Professional composition of community learning disability teams in Scotland: implications for service provision

A survey of all trusts in Scotland who provided specialist services to people with learning disabilities was made with a response rate of 100%. An examination was made of the professional composition of the community learning disability teams and the population covered. A disparity was found across Scottish trusts in the professions represented in the community learning disability teams with some professions having no input. Nursing and Clinical Psychology were found to be the two professional groups with largest representation across Scotland and along with Speech and Language Therapy had representation in all of the Teams. A review of some of the factors which have impacted on the role and professional composition of these services is made and the implications discussed.