Disability service staff/provider

The SA Intellectual Disability Health Service (SAIDHS) offers specialised medical and mental health clinical services to people with intellectual disability and complex needs. While a GP is the best person to see first if someone has concerns about their health, sometimes people with intellectual disability may need specialist health services.

Specialised medical (General Practitioner, Rehabilitation and Neurology Physicians) and mental health (Psychiatrist) clinical services are available to provide comprehensive assessment and planning to support ongoing care in the community by existing services, such as GPs and Allied Health professionals.

Plans are developed with the person with intellectual disability and, where relevant, their families, service providers and carers. The SAIDHS recognises that disability service staff/providers play an important role in supporting people with intellectual disability.

When a person with intellectual disability is referred to our service (usually from a GP), we complete an intake assessment over the phone to gain a better understanding of how we can help and who is involved in the person’s care.

If a disability service provider is supporting a person with intellectual disability to attend an appointment at SAIDHS, we encourage someone who knows the person well to attend the appointment with them.

A detailed clinical plan and recommendations are provided to the referring service (usually the GP) on discharge. People can be re-referred to SAIDHS if their health needs change.

Referrals to SAIDHS are best made by a person’s GP. If you provide services for someone with intellectual disability who does not have a GP, you can call us on (08) 8257 7300 and we can let you know how we can help.

SAIDHS eligibility criteria

People who can access SAIDHS medical and mental health services are adults with intellectual disability and/or significant developmental disability with heightened levels of complexity as a result of one or more of:

  • mental illness or suspected mental illness
  • autism spectrum disorder
  • severe or profound communication issues
  • complex behavioural issues
  • other disabilities or health conditions
  • other complexities or issues which have been difficult to manage in mainstream services.

The SAIDHS does not provide the following services:

  • emergency or crisis service
  • ongoing medical or psychiatric management
  • IQ assessments
  • case management
  • assessment/medication advice for ADHD in the absence of other referral criteria

More information

For more information about our service download SAIDHS information fact sheet (PDF 295KB) or visit the Disability Service Staff/Provider Resources page.