This guidance will support integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission acute mental health inpatient services for adults with a learning disability and autistic adults. It is national guidance for ICBs to follow as they commission for their populations and sets out minimum standards and expectations to consider when commissioning high quality inpatient care.

People with a learning disability and autistic people should not be admitted to a mental health hospital unless there is a suspected or identified mental health need requiring inpatient care and support. The draft mental health bill seeks to limit the grounds upon which people with a learning disability and autistic people can be detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act.