Resources to help you make a sustainable difference to the quality and consistency with which safe and therapeutic services for people with learning disabilities, autism or both, are delivered.
Month: March 2018
Improving care for people with diabetes and a learning disability
People with a learning disability are more likely to have Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes than the general population. We also know that:
- People with a learning disability are more likely to be obese than the general population.
- People with a learning disability have lower levels of physical activity
- Higher rates of obesity and lower levels of physical activity increase the risk of diabetes.
Under the Equality Act 2010 service providers are required to make reasonable adjustments to address the additional needs of people with a learning disability. Even so, people with a learning disability often face barriers in accessing and using health services.
A collaborative team funded by The Health Foundation and the University of Leeds has created a set of evidence-informed, practical resources that can help overcome some of these barriers. The new resources help commissioners and health practitioners to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to the care they provide to people with diabetes breaking down barriers for people with a learning disability.
You can find the resources on Diabetes UK’s shared practice page, www.diabetes.org.uk/learning-disability
Let the team know what you think of the resources on twitter using #RA2Diabetes
If you would like further information on the resources, please contact the team at: medrema@leeds.ac.uk.
Network Autism: Autism and mental health
Ella Tabb, a blogger, YouTuber and autism speaker, discusses her mental health difficulties prior to her autism diagnoses in her 30s. She explores how unmasking and strategies such as mindfulness have helped to improve her mental health.
HEE Intellectual Disabilities Programme working across London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex- Offer of Support
Dear Colleague
I hope that this email finds you well.
Some of you will be aware (and even attended) that the Intellectual Disabilities (ID) programme working across London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex (LKSS) has worked with BILD to facilitate some consultation events for the Greater London Learning Disability Practitioner Community.
The full evaluation report from these events are available now (Click on the image or here to download) and the easy read summary will be made available in the communing weeks.
As part of our offer to the system we have been able to allocate funds for stakeholders across LKSS to undertake pilot workforce education and training projects. We are looking for innovative work that organisations have identified a need for and are willing to undertake with the caveat that all learning and resources produced as a result of the projects will be freely shared. We would particularly welcome pilot project proposals that look at children and young people and / or autism as we know that, as a programme, there is more work to do concerning these groups of people. However, we also welcome proposals that look at how the workforce can improve the quality of life for any other groups of people with a learning disability.
If you would like to approach us for funding please download and complete the “request for support form” (click here to download the form).
Please ensure that the completed form plus any attachments is returned to me via email by Tuesday 3rd April.
Please feel free to pass this post onto other colleagues and organisations within the region as appropriate and apologies for any cross-posting.
If you have any queries, do come back to me.
Best wishes
Rhona Westrip
Programme Manager Intellectual Disabilities working across London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Health Education England working across Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Stewart House | 4th Floor | 32 Russell Square | Bloomsbury | London | WC1B 5DN
Email: rhona.westrip@hee.nhs.uk
Twitter: @HEE_LKSSID
Better health for people with learning disabilities
This guidance has been commissioned by NHS England, and is designed to support social care providers who want to improve the health and therefore the lives of the people they support. The guidance has been developed by National Development Team for Inclusion with the support of VODG and many of its members.