February 2023 

Workforce update for

services that support people with a learning disability and/or autistic people

Welcome to this workforce development update for adult social care services that support people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. It shares the latest news, resources, events and funding opportunities from Skills for Care and partners.

⇨ Find previous editions of this newsletter

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News from the sector

Get involved in the development of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism

People who are interested in being involved in the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training can now express an interest using a PDF form, as well as an online form. If you would like to get involved as an expert by experience, an employer or an education provider, and you have not already completed the online EOI form, please complete one of the following:

The details you submit in these forms will be sent to Health Education England who will be arranging The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training in your region.

 

New video and guide to accessing the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training elearning

Skills for Care have partnered with Health Education England to produce an instructional video and guide to explain how social care providers can access the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training elearning for healthcare (elfh) elearning programme. 

⇨ Find the video and guide on the Skills for Care Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training webpage

 

Use ASC-WDS to keep track of your Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training records

You can now select ‘Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism’ as a training category in the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS). This is a simple way to record and track which staff have completed the training. Having this information stored in one place can save you time and help you to evidence completion of the training during inspections. 


ASC-WDS training categories include the eLearning, Tier 1 and Tier 2 elements of the training, so you can track which your staff have completed. Log in to your ASC-WDS account and navigate to the ‘Training and Qualifications’ section to add training to your account. 

⇨ Find out more, create a new ASC-WDS account or log in to an existing account

For further information about the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training, visit:

 

 

Guidance and resources from the Government, regulators and advisory bodies

CQC report, ‘Who I am matters’

At the end of last year, CQC published their report ‘Who I am matters’. This report looks at the experiences of being in hospital for people with a learning disability and autistic people. During February and March 2022, CQC visited eight hospitals in England which found that although there were pockets of good practice, people with a learning disability and autistic people are still not being given the quality of care and treatment they have a right to expect when they go to hospital. 

⇨ Read the full report

 

New guidance and webinar from SCIE

SCIE have recently updated guidance on delivering safe, face-to-face adult day care. The guide aims to support you, day care managers, social workers, commissioners, and providers, to restart or continue activities.

SCIE also delivered a useful webinar in January focused on enacting the second principle of the Mental Capacity Act for people with communication difficulties.

 

Rapid review announced into the safety of patients in mental health hospitals 

Mental health Minister Maria Caulfield announced a review into the safety of patients in mental health hospitals in a parliamentary statement on Monday 23 January 2023. It is a response to a number of reports of abuse and poor care in inpatient settings. 

The Minister said the inquiry “will focus on what data and evidence is currently available to healthcare services, including information provided by patients and families, and how we can use this data and evidence more effectively to identify patient safety risks and failures in care.”

The review will be led by former national clinical director for mental health at NHS England Dr Geraldine Strathdee, who is also chairing a parallel independent inquiry into mental health deaths in Essex over the past two decades.

 

Information about changes in how to vote

This year there are changes being made to voting rules and everyone will need to show a photo ID at polling stations. The Electoral Commission has made a resource pack for people to find out more about the changes, including easy read information.

⇨ Find the resource pack

 

 

News from the sector

Tips for providers to build relationships with families

Bringing Us Together is a parent-led organisation; a place for parent carers to come together, to share stories, feel confident and find solutions. With support from NHS England, they have produced a two-page ‘top tips’ for care and support providers about building relationships with families when supporting their loved ones.

⇨ Find the ‘top tips’ resource

 

Cancer screening research: share your experiences as a learning disability nurse 

Dr. Genevieve Breau and colleagues at the University of Greenwich are currently interviewing learning disability nurses across the UK about their experiences recommending breast, cervical and bowel cancer screening to their patients with learning disabilities.

If you participate in the study, you will need to provide consent, complete a short demographics form and participate in a 30-40 minute interview on Microsoft Teams at a convenient time. All nurses who participate are given a £20 shopping voucher.

If you are a learning disability nurse in the UK and interested in learning more about the study, please contact Genevieve at G.Breau@gre.ac.uk. 

 

An independent investigation into the care and treatment of ‘M’ 

In November 2022, NHS England London region published an independent investigation report into the care and treatment of ‘M’. ‘M’ was a young person with autism and a learning disability detained for two years under the Mental Health Act.

⇨ Read the report​​​​​​​

 

The people with profound and multiple learning disabilities group

PMLD LINK is a journal established to make a difference to the lives of children and adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). People with PMLD have profound intellectual and multiple disabilities, very severe communication problems, often extreme physical and/or sensory disabilities, and complex health needs.

PMLD LINK are also seeking contributions for the next edition of their journal which has the theme of personal care. 

⇨ Latest journal from PMLD LINK ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

Wave four of the coronavirus and learning disability research 

Researchers are still looking for people from minority ethnic groups who live in England to take part in their ‘Coronavirus and People with Learning Disabilities’ study. 

⇨ Watch a video about the research 

Take part in the study by contacting s.caton@mmu.ac.uk​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

Do you know someone who uses continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment?

Baywater Healthcare and Pathways Associates are working together to develop information for people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people about CPAP equipment.

They are looking for people who have experience of CPAP to help shape their work. You can join a focus group discussion and get paid for your time. 

⇨ Find out more about the CPAP project and how to get involved​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

Mentoring to help young people with a learning disability and young autistic people gain work experience

Project Choice is a specialist post-16 college providing a person-centred, individually tailored supported internship to young adults with a learning disability and young autistic people. Through the internship, 16-24-year-olds gain work experience in the NHS and private organisations, develop independence skills and increase their employability.
 
Project Choice is now looking for mentors across England who can help interns achieve their employment goals. Mentors will be trained, gain increased awareness of the needs of people with a learning disability and autistic people and contribute to promoting inclusivity and diversity in the workforce.
 
If you are interested in becoming a mentor, contact project.choice@hee.nhs.uk.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

Events

Oral health training for those supporting people with learning disabilities and autism

This free, one-hour online training session, from Health Education England's directorate of Multi-Professional Dental Education, will give practical advice on oral health conditions and risk factors for people who have a learning disability and autistic people.

​​​Topic areas include:

  • the importance of a good oral hygiene routine and the impact it can have on general health 
  • the reasons for oral health deterioration in people who have a learning disability and autistic people
  • toothbrushing technique, including toothbrush adaptations and the relevance of fluoride toothpaste and mouthwashes
  • the importance of regular dental examinations, costs and exemptions. 

The training will next be held on Wednesday 8 March 2023, 13:00-14:00.

A certificate for one-hour of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) will be awarded on completion of the training. 

To book your place or for further information contact oralhealthtraining.ne@hee.nhs.uk. 

 


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