Learning disabilities

To support our residents who have a learning disability, we have a full range of support resources that can help them maintain independent, safe and active lives.  The variety of local groups and national organisations with whom we work are able to provide the right type of help and advice, that’s designed to ensure that an individual's needs can be met, and their daily lives enhanced. 

The Community Learning Disability Team

Health and Social Care staff who support adults with learning disabilities, their families, and carers. They may be able to support you if you are 18 and over, have a learning disability and live in the Royal Borough of Kingston, or have a GP in Kingston. They can be reached at: Sessions House, 17 Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6 6AF

Email: CLDT.duty@kingston.gov.uk  Telephone: 020 8547 6558

Involve

Who are Involve?

Involve Kingston is a team of experts by experience. Peer advocates who support community members with learning disabilities and autism. Involve gives advice and guidance to Council teams and other organisations to ensure people with learning disabilities are included in consultations within the borough and are given information about services in a way that is easy to understand.

What do the Involve team do?

  • Members of the team feedback the things that people have told them are important, for example in meetings at the Council, TFL, Kingston Hospital or with Healthwatch, so things can be improved for people with a learning disability.
  • Convert documents, reports, letters etc. into Easy Read. These easyread versions are produced and made available to residents by email and shared on the Kingston Council website.
  • Host 'Friends Chats' for community members to come together and discuss different topics. Allowing a safe and non-judgmental space for residents to share their stories, reduce isolation, and build a sense of community.

Download our About Involve Easy Read for more information.

If you would like to contact us, you can email: involve@kingston.gov.uk 

You can now find us on Twitter: @kingstoninvolv1

Health

Mental wellbeing

  • Kingston MIND - they make sure that everyone with a mental health issue gets the help they need.
  • The Kingston Wellbeing Service helps people in Kingston aged 18 years and over with drug and alcohol problems as well as ‘talking therapies’ for those who are worried and depressed.  

Easy read information

Friendship & relationships

Things to do - Meet old friends, make new ones:   

  • Look on Connected Kingston for fun things to do. There is also a list of online activities here. 
  • Day centres: Home Farm Trust/ Enhanceable/ Avenues/ Eco-op - Contact them to find out what support they offer at this time.
  • Kingston Mencap runs a lot of online activities. Contact Michelle Kitsch  to find out more.
  • Tag - a youth club for disabled young people with a disability to meet up with their friends, take part in fun activities and learn social and life skills.
  • Local Offer website up to age 25 - information on local services and support available for families including children and young people aged 0 - 25 years with special educational needs or disabilities.

Get involved - Have a say - Join in 

Help with speaking up

  • Cambridge House - if you have problems with benefit claims, housing and support issues
  • Powher  - if you are not happy with the NHS
  • Kingston Advocacy Group - helps vulnerable people have a say in decisions that affect them and how they live their lives.

Education

Volunteering

  • Volunteering Kingston - the service for Volunteers and Active Citizens within the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames.
  • Eco-op - a charity project who promote physical and mental well-being through learning and activities. Offer pathways into college and other local community activities for vulnerable adults.

Help to find a job

  • Working Well Trust - Working Well Trust can help you find a job. They will also help you with your CV, work experience or volunteering.
  • Job centre - information on finding a job if you have a disability - how to contact the Job centre. Work Coaches help people with a disability look for work.  
  • Getting ready for work for young people - for young people up to 25 years old.
  • Way to work - offers apprenticeship vacancies and full-time jobs for young people aged 16-24 with local employers. 

Money

Housing

Transport

  • Blue badge - how to apply for one and how to use them
  • Disabled parking bay - apply online for a disabled person’s parking bay
  • Freedom pass - gives free travel across London and free local bus journeys nationally
  • Travel mentoring - learn to use public transport with training from Transport For London.

Accessible places

Safeguarding

  • Disability awareness card - issued to young people with disabilities or parents and carers of children and young people with disabilities. 
  • Reporting a hate crime 
  • Safeguarding Concern Form - fill in this Form if you do not feel safe. You may need someone to help you do this.
  • Staying safe on social media and online

Are you being hurt or upset?

Tell someone you trust. Do it straight away. You can phone the Care Management team on 020 8547 6558 or phone 999 if it's an emergency.

If you would like to learn more about how to keep safe when out and about, we run a group to learn about personal safety. Please contact The Community Learning Disability Team.

Safe Places

A Safe Place is a place to go - such as a shop or a venue - where there are people who will help people with learning disabilities if they ever feel unsafe or need some help in the community. The Safe Place logo can be seen in shop windows in and around Kingston and you need a Safe Place card to sign up to be part of the Scheme. If you are out in the community and you are:

  • bullied
  • picked on
  • hit
  • made to feel unsafe or scared

Go to a place where you see the Safe Place sign.

Safe Place logo

Places that display the Safe Place sign have staff who can support you to get help. Make sure you carry your Safe Place card to help them to help you.

Safe Place Card

Further Information

  • All Age Learning Disability Plan - Easy read version - making life better for people with learning disabilities and their families.
  • Connected Kingston - information on support available in Kingston 
  • Calendar of online activities - chat and social activities to join-in 
  • Achieving for Children - The Royal Borough of Kingston is working with Achieving for Children, NHS South West London CCG and others to improve the lives of children, young people and adults with learning disabilities.  
  • Local Offer website - Information about support for children and young people with learning disabilities. 
  • Your Healthcare - for community healthcare services and specialist help and support.        Hollyfield House, 22 Hollyfield Road, Surbiton KT5 9AL  Tel: 020 8339 8000
  • Connect clinic at the Wolverton Centre - provides social health and relationship support and advice to help people with learning disabilities, autism and Aspergers. 

Last Modified: 09/01/2024 08:46:39

Contact the Community Learning Disability Team

Address: Sessions House
17 Ewell Road
Surbiton
KT6 6AF

Telephone: 020 8547 6558