Frequently Asked Questions
The Manchester Learning Disability Service website has a frequently asked questions section. The information provided on the website is meant to answer some common questions and make it easier for you know about the learning disability service
Visit the links below to access the answers to these frequently asked questions.
What is a learning disability? How do I get a service? How much does it cost? Who do we provide a service to? Individual budgets
How to get a service?
For information on how to get a service phone the Contact Centre for Adult Social Care
Tel. 0161 255 8250
- You can also use the web referral form
- The Contact Service provides a SMS text message service for enquiries, concerns or for help and advice. Text them on 07717 989479.
First and foremost, people with a learning disabilities are people. They are unique individuals with their own likes and dislikes, history's and opinions, and have the same rights as anyone else.
About 1.5 million people in the UK experience some degree of learning disability.A learning disability affects the way someone learns, communicates or does some everyday things. Someone has a learning disability all through their life.
Some people are more disabled than others.
Some people do not need a lot of support in their lives. But other people may need support with all sorts of things, like getting dressed, going shopping, or filling out forms. The amount of help a person needs can also vary from time to time.
Some people also have a physical disability or other problems, for example with their mental health or with seeing or hearing.
Learning disability need not stop someone from learning and achieving a lot in life, if they get the right support.
How much does it cost?
There is no charge for those services we provide as part of the national Health Service. Nor is there a charge for advice and information from social workers.
People are expected to make a contribution to social care services that they have been assessed as needing and which the council funds. The amount will depend on the level of service received and the money that you have - both savings and money coming in, for example from welfare benefits. As part of the assessment process a financial assessment is carried out. However nobody will be denied a service that they are assessed as needing. See the city council's page about charges.
Who do we provide a service to?
We provide a service to adults (over 18) who are significantly learning disabled.
Care services funded by the city council are available to those with substantial or critical needs as defined by the City Council's Fair Access to Care Services criteria, although advice and information are available to all learning disabled people.
The Adult Social Care Department has a 'no gaps' commitment, so nobody should have to wait while different teams decide who is responsible for assessing need and arranging services.This means that MLDP will sometimes do work (assessment and arranging care) for people who turn out not to be learning disabled. As part of this 'no gaps' approach we also have responsibility for assessing the care needs of people with autism who are not learning disabled (known as Apserger's syndrome).
We arrange social care and support through Individual Budgets (which in Manchester have replaced Direct payments). This gives you the option of receiving money in order to arrange a service yourself. Some people appreciate the flexibility and control that this brings. Many people prefer that the council makes these arrangements and we continue to do this where they prefer this. In all casees we allocate the money that pays for the service based on the person's needs. Find out more about the Council's Individual Budget Scheme on their web page.
