Help for people with learning difficulties

Introduction

We try to help people with learning difficulties to look after themselves and to get any other help they need. We want to help them do things and get the most out of life.

We may be able to

• Help you find the right place to live
• Cope with leaving school or children's services and becoming an adult
• Arrange for you to do things during the day. To do things you're good at, or to try new activities, learn new skills and meet new people. This is called Day Services.
• Help you to find training or a job.

Sometimes you and the person who looks after you might need a break from being with each other. We may be able to arrange a short break. This might be for a few hours or a few days. This is called Respite Care.

How to find out if we can help

We'll need to meet you, or talk to you by telephone.

This gives us the chance to find out what you want and need. Your parents, partner or anyone else looking after you can also meet or talk to us. This is called an assessment. There is a waiting list for an assessment. After it's done we'll tell you if we can help and what we can do.

We have leaflets about our services for adults with learning difficulties.

Leaflet about our services for people with learning difficulties (PDF)

What we write about you

When we work with you we write about your needs and the help you are getting. We may have to write down other things about your situation.

What we write is called your records. Your records might be kept on paper or on a computer.

We have clear rules about who can see your records. You have the right to see them. Ask your worker if you would like to see your records.

How to contact us

Contact our Care Direct service.

What to do if things go wrong - complaints

You can complain if you think Health and Social Care is not giving you the help that has been agreed.

Or if things go wrong or you feel something is not right.

Find out more about complaints

Jobs and Training

Bristol One Stop Shop (BOSS)

BOSS promotes employment to people with learning difficulties through:

• workshops, surgeries and special events run with other local organisations
• linking people with advice and support on a work related issues, including how to get training; how supported employment works and benefits advice

Contact

Telephone: 0845 224 8789
Email: bristol.boss@yahoo.co.uk
Web: www.bossemployment.co.uk

Transition Information Project

A partnership with Connexions helping young people with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities in the "transition" to adult life and services. Telephone 0117 377 3878.

Mencap

For advice and information about Benefits, keeping well, housing, education and jobs.

Freephone: 0808 808 1111 (10am to 4pm Monday to Friday)
Web site: www.mencap.org.uk

Day Services

The city council runs Resource and Activity Centres and two drop-in centres.

River Street Peer Support

This is one of our services. It's a place where people with learning difficulties can meet and spend time doing what they want to do. It's in the centre of Bristol. We've got people working there, but it's people with learning difficulties that decide what happens.

Telephone: 0117 941 2534

South Bristol Drop-in

The Park
Daventry Road
Knowle
Bristol BS4 1QD
Tel: 0117 377 3686

North Bristol Drop-in

139 Muller Road
Horfield
Bristol BS7 9RE
Tel: 0117 903 8007

North Bristol Drop-in leaflet (PDF)

Bristol and South Gloucestershire People First (BSGPF)

BSGPF is run by people with learning difficulties. It helps people with learning difficulties get their views across to others. It's important to make sure this happens when decisions and plans are made. BSGPF also provides easy to use information. It helps make sure people have their needs met by schools and colleges.

Telephone or Fax: 0117 941 5842.
e-mail admin@bsgpf.org.uk

Bristol Learning Difficulties web site

Information from Bristol's health services about help and support for people with learning difficulties.

Website: www.bristollearningdifficulties.nhs.uk

National Forum of people with learning difficulties

Website: www.nationalforum.org.uk
This website tells you all about the National Forum for people with learning difficulties. It's a useful site covering what's going on nationally and in the South West.

Clubs

Bristol has a number of clubs providing social and recreational activities for people with learning difficulties. They can be a good way of building friendships, confidence and skills. Often these are Gateway clubs with past or current connections to Mencap. Volunteers run these clubs and the organisers are always pleased to here from people who may wish to help.

If you're involved in a club for people with learning difficulties and you'd like the details listed here please let us know.

Clifton Gateway Club
Redland Reformed United Church, Redland
Meets on Tuesdays, between 7.00 - 9.00pm
Telephone Clare Uden on 0117 983 3138

Dame Emily Gateway Club
Ebenezer Church, British Road, Bedminster
Meets on alternate Mondays, between 7.30 - 9.30pm
Telephone Sally Davis on 0117 983 2602

Harbour Gateway Club
St Mary on the Quay, St Augustines Parade
Meets on Tuesdays, between 7.00 - 9.00pm
Telephone Janet Alexander on 0117 977 1322

Mowcroft Gateway Club
Withywood School, Withywood
Meets on alternate Thursdays, between 7.00 - 9.00pm
Telephone Nicholas Kell on 0117 971 1294

Stepping Out
Run two evening social clubs at either at the Cameron Centre in Lockleaze, or the Park, in Knowle as well as going out activities.
Telephone Anna Lichtensteiger on 0781 368 5406

Learning Difficulties Partnership

Bristol's Learning Difficulties Partnership Board talks about planning and developing services for people with learning difficulties in Bristol. Its members include people with learning difficulties, family carers, service providers and senior managers from the Primary Care Trust and the council.

The board is chaired by two people: a person with learning difficulties and the council's Executive member for Health and Social Care.

The board aims to make sure 'Valuing People' and 'Valuing People Now' happens in Bristol. The board has sub-groups and project groups to help with this work.

The board checks bids for money from the Learning Difficulties Development Fund. It recommends to the Joint Commissioning Board which projects should get money.

For more information about the last meeting use this link: Learning Difficulties Partnership meetings

For further information contact Alistair Henderson - Valuing People Development Manager alistair.henderson@bristol.gov.uk

Buying services for people with learning difficulties 2008 -2012

This plan explains how we will make sure:

• people with learning difficulties have the same choice and control in their lives as everyone else
• family carers are able to choose to provide support themselves or to use other services

Read the plan about buying services for people with learning difficulties (PDF)

The pictures on this page are from the CHANGE Picture Bank.