Integrated Care Pathways
We have developed a series of detailed and comprehensive plans that describe the assessment, care and treatment of people with Learning Disabilities who require complex interventions.
Integrated Care Pathways (ICPs) ensure service users receive the latest evidence-based care and interventions. Several of our ICPs have been adopted elsewhere and gained national and international recognition. ICPs developed by 2gether staff include:
Dementia Screening Pathway: developed in recognition of the increased risk of early dementia in people with Down’s Syndrome. It describes the multi-disciplinary screening of people over 35, diagnosis, treatment and review. It has received national recognition and been presented nationally on several occasions, including at the annual conference of the European Pathway Association.
Postural Management Pathway: people with PMLD often suffer problems with posture which can become more severe if left unmanaged. Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists have worked together to develop this pathway to improve outcomes for people with PMLD and sensory disabilities. It was published in the Association of Physiotherapists’ Working For People With Learning Disabilities publication in October 2008. It has been presented nationally, including at the
Sensory Integration Pathway: to assess how a service user interprets touch, movement, smell, taste, vision and sound. It includes a range of tools and interventions, including personalised activity schedules known as ‘sensory diets’. This ICP was presented nationally at the 2009
Occupational Therapy Pathway: to guide the stages of occupational therapy intervention.
Dysphagia Pathway: developed to ensure that we give a timely and appropriate response for service users who experience difficulty in swallowing, and to prioritise effectively referrals to speech and language therapists.
Communication Care Pathway: describes the assessments and interventions provided by the specialist speech and language therapists. This ensures that people with learning disabilities are supported in an environment which enhances communication and facilitates their well being.
Inpatient Pathway: guides staff through evidence-based best practice for the admission, assessment, treatment and discharge of people with learning disabilities in inpatient settings.
Trust staff are now developing a CLDT Pathway for community practice and future plans include the development of an ICP for the care and treatment of people with learning disabilities in the prison system.