psychologist who can assess for learning disability. There are private psychologists who can do this but it is expensive. As others have said, you could try asking your GP for a referral or ask Adult Social Care to refer you.

A word of caution though, the amount and type of care that Adult social care provide is based purely on needs that are assessed as eligible not on diagnosis. People with the same diagnosis might need very different amounts of care. Even with a new diagnosis you would need to provide evidence of how the LD affects the person’s need for care and support so keeping a diary for a few months can be helpful. The same goes for benefit payments too, they are based on what needs for extra care and support the person has, not diagnosis.

[Siscarer in reply to SpeedyH]

thankyou for your reply and advice.

[Jr71]

Hi there. I understand your frustration. It took me 50 years to get my learning disability diagnosis. You will have to be refered from your GP to your local AdultLD team. You need to have straight valid answers ready for the GP. Gp's are all not trained in how to understand the world of disability unfortunately. But be firm and say that my sister has more than a mild disability because she's not able to care for herself or take the right decisions. This is just an example. She walked into a neighbours garden when it was dark dressed in a hoodie. She was attacked thinking it was a burgler. Many people with LD finds it very hard to make the right decisions. That causes problems daily. The care system is unfortunately broken so be prepared to fight , and don't give in. Good luck!

[dymafi in reply to Jr71]

The official definitions from ICD-- 10 are here. icd.who.int/browse10/2019/en# For some reason the link won't work but basically it comes down to IQ Mild is an IQ of 50-69, moderate is 35-49 severe is 20-34 and profound is under 20. There are subdivisions of each. My son's statement when he was at school said moderate LD but as an adult all his official reports state he is F70 which is considered mild. A psychologist would be the person to ask for an assessment