title: Community learning disability teams: the need for objective methods of prioritization and discharge planning.
abstract: As part of caseload management for community learning disability teams (CLDTs), it would appear reasonable that services would have a mechanism for prioritizing referrals and discharge planning. However, any formal mechanism in relation to these two aspects apparently is lacking within the literature. This theoretical article attempts to illustrate this evidence-base need, and demonstrate how a prioritization and/or discharge planning system would aid CLDTs. In light of the scarcity of material for the learning disability sector, information has been examined from other health domains such as mental health. The paper also presents a discussion on whether rationing of services is best done via explicit or implicit means. Issues related to setting referral criteria and the allocation of referrals are also considered. Although suggestions have been made for CLDTs, it is difficult to do so whilst the evidence base for this sector is so lacking.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Community Research, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Herts, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caffrey
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Todd
mesh_terms: D019090:Case Management; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006292:Health Priorities; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010351:Patient Discharge; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000145:classification*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D006113:United Kingdom