Learning Disability Today, 10(10), December 2010, pp.26-28.
Publisher:
Pavilion
Place of publication:
Hove
The Valuing People Project was launched in May 2008 as a response to concerns about education commissioning, particularly pre-registration learning disability nursing, as well as to explore more generally the specialist learning disability health workforce for the future. The project used a multi-methods approach. This article reports on the results of focus groups that were conducted with 23 people with a range of learning disabilities and 16 parents and relatives of people with learning disabilities from Oxford, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight between January and June 2009. The key message from people with learning disabilities was that they wanted the right kind of person to support them, including a range of health staff as well as social care staff. The importance of a learning disability nurse offering specialist support and a ‘hospital friend’ in acute health care settings were identified. The central message from parents was that they want to be listened to and supported. Taken collectively, both groups demonstrated that there is still strong support for a specialist NHS learning disability workforce. Learning disability nurses were specifically identified as central to this. It was also clear that educational preparation for the specialist health workforce for the future needs to be modernised.
The Valuing People Project was launched in May 2008 as a response to concerns about education commissioning, particularly pre-registration learning disability nursing, as well as to explore more generally the specialist learning disability health workforce for the future. The project used a multi-methods approach. This article reports on the results of focus groups that were conducted with 23 people with a range of learning disabilities and 16 parents and relatives of people with learning disabilities from Oxford, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight between January and June 2009. The key message from people with learning disabilities was that they wanted the right kind of person to support them, including a range of health staff as well as social care staff. The importance of a learning disability nurse offering specialist support and a ‘hospital friend’ in acute health care settings were identified. The central message from parents was that they want to be listened to and supported. Taken collectively, both groups demonstrated that there is still strong support for a specialist NHS learning disability workforce. Learning disability nurses were specifically identified as central to this. It was also clear that educational preparation for the specialist health workforce for the future needs to be modernised.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, nurses, training, user views, health professionals;
Focuses on the health aspects of services for people with learning difficulties, and on the role nurses have to play within this. Contains sections on: the nature of learning disability; health and learning disability; educational dimensions; biological dimensions; psychosocial dimensions; cultural and spiritual aspects; political and economic dimensions; national and international issues; and contemporary and new horizons in learning disability research.
Focuses on the health aspects of services for people with learning difficulties, and on the role nurses have to play within this. Contains sections on: the nature of learning disability; health and learning disability; educational dimensions; biological dimensions; psychosocial dimensions; cultural and spiritual aspects; political and economic dimensions; national and international issues; and contemporary and new horizons in learning disability research.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, learning disability nursing, multicultural approach, nurses, social policy, social care provision, special education, spirituality, cultural identity, education, health, health care, health needs;