services

Last reviewed 01/2021

These vary from area to area in the UK. Department of Health policy is towards community care and the minimisation of long-stay hospital care.

Different services that may be available include:

• preventative and assessment facilities: paediatric screening, well baby clinics, Health Visitors
• day care for pre-school children: day nurseries, playgroups, nursery schools
• education (2-19): special units in normal schools, special schools, residential schools with special behaviour modification units, hospital schools
• training for adults: there is a need for continuing education especially in self-help skills, social skills and sex education
• occupational therapy: services include sheltered employment, sheltered workshops and adult training centres
• residential provision: there needs to be flexible provision of short term/long term care, hostels, childrens homes, fostering
• hospital facilities:
• modification programmes for severe behaviour disorders
• review of drug treatments
• care of high dependency and multiply handicapped patients
• small units within local hospitals are preferred to large institutions