Our aim is to enable people to live the life they wish to live, as a member of their community and with the opportunities, choices and control over their life that the rest of the population seek for themselves. People have told us that employment and ordinary housing are key ambitions for them, alongside being healthy and being able to live safely in the community. We work with a range of partners to achieve these for and with people.

There are a number of local teams throughout Essex who specialise in working with adults (18+) who have a learning disability. The teams comprise health and social care professionals, who work together to offer advice and information, assess needs where appropriate and devise care plans to meet critical and substantial needs. Through having integrated teams with Health Services there is a single gate entry to a range of learning disability services, and the range of professional working there.

Services can be made available after assessment which can include support in the community, a range of different supported accommodations, access to supported employment and health services. Support is also provided for carers in various ways. For those people whose needs are too great for them to remain in their own homes, residential and nursing care can be provided where appropriate. Provision of these services is then reviewed on a regular basis.

What is meant by a learning disability?  
People with a learning disability means people who are ordinarily resident with the County area, who are over 18 and have a cognitive impairment usually acquired before the age of 5, which is not the result of brain injury, and who have impaired social functioning. For the avoidance of doubt it does not include those who have a ?learning difficulty? which is more broadly defined in education legislation.

Who is entitled to a service from these locality teams? 
Eligibility for Essex County Council Adult Social Care Services is dependent on the person meeting the criteria within the agreed Fair Access to Care Services policy.  Essex County Council?s current policy is that needs which come within the Critical and Substantial bands will be eligible for services.  Eligibility for Adult Social Care Services under the Fair Access to Care Services Criteria is the primary requirement for access to those services.  Eligibility for Learning Disability or other services within Adult Social Care is a secondary decision which focuses on which service should be delivered, not whether the person should receive a service.

If a service is provided will the person with a learning disability have to pay for this?
The Council may charge for a number of services. These include Meals on Wheels, Home Care, Community Support services, Day Care, Residential and Hostel services. An assessment of your financial circumstances will be used to decide what, if any, contribution you will have to make. As part of the financial assessment, you will be also offered advice on the benefits you may be entitled to.

Leaflets are available to explain further charges for both residential and none residential care services.