Creating a learning disability and autism drop-in clinic to support mental health clinicians with patients
There are around one million adults with a learning disability and over 700,000 autistic people living in England. People with a learning disability and autistic people are more likely than the wider population to experience mental health difficulties.
What were the project aims?
The team behind the learning disability and autism drop-in clinic found that during their day to day work they had similar requests coming through from colleagues working in mental health service asking for support with patients who either have or are suspected to have a learning disability or autism.
The clinics were created so clinicians could tailor their questions for each service user’s specific needs and requirements, ensuring each case is given individualised advice.
How was it done?
Prior to this innovative project, drop-in clinics like this did not exist in the Trust. Working in a large Trust across many sites, the team needed to make the best use of their time to support as many people as possible. Initially, the plan was to create drop-in clinics and rotate them around the different hospital sites but with the outbreak of Covid and subsequent lockdowns, they moved online.
To ensure ease of access and to reduce unnecessary admin work, the team removed the need for referrals to be sent prior to the consultation meetings – all discussion of the patient and their needs took place during the clinic. The team also recognised that not all patients would have a formal diagnosis and ensured that clinicians could bring any cases to discuss where they thought that learning disability or autism might be a contributing factor.
What were the results?
Between 2021 and 2022, 54 clinics were held. The most frequent attendees were clinical psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists. The most frequent queries were about how to access specialist services, diagnostic pathways, and adjustments around engagement and assessment.
- Advice and recommendations made at the drop-in clinic often consisted of:
- Ways to adapt communication skills
- Changes to interpersonal skills
- Support with creating accommodating environments
- Advice about making reasonable adjustments
The drop-in clinics ensured that access to support was simplified. An evaluation of the drop-in clinics found that staff reported making changes and reasonable adjustments to care provision that had had a positive impact on patient care. Additionally, frontline staff felt more confident and knowledgeable about autism and learning disability after attending the drop-in service.
What next?
The drop-in clinics continue to run and gather feedback from those who attend them with the aim of supporting colleagues to provide effective care and support to everyone.
You can book into the Learning Disability and Autism drop-in by emailing Nursing-directorate@slam.nhs.uk
