Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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The estimated prevalence of visual impairment among people with learning disabilities in the UK
- Authors:
- EMERSON Eric, ROBERTSON Janet
- Publisher:
- Public Health England
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 35p.
- Place of publication:
- London
It has been known for some time that visual impairments are more common among people with learning disabilities, especially people with more severe learning disabilities, and that the presence of visual impairments can significantly impair the independence and quality of life of people with learning disabilities. The aim of this report is to estimate how many people with learning disabilities in the UK are likely to have visual impairments. The report suggests that, at present, approximately 50,000 people with learning disabilities who are known to services in the UK have visual impairment. An additional 15,000 are blind. Whilst most children with learning disabilities are known to services, not all adults with learning disabilities are known to adult health or social care learning disabilities services – it is estimated that there may be an additional 44,000 adults with learning disabilities and visual impairment and 11,000 with learning disabilities and blindness. It is estimated that all of these figures will rise by approximately 0.5% each year over the next two decades.
A policy that is failing vulnerable people
- Authors:
- ROBERTSON Janet, EMERSON Eric
- Journal article citation:
- Community Living, 22(2), 2008, pp.22-23.
- Publisher:
- Hexagon Publishing
A recently published knowledge review by SCIE found that placing people way from their families and communities to which they belong is still a widespread practice by authorities and means that thousands of vulnerable people are not receiving the personalised and good quality support. The authors summarise the findings of the review.
The association between employment and the health of people with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review
- Authors:
- ROBERTSON Janet, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 32(6), 2019, pp.1335-1348.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: There is strong evidence indicating that paid employment is generally good for the physical and mental health of the general population. This systematic review considers the association between employment and the health of people with intellectual disabilities. Methods: Studies published from 1990 to 2018 were identified via electronic literature databases, email requests and cross‐citations. Identified studies were reviewed narratively. Results: Twelve studies were identified. Studies were generally consistent in reporting an association between being in paid employment and better physical or mental health status. Conclusions: This review supports the view that the well‐established association between employment and better health is similar for adults with and without intellectual disabilities. However, evidence establishing causality is lacking and further research to determine specific health benefits attributable to employment for people with intellectual disabilities and the causal pathways that operate is required. (Publisher abstract)
Quality and costs of community-based residential support for people with learning difficulties and challenging behaviour
- Authors:
- ROBERTSON Janet, et al
- Publisher:
- University of Lancaster. Institute for Health Research
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 24p.
- Place of publication:
- Lancaster
The aim was to compare the quality and costs of two approaches to providing community-based residential supports to people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour: non-congregate settings where the minority of residents have challenging behaviour; and congregate settings where the majority of residents have challenging behaviour. Congregate care was associated with higher costs, higher staffing ratios, and better quality internal working practices. However, these inputs did not translate to better outcomes for residents. Non-congregate care was associated with greater access to day activities, less reliance of medication and physical restraint to control challenging behaviour, and less risk. Levels of staff contact and participant engagement were low across both models of care.
Staff stress and morale in community-based settings for people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour: a brief report
- Authors:
- ROBERTSON Janet, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 18(3), September 2005, pp.271-277.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study looked at stress, morale and intended job turnover in staff in two types of community-based residential supports: non-congregate settings where the minority of residents have challenging behaviour; and congregate settings where the majority of residents have challenging behaviour. A self-completion survey questionnaire was used to collect information on the basic characteristics of staff, levels of staff stress, job satisfaction and propensity to leave their employment. One hundred and fifty-seven questionnaires were returned from staff, the majority of whom were on fixed-term contracts. Congregate settings were not associated with higher levels of stress as might be assumed. Overall, over a quarter of staff reached criterion on the General Health Questionnaire-12 for experiencing emotional distress, and over a third were likely to actively seek new employment in the next year. The greatest perceived sources of stress were lack of resources and lack of staff support. The lowest level of satisfaction was with the rate of pay. Those in non-congregate settings reported greater perceived stress because of lack of procedures to deal with challenging behaviour. The authors concluded that high levels of intended staff turnover may be more due to job insecurity and lack of support than service user challenging behaviour. Employers seeking to reduce turnover should pay attention to basic pay and conditions, as well as staff training in appropriate methods for dealing with challenging behaviour.
What do we know about the health and health care of people with intellectual disabilities from minority ethnic groups in the United Kingdom? A systematic review
- Authors:
- ROBERTSON Janet, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 32(6), 2019, pp.1310-1334.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: People with from minority ethnic communities face inequalities in health and health care. This systematic review considers the question of what is known about the health and health care of children and adults with intellectual disabilities from ethnic minority communities in the UK. Method: Studies published from 1990 to 2018 were identified via electronic literature databases, email requests and cross‐citations. Studies were reviewed narratively in relation to identified themes. Results: Twenty‐three studies were identified, most commonly focusing on South Asian communities. Very little information was identified on physical health or physical health care, with the identified evidence tending to focus on mental health care, access to specialist intellectual disability services, and inpatient services. Conclusion: Little is known about the health status of people with intellectual disabilities from minority ethnic groups in the UK. It is clear that they may experience barriers to accessing specialist intellectual disability services and other forms of health care. (Edited publisher abstract)
Prevention and social care for adults with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- EMERSON Eric, HATTON Chris, ROBERTSON Janet
- Publisher:
- NIHR School for Social Care Research
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 25p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Prevention seeks to eliminate or reduce need, and the current UK preventative agenda focuses on encouraging people to have healthy and active lifestyles and supporting people when a care need first arises to stop problems escalating. The aim of this review was to explore the issue of prevention in relation to adult social care services for people with learning disabilities, looking in particular at options for preventative actions, implications for adult social care practice, and possibilities for modelling the consequences of preventative strategies. It discusses what prevention is, ethical and ideological issues, primary prevention of learning disabilities (including screening and addressing environmental causes) and of the need for adult social care services among people with learning disabilities, and secondary prevention of learning disabilities (through early intervention) and of the need for adult social care services among people with learning disabilities. Key research questions for primary and secondary prevention are identified. The paper concludes that a plausible case can be made for the viability and potential effectiveness of primary and secondary prevention of learning disabilities and of the need for social care support among people with learning disabilities, and that the vast majority of the options for prevention involve altering the social and environmental context in which children grow up.
The impact of person centred planning
- Authors:
- ROBERTSON Janet, et al
- Publisher:
- Lancaster University. Institute for Health Research
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 125p.
- Place of publication:
- Lancaster
The initial results show that person centred planning led to positive changes for individuals. Some changes were short-lived, but some continued beyond the end of the project. People experienced ongoing positive changes in the size of their social networks, their circle of friends, their presence in the community and the extent and range of their daytime activities. Changes were also seen in people’s contact with their families and the amount of choice available to them, but these improvements were not sustained. People with a plan were more likely to have access to some advocacy and health services. Some negative changes were reported in relation to people’s emotional, behavioural and health problems. These findings are not entirely surprising given that some people find change stressful; that new environments are more likely to seem risky (whether they really are or not); and that person centred planning tends to highlight existing health problems and get help with them. The overall message is that person centred planning was beneficial for people taking part in the study. It is also effective as a policy in promoting community involvement, changing daytime activities, extending contacts with families and friends, and improving choice for people with learning disabilities.