Learning difficulties

New Directions, the joint learning difficulty team, works with people who have a learning difficulty and their carers, to achieve a better future.

Co-ordinating services and you

The government has set out how it wants to see services help people with learning difficulties to be citizens, in a document called “Valuing People”. A copy of Valuing People Now is available at the bottom of this page.

Many people with learning difficulties rely on services to support them in their daily life. Often there may be more than one service. Valuing People says it is very important that all the organisations working to support people with learning difficulties should work together in the best way.

New Directions co-ordinators

New Directions co-ordinators make organisations work together and arrange or sort out services for people who have no one to do this for them.

Helping to get services

The New Directions co-ordinator is often involved when you need help to get services to support you. They can get hold of services and may be able to arrange to pay for them.

The New Directions co-ordinator will be involved if you are having a crisis or there are lots of big changes in your life.

Organising services

The New Directions co-ordinator will help organise the services that you need to support you. They will usually do this using a support plan. Once things are settled, then New Directions co-ordinator will pass on the co-ordinating role to a worker from one of the services supporting you.

We call this person the service link co-ordinator. They will be a person from the main service providing your support in line with your support plan. This could be your keyworker in day services or someone who supports you at home. You will know the name of your co-ordinator.

What does the co-ordinator do?

This person will help make changes to the support plan and make sure it is reviewed (checked out) at least once a year.

They will know the names of all the important people from other services who are involved in your support.  They will co-ordinate information for the support plan and will know where things are up to.

If there are big changes or there is a problem your service link co-ordinator will contact New Directions for help.

How do we work?

New Directions co-ordinators are organised into four areas and your co-ordinator will be from the team that covers your neighbourhood.

The North Team works with you if you live in Walkden, Little Hulton and Worsley or if you live in Swinton and Pendlebury. These are blue and yellow on the map.

The South Team works with you if you live in Eccles, Irlam and Cadishead or if you live in Claremont, Weaste, Broughton, Pendleton, Langworthy and Ordsall. These are black and green on the map.

Valuing people

The new strategy sets out the government's strategy for people with learning disabilities for the next three years following consultation. It also responds to the main recommendations in Healthcare for All, the independent inquiry into access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities.

Who to contact

Name

Dave Clemmett

Address

Crompton House
100 Chorley Road
Swinton
Salford
M27 6BP
Map to this location

Telephone

0161 793 2460

Email

social.services@salford.gov.uk

This page was last updated on 21 December 2009