Supporting people with learning disabilities who identify as LGBT to express their...
The concept of intersectionality and its effect on the sexuality of service users
08 Oct 2020
Daniel Marsden
An update on informed consent and the effect on the clinical practice of those working...
In people with learning disability who have capacity under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 health professionals need to ensure that, when they are giving consent to treatment with medication, the consent is truly ‘informed’. The judgment of Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board [2015] and the Accessible Information Standard ( NHS England 2016 ) seek to clarify this position which affects learning disability nurses as well as other healthcare professionals. This article examines how the law affects the way information is provided to service users. For people without capacity ‘Best Interests’ will continue to be applied.
18 Jul 2018
The 4C framework for making reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities
Background People with learning disabilities experience significant inequalities in accessing healthcare. Legal frameworks, such as the Equality Act 2010, are intended to reduce such disparities in care, and require organisations to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for people with disabilities, including learning disabilities. However, reasonable adjustments are often not clearly defined or adequately implemented in clinical practice. Aim To examine and synthesise the challenges in caring for people with learning disabilities to develop a framework for making reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities in hospital. This framework would assist ward staff in identifying and managing the challenges of delivering person-centred, safe and effective healthcare to people with learning disabilities in this setting. Method Fourth-generation evaluation, collaborative thematic analysis, reflection and a secondary analysis were used to develop a framework for making reasonable adjustments in the hospital setting. The authors attended ward manager and matron group meetings to collect their claims, concerns and issues, then conducted a collaborative thematic analysis with the group members to identify the main themes. Findings Four main themes were identified from the ward manager and matron group meetings: communication, choice-making, collaboration and coordination. These were used to develop the 4C framework for making reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities in hospital. Discussion The 4C framework has provided a basis for delivering person-centred care for people with learning disabilities. It has been used to inform training needs analyses, develop audit tools to review delivery of care that is adjusted appropriately to the individual patient; and to develop competencies for learning disability champions. The most significant benefit of the 4C framework has been in helping to evaluate and resolve practice-based scenarios. Conclusion Use of the 4C framework may enhance the care of people with learning disabilities in hospital, by enabling reasonable adjustments to be made in these settings.
18 Jan 2017
Networking opportunities for learning disability nurses
Developments in service provision and delivery have changed how and where learning disability nurses work. As a result, many of them become isolated from each other, and need opportunities to communicate and network with their colleagues. This article outlines how Twitter and other forms of social media can be used to develop a forum for discussion and peer support involving learning disability nurses, service users and other professionals working in the field.
01 Jun 2013
The role of technology in learning disability nursing
In recent years, the introduction of smartphones, and the ubiquity of social networking sites, such as Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter, has given learning disability nurses opportunities to form deeper relationships with their clients and debate the future of their profession. This article outlines possible professional development and consultation opportunities that could be available through these media, and suggests that cost savings can be made with little effect on the quality of outcomes.
29 Apr 2012