Abstract
Aims and MethodAll 208 consultant members of the Faculty for the Psychiatry of Learning Disability were contacted and asked to complete a questionnaire to provide qualitative and quantitative information about their work and experiences.ResultsOne hundred and thirty-six consultants responded, giving a 64% response rate. They reported a wide range of clinical, academic and management skills, with 72 having registration in other specialities. Insufficient in-patient provision and problems with discharge were cited by 85% of respondents. There was a wide disparity in the provision of mental health services for children and adolescents with learning disabilities and 12 areas reported no services from any source. Although most respondents showed satisfaction with clinical work and professional relationships, there were many concerns about management, commissioning and planning of services.Clinical ImplicationsConsultant psychiatrists in the field of learning disability are a broadly skilled group of clinicians with a wide range of responsibilities and areas of expertise, but many are working in services that they see as under-resourced and poorly managed, planned and commissioned. Overall levels of satisfaction are good, particularly in relation to clinical work, peer support and study/academic work.
Highlights
There was a wide disparity in the provision of mental health services for children and adolescents with learning disabilities and 12 areas reported no services from any source
The large proportion of respondents registered in other specialities, with or without registration in learning disability psychiatry, may reflect the interesting range of skills required in this speciality
This is shown in the many areas of work undertaken in addition to routine psychiatric work and the associated areas of clinical expertise including Asperger syndrome, epilepsy, acquired brain injury and the low or borderline normal IQ range
Summary
One hundred and thirty-six consultants responded, giving a 64% response rate. They reported a wide range of clinical, academic and management skills, with 72 having registration in other specialities. A recent postal survey (Alexander et al, 2002), which asked a sample of 67 consultants to rate 10 potential roles on a scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree, showed that while all were clearly in agreement with their role in the assessment and treatment of mental illness, there was a greater range of response in relation to the other roles including behaviour problems, epilepsy, autism and forensic work. With such a range of potential roles, this field is challenging (Middleton & Courtney, 2000). 33% were satisfied with the current management changes within their trusts, but 67% were satisfied overall with their jobs
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