Challenging Behaviour

Moderate – Severe disturbance of mental health and/or significantly challenging behaviour associated with intellectual impairment, genetic conditions or acquired brain injury

Learning disability is a significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information, to learn new skills (impaired intelligence); with a reduced ability to cope independently (impaired social functioning); which started before adulthood, with a lasting effect on development.

Challenging behaviour (including self-injurious behaviour) – culturally abnormal behaviours of such intensity, frequency or duration that the physical safety of the person or others is likely to be placed in serious jeopardy, or behaviour which is likely to seriously limit use of, or result in the person being denied access to, ordinary community facilities.

Initial intervention from other Tier 1/2 services (Universal and Targeted services) prior to specialist CAMHS involvement

Schools may wish to involve the Social, Emotional and Behaviour Support advisory teachers or Educational Psychology Service.

The family may benefit from involvement from their local Children’s Centre for parenting and behaviour support intervention.

Intervention from local Learning Disability Services such as Carlisle Mencap.

Support and advice from Health Visitors/Public Health Nurses.

Online Support

Service provided by Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service – Tier 3

Assessment and intervention from the Children’s Learning Disability and Behaviour Support Service.

Where there are concerns that there is a significant mental health difficulty comorbid to the learning disability and/or challenging behaviour then a referral to specialist CAMHS should be made.