If you work in health and social care, it is essential to be aware of the support and communication needs of people with a learning disability and autistic people. This is to ensure that the service you provide is inclusive and equitable for people with a learning disability and autistic people. The UK Health and Social Care Act 2022 has been transformative by introducing mandatory training for all staff working in Care Quality Commission-registered services. Supporting People with a Learning Disability and Autistic People in Health and Social Care complements and supports those undertaking mandatory training, as well as anyone seeking a deeper understanding of autism and learning disability within health and social care.
This book builds your awareness, competence and confidence in key areas:
Understanding learning disability and autism
Supporting and communicating with individuals effectively
Making reasonable adjustments
Understanding and responding appropriately to behaviour other people may find challenging.
With reflective activities and real-world examples, this is a practical resource you can use in your everyday work practice, to inform your decisions and actions, and help you to provide truly person-centred care and support. Most importantly, it has been developed in collaboration with people with lived experience, ensuring the expert voices of people with a learning disability, autistic people, and their families are heard. Whether you are a student just starting out or someone looking to deepen their understanding, this pocketbook offers a meaningful step towards more inclusive, respectful care and support.
Janet Finlayson is a Registered Mental Health Nurse and Senior Research Fellow at Glasgow Caledonian University. Her research is focused on improving the health and wellbeing of people with a learning disability and autistic people. She has over thirty years experience of working with people with a learning disability, autistic people, and their supporters. She also teaches research methods to Postgraduate students.
People with learning disability and autistic people
Supporting choices and decision making
Support in daily life
Inclusive communication with people with a learning disability
Inclusive communication with autistic people
Physical health and wellbeing
Mental health and wellbeing
Understanding behaviours that challenge
Reasonable adjustments
Empowerment
This engaging book should be essential reading for all health and social care practitioners . It provides a thorough overview of health needs, importantly set within a person-centred approach, with emphasis on supporting choices, decision-making, and empowerment. Practical advice is provided throughout (the section on inclusive communication is a particular highlight), making it a "must-read". Including the voices of experts really brings home reality and importance. Fully recommended!
Sally-Ann Cooper, Professor of Learning Disabilities, University of Glasgow
