This is the latest in a series of talks arranged by the ACAMH Learning Disability Special Interest Group (LASER SIG). It is dedicated to sharing of specialist knowledge, skills and updates on relevant research and service development.

Presentation

‘Ealing Intensive Therapeutic and Short Break Service – preventing residential care for children with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour over the last ten years’​

Dr Catherine Sholl, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Team Manager, Ealing CAMHS-Learning Disabilities Team​
Dr Heather Dilks-Hopper, Clinical Psychologist
Dan Brennan, Assistant Psychologist

The Ealing ITSBS has been running since 2008, aiming to prevent unnecessary residential care (and more recently ATU admission) for children/young people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour/mental health difficulties.

Ealing ITSBS has been recently mentioned as an example of good practice in the Transforming Care agenda good practice examples, the Lenehan Review into Residential Special Schools, NHS Ten year plan, and the recent Children’s Commissioner for England report ‘Far less than they deserve. Children with learning disabilities or autism living in mental health hospitals’.

We will present the ITSBS model and describe our work, challenges and outcomes over the last ten years, and our hopes for future work, illustrated by case examples.