Introduction
The following information describes the way that the Joint Learning Disability Service operates in
the West Dunbartonshire Areas. These consist of Health and Social Work Services working in
Partnership to provide a coherent, comprehensive service to adults with learning disabilities within the area.
Specific staff posts are outlined and individuals can be contacted through the main number, quoted below.
More detailed information is provided on Day Services and Housing Support.
You can contact us on the following telephone no 0141 562 2333.
Click on any of the links below to see a short description and telephone number.
Dietitian
Disability Development Worker
Employment Development Worker
ILF Development Worker
Information Worker
Local Area Coordinators (LACs)
Learning Disability Nurse
Support Worker
Occupational Therapist
Physiotherapist/Physiotherapy Technical Instructor
Psychatrist
Psychologist
Respite Resource Worker
RNIB - Project Co-ordinator
Social Worker/Care Manager
Speech and Language Therapist
Total Communication Support Worker
Training and Work Force Development Officer
Welfare Rights Officer
Dietitian
The dietitian provides advice on diet to ensure well being and treatment of diet related medical conditions.
This is done on an individual basis or via the delivery of training on aspects of nutrition to care providers.
Pictorial information is being developed to help individuals make informed choices about the foods they eat.
Tel: 0141 562 2325
Disability Development Worker
The Disability Development Worker provides information and support on Direct Payments to clients,
care managers and staff. The Disability Development Worker maintains an ongoing Direct Payments training
programme and works closely with the West Dunbartonshire Independent Living Support Service.
Tel: 0141 562 2327
Employment Development Worker
The role of the Employment Development Worker is to develop and secure employment opportunities for
people with learning disabilities. The Employment Development Worker will offer people the support and
information to access routes into paid employment. The employment team offer vocational profiling, job
development, job analysis, benefits advice, job training and support in the workplace.
Tel: 0141 562 2455
ILF Development Worker
The ILF Development Worker provides support to care managers to enable them to ensure that ILF is
considered for all appropriate packages of support. The ILF Development Worker will also provide help
and assistance to potential recipients on the availability and use of ILF funding and guide them through
the application process.
Tel: 0141 562 2322
Information Worker
The role of the Information Worker is to develop and manage an information database for adults with
learning disabilities. This involves working in partnership with services users, carers and service providers
in the local authority area to gather key information and to make this information available to service users
and carers.
Tel: 0141 562 2330
Local Area Co-ordinators (LACs)
The LACs promote the inclusion of people with learning disabilities in all aspects of community life by
developing and co-ordinating relevant supports and providing information and advocacy. They are based
in local communities and will build relationships with individuals with a learning disability and their families and
carers over time, helping individuals to achieve their goals.
Tel: 0141 562 2476
Learning Disabilty Nurse
The role of the learning disability nurse is wide ranging. He or she will work with people with learning disabilities,
their families and carers to identify health needs, and develop plans to meet those needs. The nurse will then
support the individual to access appropriate health care services. The nurse will also support and advise health
professionals in providing that care.
Tel: 0141 562 2415/2325
Support Worker
The role of the Support Worker within learning disability is a varied one. It may include support for both service
users and their families with health appointments, various aspects of personal development and support to
maintain an independent lifestyle.
Tel: 0141 562 2320
Occupational Therapist
The Occupational Therapist aims to enable people to develop and maintain the functional skills which are important to them in their daily lives. The Occupational Therapist uses meaningful occupation to promote well being, by helping people to achieve balance in self-care, daily living, work and leisure.
Tel: 0141 562 2416
Physiotherapist/Physiotherapy Technical Instructor
The Physiotherapy team will help people reach their full potential, irrespective of their physical or learning ability. This may involve improving physical function, the quality of tactile/sensory experiences, increasing personal mobility and independence or having access to exercise and local leisure/ sports facilities.
Tel: 0141 562 2478
Psychiatrist
The duties the Psychiatrist includes the assessment and treatment of mental illness, taking into account the patient's general health and environmental factors. The psychiatrist works closely with other members of the LD Team and with Primary Care staff. Requests are made from time to time for Reports under the Adults with Incapacity Act.
Tel: 0141 562 2360
Psychologist
Clinical psychologists provide an assessment and intervention service for people with learning disabilities experiencing a wide range of issues; from mental health problems such as depression to challenging behaviour or relationship difficulties. Interventions vary from individual therapeutic work to working with families, carers and organisations.
Tel: 0141 562 2478
Respite Resource Worker
The Respite Resource Worker supports service users and carers who use residential respite services. This includes arranging respite bookings, providing information to carers and service users, reviews and the processing of new referrals.
Tel: 0141 562 2326
RNIB - Project Co-ordinator
The Realise Project was established to highlight the incidence of sight loss among people with a learning disability. They support people to access visual assessments which are appropriate to support their needs. Advice can be given to support service users who have visual difficulties.
Tel: 0141 952 8030
Social Worker/Care Manager
A Social Worker/Care Manager will complete an initial assessment of the service user and identify a care package which best suits their needs. With the service user’s permission, liaison will be established with other professionals. When the care package is in place, this will be monitored to ensure that the service user is supported and needs met.
Tel: 0141 562 2326/2321/2476/2328
Speech & Language Therapist
Using an Inclusive Communication approach, the Speech & Language Therapist provides communication training and support for families, carers, health staff & social care staff. Individual assessment, treatment and on-going support is available as required for communication and/or eating & drinking difficulties.
Tel: 0141 562 2324
Total Communication Support Worker
The Total Communication Support Worker assists the Speech and Language Therapist in implementing an inclusive communication service. She produces user-friendly material, using plain text, photographs, pictures and symbols to make information meaningful to adults with learning disability.
Tel: 0141 562 2324
Training and Work Force Development Officer
The role of the Training and Work Force Development Officer is to lead, coordinate and develop the training schedule/programme to meet the training needs of LDS staff within West Dunbartonshire Council. This will be led by statutory and legislative requirements and the personal development of each staff member.
Tel: 0141 562 2321
Welfare Rights Officer
The role of the Welfare Rights officer is to support staff in the Learning Disability Services team in matters of welfare rights and maximise the benefits of Service Users and Carers. To raise awareness of welfare rights in the team and encourage the take up of relevant benefits.
Tel. 0141 562 2319
