Seeking Learning Disability Nurses for Medicines optimisation research

Danielle Adams – Pharmacist and PhD Student at the University of Warwick is undertaking a Delphi study in deprescribing psychotropic medications in people with learning disabilities and is keen to recruit some learning disabilities nurses with an interest in the subject to participate. 

This will involve completing a questionnaire – taking approximately 20 minutes and helping to prioritise the themes until a consensus is found. It is envisaged that this activity will be complete by the end of November 2024. 

For more details please contact Danielle via danielle.adams@warwick.ac.uk 

Delphi Deprescribing Psychotropics Flyer October 2024

SUPPORT NEEDED: VODG is calling on the #health and #socialcare workforce to share their views on how we can reduce the reliance on psychotropic medications

The essential role of the health and care workforce in reducing reliance on psychotropic medications – ‘STOMP’ and ‘STAMP’

STOMP (Stopping Over Medication of People with a learning disability, autism or both) and STAMP (Supporting Treatment and Appropriate Medication in Paediatrics) are national projects, launched by NHS England and involving many different organisations, aiming to stop the overuse of psychotropic medicines. 

It is estimated that on an average day in England between 30,000 and 35,000 people with a learning disability, autism or both are taking prescribed psychotropic medication without appropriate clinical justification. 

This is a medication which results in alterations to perception, mood or consciousness. Long-term use of these medicines puts people at unnecessary risk of a wide range of side effects including weight gain, organ failure and even premature death.

We have launched a questionnaire to hear from colleagues across the health and care sector, including family carers, about your experiences of using STOMP and STAMP within your job roles and how awareness and understanding of STOMP and STAMP could be improved. 

Understanding the views of health and care professionals with experience in supporting people is essential to identifying opportunities and building solutions to prevent the overuse and inappropriate use of psychotropic medications.

The questionnaire is open now until Friday 16 December 2022.

This project is a collaboration between VODG, the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi)Learning Disability England (LDE) and Skills for Care and is funded by Health Education England. 

Find out more on our project page here: www.vodg.org.uk/resource/stomp-and-stamp-the-essential-role-of-the-health-and-care-workforce-in-reducing-the-reliance-on-psychotropic-medication.html   If you have questions about the survey or would prefer to talk through your views with a researcher, please email research.policy@vodg.org.uk

KSS Hearing and Audiology Research Project needs your help.

In August Marianne Day, Shanice Thomas and Siobhan Brennan from University of Manchester presented their practice and research knowledge on the issues of hearing and audiology in people with learning disabilities and autistic people at a Community online event – please see the film below:-

The team are now looking for people with learning disabilities and autistic people in Kent Surrey and Sussex to participate in their research study to expose the barriers to access to good hearing for these communities, and outline some recommendations for adjustments to practice to improve this situation.

If you know of anyone that might like to contribute please contact Marianne via email Marianne.day@manchester.ac.uk.

 

 

NIHR Children and Young People with Learning Disabilities research opportunities

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) are looking to recruit a full-time Research Fellow and Associate to work on an National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded project focussed on the organisation and delivery of hospital care and services to children and young people with and without learning disability.

This posts are available for a 36-month period for 5 days a week from 01.12.15. You will be based within the Centre for Outcomes and Experience Research in Children’s Health Illness and Disability (ORCHID), a dedicated multidisciplinary research unit in GOSH. The focus of our research is on the impact of health, illness and disability for children and young people and their families, with a particular emphasis on the translational benefits and implementation in clinical practice.

The postholder will work on an NIHR Health Services and Delivery Grant. This is a national mixed methods study aimed at identifying the barriers and facilitators to ensuring equal access to high quality hospital care and services for children and young people with learning disability and their families.

You will also be involved with other stages of the research project, including undertaking a literature review, updating the project website, data analysis, facilitating stakeholder workshops and writing up the findings for dissemination.

For more details of the positions, check the links below:-

For further information on this exciting opportunity, please contact Dr Kate Oulton on kate.oulton@gosh.nhs.uk or 0207 829 7822

Let’s Talk about Health Research event 9th September

An open invitation from Amanda Bates, Public Engagement Officer ‘‘Are you interested in health and health services? Would you like to know more about research in health and social care?

Then why not come to our ‘Let’s talk about Health Research!’ event, hosted by the Centre for Health Services Studies (CHSS).

chssletstalk flyer

Just pop into the Westgate Hall, Canterbury on Wednesday 9th September anytime between 11.30am and 2.00pm to meet health researchers, enjoy talks, activities and films, and to find out if you would like to be involved in the research that we do at CHSS. It will be an informal opportunity to talk with others who are interested in health research and to learn about what’s happening on your doorstep’’.

To register your interest, or if you have any questions, e-mail engage-chss@kent.ac.uk or phone 01227 823940. For those that like to Tweet, please follow @chss_kent and search for hashtag #chssletstalk