Learning Disabilities

Quote / Testimonial:
A learning disability affects the way a person learns new things throughout their life. A learning disability is different for everyone. No two people are the same. Staff at The Old Church Surgery are here to offer help and guidance whilst also ensuring that you receive medical support, if needed. The following information contains some useful tools and resources for both patients and caregivers.

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make sure we communicate with you in a way that is clear, comfortable, and suited to your needs. If you have any communication needs-such as requiring information in large print, using hearing aids, needing extra time to understand information, or using communication aids-please let us know.

If this applies to you, we kindly ask that you complete a form, with one of our friendly reception team or a caregiver, if needed.  This will help us understand how best to support you and make any necessary adjustments to ensure you receive the care and information you need in the most effective way.

Please speak to reception if you think this will be helpful.

About Reasonable Adjustments

Useful Easy-Read Documents

Annual GP Healthcheck

CLDT Annual Health Check Leaflet

Waltham Forest Community Learning Disability Team

Your G.P Annual Health Check

Health Passport

My_health_passport WFDownload

How your pharmacist can help you

PharmacistDownload

Using NHS 111

Using NHS 111Download

What to do if you are poorly or worried

what-to-do-if-you-are-poorlyDownload

Your information matters to the NHS

NHS how data is usedDownload

Financial Benefits Available

This list provides an overview of financial benefits available to individuals with a learning disability as well as their families and caregivers. Navigating the financial support system can be challenging, but understanding what assistance is available can make a significant difference in managing daily living costs, accessing essential services, and planning for the future.

The benefits outlined here are designed to help reduce financial pressure, promote independence, and ensure that all individuals receive the support they are entitled to.

Designed for individuals aged 16 to 64 with long-term health conditions or disabilities, PIP assists with extra costs associated with daily living and mobility needs. Eligibility and application details are available on the GOV.UK website: www.gov.uk/pip.
Provides financial support for children under 16 with care or mobility needs due to a disability. More information can be found at: www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children.
Offers financial assistance to individuals unable to work due to illness or disability. The ESA also provides personalised support for those who can work. Details are available on the GOV.UK website: www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance.
A monthly payment to assist with living costs for those on a low income or out of work. UC includes additional support for individuals with disabilities. Comprehensive information is accessible here: www.gov.uk/universal-credit.
When individuals lack the mental capacity to manage their affairs, legal mechanisms such as deputyship and appointeeship can be established:

Deputyship
Appointed by the Court of Protection, a deputy manages property and financial affairs on behalf of someone who cannot do so themselves. This includes handling savings, pensions, income, and assets. More information: https://www.gov.uk/become-deputy.

Appointeeship
For individuals with limited assets, an appointee manages benefit claims, pays bills, and oversees a limited amount of savings. This role is assigned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Learn more: www.gov.uk/become-appointee-for-someone-claiming-benefits.

The London Borough of Waltham Forest provides detailed guidance on these roles here: www.walthamforest.gov.uk.
Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT)
Offers comprehensive support to adults with learning disabilities in Waltham Forest. Contact them at 0208 928 8300 or via email at LDduty@walthamforest.gov.uk. Further details: www.nelft.nhs.uk/services-walthamforest-cldt.

Age UK Waltham Forest
Provides free, confidential information and advice for older individuals, their families, and carers. They assist with benefit applications and other support services. Contact them at 0208 558 3404 or email contact@ageukwalthamforest.org.uk. More information: www.ageuk.org.uk/walthamforest.

Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest
Offers welfare rights support, including assistance with benefit claims and appeals for individuals experiencing mental health conditions. Mind in the City can be reached through their website: www.mindchwf.org.uk.

The Sunflower Lanyard Initiative

Some disabilities, conditions or chronic illnesses are not immediately obvious to others. For some people, this can make it hard to understand and believe that someone, with a “non-visible” condition genuinely needs support. Some people question whether you have a disability because you don’t look ‘like you have a disability”.

That is why the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower has been created – to encourage inclusivity, acceptance and understanding.

People living with invisible disabilities often face barriers in their daily lives. Wearing the sunflower lanyard is a way to discreetly make others aware that a little help or consideration would be appreciated.
There are many ways in which wearing a sunflower lanyard can help. For example, someone with Irritable Bowel or Bladder Syndrome may require an aisle seat at the cinema or on a plane. It’s hoped that by wearing the lanyard it will be easier for someone to ask for help. Ideally, it also means that the wearer will be asked if they need help by someone who can support them (e.g. a shop assistant).

People who wear the lanyard can also choose to give additional information if they don’t feel comfortable talking to people about their disability. Wearers can attach an ID card to the end of their lanyard with details about their condition and the support they may need.
Sunflower lanyards can be purchased online from the Hidden Sunflower Store
(https://hdsunflower.com/uk/shop.html) where they can be bought for £1 plus the cost of postage. There are also many places you can get a lanyard for free. These include Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Argos, and most UK airports. Some universities offer them to students free of charge.

Information taken from Hidden Sunflower and Motability Scheme websites

Joining the OCS Patient Participation Group

Would you like to give your views? Please join a patient group!

Click here for more information

Useful links

This list of useful links has been carefully compiled to support individuals with learning disabilities, as well as their families and caregivers. Whether you’re looking for educational tools, community support, or expert advice, this collection is designed to help you find trusted information and helpful resources in one convenient place.

Support within Waltham Forest

Local Offer: Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)

This platform provides detailed information about the services and support available for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those with learning disabilities, from birth to 25 years of age. It covers a wide range of areas, such as education, health, social care, and leisure activities.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

For children, young people, parents and carers within the Waltham Forest area.

Waltham Forest SEND service

Waltham Forest Parent Forum

Waltham Forest Parent Forum is a friendly, voluntary group of parent/carers of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities aged 0-25 in Waltham Forest.

Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT) – Waltham Forest

The team supports individuals 18 years and over with learning disabilities to enhance their independence, health, and well-being. They offer services such as assessments and tailored support from a multidisciplinary team, including psychiatrists, psychologists, and occupational therapists. The team works with individuals in their homes, day centres, or other community settings.

Telephone: 020 8928 8300
Email: wf.cldthealth@nelft.nhs.uk

Waltham Forest Parent Forum

Waltham Forest Parent Forum is a friendly, voluntary group of parent/carers of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities aged 0-25 in Waltham Forest.

Intensive Support Team

The service provides intensive support for those with more complex needs, offers (through consultancy, preventative and proactive working), rapid and intensive support and ensures, as far as is reasonably practicable, that a user of service remains in their own home or environment.

Other Useful Resources

Mencap

Patients can click on health and advice & there are lots of easy read guides.

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

Some disabilities, conditions or chronic illnesses are not immediately obvious to others. For some people, this can make it hard to understand and believe that someone, with a “non-visible” condition genuinely needs support. Some people question whether you have a disability because you don’t look ‘like you have a disability”.

That is why the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower has been created – to encourage inclusivity, acceptance and understanding.

Easy Health

An online library of accessible health information with simple words, clear pictures and films.

Global Development Delay

The term ‘developmental delay’ or ‘global developmental delay’ is used when a child takes longer to reach certain development milestones than other children their age.

This might include learning to walk or talk, movement skills, learning new things and interacting with others socially and emotionally.