Learning disabilities

Transcript

Empowering people with learning disabilities is a priority for NHS England. Giving people with learning disabilities their families and carers more involvement in decisions over their care is fundamental to the planning of future services. We have a range of resources to enable you to contribute and respond more effectively to the needs of people with a learning disability, their carers and their support workers. The learning on this page aims to help you gain a deeper understanding of people’s experiences with pharmacy professionals, improve your communication and consultation skills with people living with a learning disability and support medicines optimisation for people living with a learning disability.

This distance learning programme will enable you to support people with a learning disability and their families to manage behaviours that challenge, in line with National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidance. It will also empower you to adopt a holistic approach to medicines optimisation to help people with a learning disability to be involved in the consultation when they can and to make the most of their medicines.

Learning Outcomes:

• categorise a range of learning disabilities and the differences in capability that can occur in each of these
• describe key policy drivers that support change in the management of people with a learning disability
• explain consent to a person with a learning disability and recognise when to involve family members, carers and support workers in the consultation
• demonstrate patient-centred consultation skills and behaviours to meet the needs of people with a learning disability
• promote physical health and wellbeing and support patients to manage their concurrent physical health conditions
• identify people with a learning disability and concurrent mental health disorder and provide them with advice and support
• support people with a learning disability and their families to manage behaviour that challenges, in line with National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidance
• explain the importance of a holistic approach to medicines optimisation as a strategy to help people with a learning disability make the most of their medicines.

The Learning disabilities clinical factsheet will help you to refresh your knowledge and provide you with links to further resources on supporting people with learning disabilities.

STOMP stands for stopping over medication of people with a learning disability, autism or both.

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism supports the Government requirement for the health and social care workforce to receive learning disability and autism training appropriate to their role. This is to ensure that they have the right skills and knowledge to provide safe, compassionate and informed care to autistic people and people with a learning disability.

Autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are lifelong neurodevelopmental conditions, which have an impact on people's daily life - including school, work, and relationships. As a pharmacy professional, you are well placed to identify the individual needs of every person to provide person-centred care and ensure the environment where you are providing a service is inclusive. 

This programme aims to enable pharmacy professionals to make a positive difference in everyday practice to support autistic people and people living with ADHD, as well as those supporting them such as parents, carers and other advocates. 

This CPPE programme builds on content in the elearning for healthcare Oliver McGowan training programme. The Oliver McGowan training programme is the UK government's recommended training for health and social care staff who work with autistic people and people with a learning disability.   

We recommend that you complete the e-learning portion of the Oliver McGowan training before you start with this CPPE programme. It should take you approximately 60 to 90 minutes to complete. 

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of all aspects of this learning programme you should be able to:

• identify the similarities and differences of autism and ADHD 
• apply principles of inclusive environment design to improve access to healthcare for autistic people and people with ADHD
• develop consultation techniques to support health promotion with autistic people and people with ADHD
• conduct person-centred consultations with autistic people, people with ADHD and carers 
• use a person-centred strategy to support people to maintain access to their medicines 
• signpost autistic people and people with ADHD to appropriate local support charities or resources.

Clinical guide for front line staff to support the management of patients with a learning disability and autistic people – relevant to all clinical specialties

How CQC regulates providers supporting autistic people and people with a learning disability.

This guideline covers services for children, young people and adults with a learning disability (or autism and a learning disability) and behaviour that challenges. It aims to promote a lifelong approach to supporting people and their families and carers, focusing on prevention and early intervention and minimising inpatient admissions.

Resources for clinicians to use to help people that have autism and/or a learning disability make informed choices about their sexual health.

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The Accessible Information Standard (2016) sets out the expectations on providers of NHS and adult social care to identify, record, flag, share, meet and review the information and communication support needs of people with a disability or sensory loss. This session aims to equip health and care professionals with the knowledge and skills to effectively apply and follow the Accessible Information Standard (AIS).

Please note: Please be aware that CPPE does not maintain control over the accuracy and currency of this programme.The programme was reviewed and updated in July 2025.

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of all aspects of this learning programme you should be able to:

• describe the Accessible Information Standard, including what it means for NHS and adult social care service providers and for service users
• list the '6 steps' of the Standard and explain what they mean in practice
• identify individuals most likely to benefit from the Standard and common ways in which their information and communication needs may be met
• apply and follow the Standard in line with the '6 step' process, ensuring ongoing conformance as part of 'business as usual'

Learning disability has been invisible for too long. It’s time to see people with a learning disability for all they are and all they can be. Join the Here I Am campaign, spread the word and help change the future.