Sleep problems are commonly found in people with learning disabilities who live in residential settings, but the authors of this study were concerned that insufficient attention was being is paid to them in the literature and consequently in practice. They set out to improve the knowledge and understanding of sleep quality and sleep problems among [read the full story…]
The nature of the interaction between support staff and people with learning disabilities in supported housing is a key factor in quality of life. This study looked at the impact of a video-based contact programme on support staff’s interactions with clients. Seventy-two support staff who supported 12 individuals with visual and learning disabilities took part [read the full story…]
Training for staff supporting people whose behaviour is challenging is a crucial part of appropriate and consistent supports. This study set out to provide a pilot evaluation of development workshops with direct care staff supporting people described as having significant psychosocial difficulties. The staff teams attended a series of workshops which were designed to use [read the full story…]
The Independent Mental Capacity Act Advocacy (IMCA) service was established in 2007 following concerns expressed during the implementation of the Act that there was a need to provide extra support in the Act for the most vulnerable people. The purpose of the service is to help those vulnerable people who lack capacity facing decisions made [read the full story…]
This article reports the findings of an audit carried out in Surrey to look at pain recognition and management with people with learning disabilities. The authors looked at what people with learning disabilities understood and experienced when they had pain, compared to what was reported as good practice in the literature. The authors found that [read the full story…]
This study described a 3-phase staff training project designed to increase client engagement in an adult habilitation centre. Phase one developed curriculum guidelines, with phase two being training for paraprofessional staff. The third phase was the implementation of the clinical experience. The authors found that engagement of clients increased with the implementation of systematic instruction [read the full story…]
A three phase project to develop, implement, and evaluate a palliative care training programme responsive to learning needs of staff providing services and supports for individuals with learning disabilities living in long-term care settings was evaluated. Participants in the programme were asked to rate their levels of preparation and confidence, before and after receiving the [read the full story…]
40 residential staff from 15 residential facilities completed a questionnaire about their knowledge of the risk and protective factors of stomach, breast, cervical and testicular cancer. They also completed questionnaires regarding 90 adults with learning disabilities to record details about: body mass index (BMI) lifestyle choices relating to health, e.g. diet, smoking etc testing for [read the full story…]
40 professionals working in 10 multidisciplinary community teams for people with learning disabilities in south Wales took part in the study, although psychologists and psychiatrists were not included as psychiatrists were not co-located with the team and psychologists were consulted during the development of the study. Three scenarios based on actual cases were constructed and [read the full story…]
