Developing support and services for children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both

This document is about children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both who display behaviour that challenges, including behaviour which is attributable to a mental health condition.

It includes those with autism (including Asperger Syndrome) who do not have a learning disability, as well as those who have both a learning disability and autism. It also includes those young people with a learning disability, autism or both whose behaviour can lead to contact with the youth justice system.

Throughout this document “children and young people” are defined as aged 0-24 to align with SEND reforms. The Children and Families Act 2014 defines a ‘young person’ as being over compulsory school age but under 25.

Transforming Care Partnerships are responsible for meeting the needs of a diverse group of children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both who display, or are at risk of developing behaviour that challenges, including those with mental health conditions.
TCPs should be addressing the needs of the following groups.

1. Children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both who have or are at risk of developing a mental health condition such as anxiety, depression, or a psychotic illness, and those with personality disorders, which may result in them displaying behaviour that challenges.

2. Children or young people with an (often severe) learning disability, autism or both who display or are at risk of developing self-injurious or aggressive behaviour, not related to severe mental ill health. Some of whom will have a specific neuro-developmental syndrome and where there may be an increased likelihood of developing behaviour that challenges.

3. Children or young people with a learning disability, autism or both who display or are at risk of developing, risky behaviours which may put themselves or others at risk and which could lead to contact with the criminal justice system (this could include things like fire-setting, abusive or aggressive or sexually inappropriate behaviour).

4. Children or young people with a learning disability, autism or both, often with lower level support needs and who may not traditionally be known to health and social care services, from disadvantaged backgrounds (e.g. social disadvantage, substance misuse, troubled family backgrounds) who display or are at risk of developing, behaviour that challenges, including behaviours which may lead to contact with the criminal justice system.

This is not an exhaustive list. These groupings cannot cover the complexities of every young person, nor all the causes of certain behaviours; individuals do not ‘slot neatly’ into any single grouping. However, they demonstrate the range and complexity of the group of children and young people that the Transforming Care programme is about, and some common themes and needs that will require consideration and planning for by TCPs.

The main text of this document, structured around nine core principles, describes what good services and support look like for children and young people with a learning disability and/or autism who display behaviour that challenges. Annex C describes how things should change as a result of the service transformation described.