I am involved in setting up the LeDeR programme in the South region and am pleased to say we have Local Area Contacts now identified in most CCGs across the South East. Over the coming months we (working with colleagues from the University of Bristol) aim to establish training for the CCG Local Area Contacts and also for LeDeR reviewers.

Please find attached some details of the LeDeR Reviewer role – it is aimed at professionals working in Health and Social Care (NHS Grade 6 or equivalent) which I would be grateful if you could share across your network. Anyone interested in attending should contact Paul Cavil paul.cavill@nhs.net to make a provisional booking and to receive confirmation of training in due course.

The proposed dates for Reviewer training are:

Kent & Medway – venues tbc
Tues 11th July – Reviewer 10am-5pm
(Wed 12th July – Local Area Contact training 10am-3pm)

Surrey – venues tbc
Tues 25th July – Reviewer10am-5pm
(Wed 26th July – Local Area Contact 10am-3pm)

Sussex
Tues 8th August – Reviewer 10am-5pm Hove Town Hall
(Wed 9th August- Local Area Contact 10am-3pm Hove Town Hall)

There are other training dates across the South region and London that may also be made available, but these dates are those we will endeavour to run the training locally – once we have found appropriate venues (if you are able to help here, it would be appreciated as you know the geography/travel infrastructure).

Further information about the LeDeR programme is available on the website www.bris.ac.uk/sps/leder/

Please contact me if you have any questions about the Reviewer role or the LeDeR programme. I shall be happy to discuss it with you.

Robert Tunmore, Regional Co-ordinator – South
The Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) programme
NHS England, M: 07714777127, T: 011382 47422

Mental Health of Learning Disabilities (MHLD) Forum

(Open to ALL staff supporting people with Learning Disabilities
and Mental Health problems)

Venue: Activities Hall, Archery House (1st glass door to left of building),
Bow Arrow Lane, Dartford, Kent. DA2 6BP

No need to book – just turn up!

LD forum presentation by DGS MHLD

9.15am – 9.45am – Arrive & Registration
9.45am – 10.35am – Case presentation by Jalil Shariff (trainee psychiatrist)
10.50am – 11.30am – Role of court of protection in supporting vulnerable individuals by Richard Brabbin, Service Manager CTLD
11.30am – 12.00pm – Lifespan pathway – new CTLD alignment by Richard Brabbin, Service Manager CTLD

Andrew Walker of the Stay Up Late campaign will be Co-Chair and speaker at the Kent, Surrey and Sussex LD Community of Practice Conference in the Charis Centre, Crawley on 15 June – come along and hear him speak, join in the interesting workshops and meet lots of great people! Book your place here >

We are running the next SPELL framework training at the University of Kent, Canterbury campus on 3/4/5 July 2017.  Full details of the programme: www.kent.ac.uk/tizard/courses/short/index.html?tab=spell​

This also sets out the course content and experience needed to undertake the training. If you wish to attend this training please email Prof Julie Beadle-Brown with details of your experience or if you have any queries please do contact me – Jo Ruffels, J.Ruffels@kent.ac.uk

The social care sector is joining together to stop the over-medication of people with a learning disability or autism who use care services in England. The campaign, supported by NHS England, is today encouraging all learning disability providers to sign up to a new pledge called STOMP (or STopping the Over-Medication of People with a learning disability, autism or both).

This campaign is badly needed. Public Health England estimates that every day between 30,000-35,000 people with a learning disability are taking prescribed antipsychotic or antidepressant medication, or both, without appropriate clinical justification. This means that for some people medication is being used as a means of controlling “problem” behaviour, even when alternative evidence-based approaches are available. Long-term use of these medicines can lead to significant weight gain, organ failure and, in some cases, death.

Successfully tackling over-medication is possible when prescribers, commissioners and providers collaborate to achieve positive change. Today, all social care provider organisations supporting people with a learning disability or autism in England are invited to play their part by registering their commitment to:

• Adopting positive behavioural approaches as an alternative to medication
• Advocating for people with a learning disability or autism by ensuring that they, and their family members, are involved in decisions about their medication and that these decisions are reviewed regularly
• Working closely with prescribers

Sign the pledge, here: www.vodg.org.uk/campaigns/stompcampaign/

There will be a keynote speaker and a workshop from STOMP at our 16 June Conference.