Resources

Care and Support Statutory Guidance Issued under the Care Act 2014 - download from the Department of Health GOV.UK website - link opens in a new window.

The Cochrane collaboration gathers and summarises evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to support better clinical decision making. The collaboration is an independent network of researchers, professionals, patients, carers, and people interested in health and there are a number of subject specific review groups. The group on developmental, psychosocial and learning problems has published a number of reviews relevant to the support of people with learning disabilities and this latest, looks at the RCT evidence on behavioural and cognitive-behavioural interventions for outwardly-directed aggressive behaviour. We recently posted about the NICE guidelines for people with challenging behaviour. The current paper is an update of an existing Cochrane review which was carried out in 2002 and last updated in 2013. The authors were interested specifically in looking at…

Why social workers must engage with advocates who challenge their decisions A new guide on advocates' role in helping people challenge social services decisions illustrates the critical role of social workers in enabling this, says Sue Lee and Karen Orchard  By Sue Lee and Karen Orchard High-profile cases, such as Steven Neary’s, (opens in a new window) remain etched in our minds as a reminder of the positive impact that challenging decisions can have on people’s lives. Steven spent 359 days wrongly detained by a local authority under several Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards authorisations. Following a legal challenge, the Court of Protection ordered that Steven be returned home and then ruled that his rights to liberty and family life, under…

We have put together the following points to help to ensure everyone receives the treatment and care they should expect regardless of age or vulnerability as a patient. Everyone has a right to be tested for MRSA and C-diff on admission to the hospital. Ask to be tested on admission to ensure you are not taking the infection into the hospital- some hospitals will offer the tests as they do not want someone bringing infections into the hospital. Everyone should have a care plan. This sets out the plan for you or your relatives care. Ask to see it, inform staff you want to be involved with your relatives care provide as much information as you can. Ensure you have regular communication…

New NHS guidelines shift care provision The care of many people with learning disabilities in the UK is likely to be transformed with the introduction of new NHS guidelines for healthcare provision.  NHS England has published a draft national framework designed to shift care away from hospitals and towards community-based settings. The guidelines come in the wake of growing concern about the care and deaths of people with learning difficulties and/or autism in hospitals. Connor Sparrowhawk (pictured) was one such case. The 18-year-old died in 2013 at Slade House, an assessment and treatment unit in Oxfordshire that was run by NHS foundation trust Southern Health. Connor, who had autism and epilepsy, drowned in a bath. An external investigation concluded that…

The Learning Disabilities Elf website aims to bring you the latest learning disabilities evidence that is published each week. We scan the most important websites, databases and journals and select evidence that is relevant to health and social care professionals with an interest in learning disabilities. Our daily posts include summarised published evidence, policy guidance, reports and links to primary sources.