The National Institute for Health and Centre Excellence (NICE) is calling for specialist care in the community for people with learning disabilities who have behaviour that challenges, to avoid admissions to psychiatric wards or residential homes.

NICE wants local authorities and NHS bodies to provide specialist care in the community so those needing treatment need not be away from home. They should only be admitted as a last resort, and after all other options have been considered, and if this is the case, need to be as close as possible to their home.

Estimates suggest that between 10-17% of the 1.2 million people with a learning disability in England have behaviour that challenges.

Jonathan Senker who chairs the guideline committee, said: “Our draft guideline recognises that some people with learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges are not receiving the care they deserve. Good, specialist support in the community is often lacking and this can make life for people and their families extremely difficult.

“They can find themselves in a crisis and admitted to hospital as an inpatient. We want services to provide better support in the community to break this disruptive pattern of care.”

The draft guidance recommends that a specialist-lead commissioner is appointed by local authorities to make sure that the right support is available for people and their families, for example, providing an out-of-hours helpline to use during a crisis.

The recommendations are out for consultation until November 20. Stakeholders and members of the public are invited to comment. You can comment here.