Advance planning and psychiatric inpatient admission
Scenario
Joanne has a moderate learning disability and has experienced 2 psychotic episodes. The second time she was admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit. Joanne was recently discharged, but she and her family are worried that this might happen again and they don’t know what to do.
Action
Joanne’s social worker refers to guidance on mental health problems in people with learning disabilities and transition between inpatient mental health settings and community in a request to colleagues in learning disability and psychiatric teams to meet with Joanne and her family. The purpose of the meeting would be to create a crisis plan, which would include advance decisions about treatment and support and potential triggers or indicators of crisis.
Further guidance
The guidance includes advice on developing a mental health care plan for people with a learning disability, crisis planning, and involving and supporting family and carers.