Learning disability teams in Tameside and Glossop have moved to a new home, as part of ambitious plans to transform care.

The borough’s community-based services for adults, children and young people and the autism diagnosis service have transferred to mental health and learning disability provider Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.

They were previously provided by Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Pennine Care has provided learning disability services for many years in Bury, Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, Oldham, and Stockport. And they provided some psychological and psychiatric input into the Tameside and Glossop teams.

A spokesperson for Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust said moving all the borough’s services into Pennine Care's learning disability hub will allow relationships to be strengthened and learning to be shared.

They added that it also means that Tameside and Glossop staff, patients and carers can "be at the forefront of Pennine Care’s plans to transform care so it can continue to meet local people’s needs". 

Tracy Carr, lead nurse for the Tameside and Glossop adult community learning disability team, said: “We’re feeling really positive about being part of a specialist learning disability hub and have heard really good things about Pennine Care.

“We can learn from our new colleagues, share what works well for us and play a key role in developing future services, so local people continue to receive the high-quality care they deserve.”

Holly Pye, Pennine Care’s head of quality for learning disabilities, added: “We’re delighted to welcome the teams into our learning disability family.

“The move is part of our service transformation programme. We have lots of other exciting developments planned, which will help ensure people with a learning disability or autism can lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.”

Peter Weller, executive director of nursing and integrated governance at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care, commented: “We’d like to thank the learning disability teams for being part of our family and providing excellent services to local patients and families.

“Looking ahead, patients will benefit from a specialist learning disability hub, as well as sharing specialist knowledge and skills. All of this will be of great benefit to patients and a continuation of the excellent care they’ve received to date.”

The Tameside and Glossop learning disability teams will continue to be based at Hollingworth Clinic. People over 18 who have a learning disability, or who have / think they may have autism, can request a self-referral form by contacting the service on 0161 304 5860 or emailing pcn-tr.tgcldt@nhs.net

The team can also support parents, carers, and professionals who work with a young person with a severe learning disability and challenging behaviour. They can get in touch at the details above.