A vital service supporting children with learning disabilities and autism in Birmingham and Solihull is set to expand after receiving £380,000 in funding. Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSMHFT) has been awarded the funding to expand its specialist Disability Intensive Care Enhanced (DICE) service.
Funding to Boost Staffing and Reach
The fixed-term funding will enable the Trust's Children and Young People's division, Forward Thinking Birmingham, to increase staffing and widen the reach of DICE for 18 months. This expansion will ensure more young people in Birmingham who are at risk of psychiatric hospital admission receive timely, enhanced community-based intervention, preventing inappropriate admissions.
Current Challenges
At the end of 2024, more than 200 children and young people with a learning disability or autism were in hospital across England, with Birmingham recording more admissions than expected locally. The DICE service works intensively with young people, their families, and professional networks for around 12 weeks to reduce the risk of psychiatric admission, improve crisis response, and support safe discharge.
New Investment Details
The new investment will strengthen the team with additional nursing, allied professionals, peer support, and clinical support staff. This will enable DICE to work with more young people and operate more proactively with teams across the Children and Young People's Division.
Expert Comment
Louise Bull-Tyagi, Lead nurse for learning disabilities and DICE, said: "We are delighted to secure this investment, which will have a real and immediate impact for families across Birmingham. Expanding the DICE service means we can reach more children and young people at risk, providing the right support at the right time and avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions."
"This fixed-term funding will allow us to develop a stronger, multidisciplinary approach to care for young people who have a diagnosis of learning disability and/or autism. By working closely with families, schools, and community teams, we can intervene earlier, prevent crises, and improve the long-term outcomes."
Alignment with NHS Goals
The trust said the initiative supports the ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan, which highlights the need for greater investment in intensive and crisis community support for people with a learning disability, autism, or both.
