Shaping the Future: A Vision for Learning Disability Nursing

1. Shaping the Future: A Vision for Learning Disability Nursing United Kingdom Learning Disability Consultant Nurse Network

2. Aim • To produce a Vision Statement by learning disability nurses for learning disability nurses. Purpose To empower learning disability nurses to: • Recognise and articulate their value and impact and grow in confidence; • Reaffirm the place of learning disability nursing within the wider family of nursing; • Achieve equal value with other members of the nursing profession. • Develop their clinical practice. Vision Document Launch - July 2006

3. Our Journey • Shared desire to develop and publish a Vision Statement. • Collaboration with Prof. Ruth Northway. • Contributions from network members and others • Discussion (and debate) within UK LDCNN meetings and via email. • Appraisal of drafts and re-drafts. July 2005 - Launch of consultation document at 23rd NNLDN Annual Conference. Vision Document Launch - July 2006

4. Our Journey • Consultation • Distribution via NNLDN Website and locally via network members and others. • Views from local & national presentations • Collation and analysis of comments – key themes. • New work plan • Appraisal of re-drafts • Critical readers • External support • Printing and publication ‘on a shoe string’ July 2006 - Launch Launch of document at 24th NNLDN Annual Conference Vision Document Launch - July 2006

5. Our Vision Learning disability nurses will lead the way in achieving positive health outcomes for people with learning disabilities. They will use an inclusive and collaborative approach to address barriers to social inclusion and will function as integral members of the wider family of nursing, developing their specialist knowledge and skills to improve the health and well being of children, adults and older people with learning disabilities across all settings. Vision Document Launch - July 2006

6. Research Education Learning DisabilityNursing Specialist Nursing Practice Leadership Building Blocks Vision Document Launch - July 2006

7. Practice Nursing practice: • Combination of attitudes, beliefs, experiences and skills and the way these interact to influence the work of the nurse Core themes: • Learning disabilities • Consent & Best Interests • Anti-discriminatory practice • Behaviour • Access to healthcare • Public Health Vision Document Launch - July 2006

8. Practice – Summary • Unique in being the only professional group who are trained specifically to work with people with learning disabilities. • The fundamental differentiating factor lies less in what we do and more in how we do it. • Developed additional expertise in ‘behavioural work’; resolution of behavioural difficulties enables people to cope better with both health and social problems and is still a core role • Must play a lead role in working with other services to respond better to all the health needs of people with learning disabilities. Vision Document Launch - July 2006

9. Education – Summary • Good quality education is integral to the role and is essential to ensure that learning disability nurses are able to fulfil their roles in the 5 core areas of practice. • All have a role in the education of people with learning disabilities, their families and carers, other professional staff and staff from other agencies. • Students must have experience and opportunities for the development of skills in a range of settings to prepare them to work confidently and competently with people who have the most complex needs. Vision Document Launch - July 2006

10. Leadership - Summary • Must develop leadership qualities and skills to achieve equal status with other nurses and healthcare professionals, challenge discrimination and stigma, and reduce inequalities. • Must make use of our unique position to take on lead roles to influence the development and delivery of mainstream and specialist services. • Dedicated learning disability services should invest in, and actively promote the development of nursing leaders. Vision Document Launch - July 2006

11. Research - Summary • Must be able to draw on an evidence base for practice. Must be skilled in appraising existing evidence and should increasingly be involved in generating new evidence to inform practice. • The use of research evidence and undertaking research need to be prioritised. • People with learning disabilities and their families and carers should be involved as equal partners in the research process. Vision Document Launch - July 2006

12. Key Drivers • A period of tremendous change. • Despite positive changes people with learning disabilities still marginalised, segregated and excluded. • Growing evidence of unmet health need including mental health needs and barriers to social inclusion; • Health needs of many people are complex, multiple and difficult to understand; Vision Document Launch - July 2006

13. Key Drivers • Belief that the learning disability nursing profession make a significant contribution to meeting the health needs of people with learning disabilities. • Recognition that the quality of the relationships nurses have with patients and their families helps sustain confidence in the NHS (DH 1999). • Learning disability nurses need to keep step with modernisation and reform in the NHS. • Learning disability nurses need a shared vision and clarity of purpose. Vision Document Launch - July 2006

14. Action • Section 2 & 3 - summaries provide direction and guidance. • Section 4 describes key areas for action: • Change Management • Influencing Policy • Workforce Issues • Career Pathways • Individual, organisational and strategic recommendations in Section 5 for nurses and other key players. Vision Document Launch - July 2006

15. Conclusion • Learning disability nurses must ‘Shape the Future’ to improve the health and wellbeing of all people with learning disabilities and address the barriers to good health and social inclusion. Vision Document Launch - July 2006

16. Thank You United Kingdom Learning Disability Consultant Nurse Network Contactable via any of the Consultant Nurses listed in the document Vision Document Launch - July 2006