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Adult Learning Disability Inpatient Service Suffolk

  • Our Adult Learning Disability Inpatient Service Suffolk is based at Walker Close. We offer an inpatient assessment and treatment for adults with a learning disability.

  • Service Manager Lead: Kathryn Barrow
  • Service Contact: Call us on 01473 237002
  • Address:
    3 and 4 Walker Close, Ipswich, IP3 8LY
  • Service hours: Our service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What this service offers

Conditions we treat on this ward: 

  • Management of challenging behaviour 

  • Management of acute and chronic mental health conditions

Access this service

Many people with a learning disability and/or autism should be able to access ‘mainstream’ mental health services, with reasonable adjustments being made as necessary. In accordance with the provisions of the Equality Act 2010, people with a learning disability and/or autism who need to be admitted to hospital should be assessed and treated in mainstream services wherever this is reasonably practicable. This is most likely to be the case for people with a mild-moderate learning disability and/or autism who have a mental health problem.

This specification is for services catering to those for whom reasonably adjusted mainstream services would be an inappropriate environment, and who therefore require care specifically designed for people with a learning disability and/or autism.

The aim of the Inpatient Facility service is to provide the following three core functions of support:

  • Assessment (including for potential mental illness) of the causes of challenging behaviour, where it cannot be safely carried out in the community
  • Treatment of mental illness where this is the cause of challenging behaviour (complemented by other interventions as appropriate), where it cannot be safely carried out in the community
  • Reintegration of the individual back into the community after hospital treatment including provision of support/guidance to families and support providers

Consultant psychiatrists and care coordinators can refer an individual to the Adult Learning Disability Inpatient Service Suffolk via the Intensive Support Team. 

The referred person can expect a multidisciplinary assessment of their individual needs followed by a period of treatment to address those needs. 

Visiting and onsite facilities

On street parking is available at Walker Close free of charge. 

We provide disabled access and toilet facilities.

How this service support carers including friends and family

The Walker Close team allows visiting on the unit during specified times. The team can make referrals for a carer assessment. 

We encourage carer involvement with care and treatment, and provide appointments for carers to discuss care and treatment if appropriate and if the patient is happy to consent. 

Urgent help

If you are a service user and are in crisis and need support urgently you can contact your service on the number which will have been provided.  

Call 111 and select the mental health option to speak to our 24 hour mental health crisis line.

If you are with someone who has attempted suicide, call 999 and stay with them until the ambulance arrives. 

If anyone is at serious risk of harm, call 999 and ask for the police. 

For non-life threatening medical situations, call NHS111 on 111.  

For more information, see Help in a Crisis

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