Newcastle Community Team Learning Disability (CTLD)

This leaflet provides information about the Community Team Learning Disability (CTLD) in Newcastle. If you are not sure about anything in this leaflet please ask a member of staff.

We work with adults who are 18 years and over.

We work with people who find it hard using mainstream services or who have specific mental health, physical health and challenging behaviour needs due to their learning disability.

We have an open referral system. This means anybody can refer for themselves or somebody else.

The person being referred must agree to the referral being made.

Referrals can be made:

• by phone or letter
• in person
• by completing a referral form available from Benton House

When a referral is made we can:

• talk to you about what we can do to help
• ask you if you are happy for us to work with you

You can say yes. You can say no. It’s up to you.

If someone has to make a decision for you because you cannot make it yourself they must decide what is in your best interest.

To work out what is in your best interest, they must listen to what you want, ask people who know you and make sure you are involved.

All referrals are made to the CTLD team and the team decide who would be the best person to work with you.

Speech and Language Therapists work with people who need help:

• communicating and understanding through speech or other means
• with eating and drinking

Community Nurses provide advice, support and treatment for people who have a variety of physical and mental health care needs. We also work with people who have challenging behaviour using a positive behavioural approach.

Clinical Psychologists provide assessment and treatment for a wide range of challenging behaviours, emotional problems and mental health problems.

Physiotherapists provide treatment for physical health conditions around mobility and postural management.

Psychiatrists are doctors who provide assessment and treatment of mental health
problems.

Non-medical Prescribers and Pharmacist Independent Prescribers can prescribe and review your medication or tablets.

Occupational Therapists work with people to help them with everyday activities. We give advice on equipment to help at home, ways of coping with living skills or using activities to help you structure your day.

• We talk about what is important to you.
• We talk about what you want to change.
• We talk about things you can do with our help.
• We help others look after you in the way you want.

The team work in a variety of places:

• see people on their own
• see people with their parents, paid carers and staff teams
• carry out group work
• speak to you and other professionals
• work with other professionals from social services, education and the voluntary sector
• give information or provide training
• offer general advice

The team is unable to offer an out of hour’s emergency response service.

Community Team Learning Disability offers a range of training specific to the persons needs to staff teams, parents or carers who support people who have a learning disability.

You can write to us at:

Community Team Learning Disability
Benton House
136 Sandyford Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 1QE

Telephone 0191 210 6868

Email [email protected]

The team is based at Benton House. The entrance is from Sandyford Road, off Portland Road.

Office hours: Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm

Nearest buses:

• Arriva numbers 6, 306 and 308.
• Go North East numbers 58, 307, 309 and 310.
• Stagecoach number 38.

Nearest Metro: Jesmond Metro

For further travel information contact Traveline by telephone 0191 20 20 747.
The Traveline website is www.traveline.info.

If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:

• talk to the people directly involved in your care
• ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website www.cntw.nhs.uk/contact/complaints/
• telephone the Complaints Department on 0191 245 6672
• email [email protected]

We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention.

You can provide feedback in the following ways:

• the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at
  www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourvoice
• complete a Your Voice survey, available on wards, reception areas or from staff
• other options for sharing your feedback and experience www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourfeedback

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS provide confidential advice and support, helping you to sort out any concerns that you may have about any aspect of your or your loved ones care.

We act independently when handling patient and family concerns, liaising with staff, managers and, where appropriate, relevant organisations, to negotiate prompt solutions. If necessary, we can also refer patients and families to specific local or national-based support agencies.

PALS North of Tyne
Telephone: 0800 032 0202
Email: [email protected]
Post: FREEPOST PALS

PALS South of Tyne
Telephone: 0800 328 4397
Text: 07825 061 035
Email: [email protected]
Post: Patient Advice and Liaison Service, Garden Lodge, Hopewood Park, Ryhope, Sunderland, SR2 0NB

9.00 am – 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday
An answerphone is available at all times for you to leave a message. A member of the PALS team will aim to return your call as soon as possible.

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (eg Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre Telephone 0191 246 7288.

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2024 Copyright, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Ref: PIC/136/0722 July 2022 V6

Website: www.cntw.nhs.uk

Telephone: 0191 246 7288

Review date 2025