Key issues for Learning Disability nursing?

1. Key issues for Learning Disability nursing? “Good Practices in Learning Disability Nursing” Department of Health 2007

2. Aims • ‘Good practices in learning disability nursing’ – will provide guidance as to how LD nurses can make the greatest possible contribution to the well-being of people with an LD in the future. • Workshops – to gather views and good practice examples to inform the ‘Good practices’ guidance

3. Policy context • ‘Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century (DH 2001) • Valuing People Support Team provides ongoing support - focus on closure of hospital beds and improve provision of physical healthcare from mainstream • Last DH Learning Disability Nursing Guidance - ‘Continuing the Commitment” (DH 1995) • Modernising Nursing Careers (DH 2006) sets future agenda for nursing in the UK • Public concern – • The Health Care Commission reports – Cornwall and Merton • Disability Rights Commission review of the physical healthcare of people with mental health and learning disabilities • MENCAP report on deaths of people with LD in general care settings

4. A useful framework? ‘In addition to clinical and therapeutic roles specialist staff should take on complementary tasks: • a health promotion role; working closely with the local health promotion team; • a health facilitation role; working with primary care teams, community health professionals and staff involved in delivering secondary health care; • a teaching role; to enable a wide range of staff, including those who work in social services and the independent sector, to become more familiar with how to support people with learning disabilities to have their health needs met; • A service development role; contributing their knowledge of health issues to planning processes.’ Valuing People

5. Key issues? 1) Improving physical and psychological well being through mainstreaming and supporting / providing facilitation to mainstream health staff and services? 2) Improving the experience of transition from children’s to adults’ services? 3) Strengthening professional leadership within LD nursing and the role of LD nurses as leaders? 4) Clarifying the contribution of LD nurses in social care settings and ensuring those from closing ‘campuses’ are able to continue to contribute effectively in different environments and roles?

6. Key issues 5) Ensuring that LD nurses participate in care/case management in a way that makes best use of their skills? 6) Maximising the contribution of LD nurses to the protection of vulnerable adults? 7) Ensuring that LD nurses have access to an appropriate evidence base and practice according to it? 8) Ensuring that LD nurses are able to effectively influence and contribute to the commissioning of appropriate services?

7. Key Issues 9) Identifying new ways of working that will support LD nurses contribution? 10) Ensuring that LD nurses working in acute and secure inpatient settings have appropriate skills? 11) Ensuring that education supports LD nurses to provide excellent practice? 12) Ensuring equitable care for BME service users – ‘double discrimination’?

8. Addressing the issues What exactly is the issue here? What would we want to achieve (realistically)? How could this be achieved (realistically)? Who are the key stakeholders to make this happen?

9. Good practice examples sought! Up to100 words. They should include: • area and name of organisation in which the nurses involved work • type of work or innovation described • why and how the good practice was established • what the positive outcomes are (and any evidence of this, for example audit findings, publications or awards received) • an email for further contact. • examples should be submitted by 15th June Send to : CNOandLD@dh.gsi.gov.uk

10. Any queries? neil.brimblecombe@dh.gsi.gov.uk 0207 972 4327 2nd Floor Wellington House 133-155 Waterloo Road London SE1 8UG