The Trust aims to ensure that people with learning disabilities are able to access high quality health care with positive outcomes when attending ASPH.
In order to achieve this people with a learning disability will follow reasonably adjusted pathways.
The Learning disability policy will also enable staff in the acute trust to:
- Develop a better understanding of people with learning disabilities and to equip them to deal more effectively with the particular needs of each individual.
- Better understand what is meant by reasonable adjustments and how they will vary to meet patient’s needs.
- Paid / unpaid carers / relatives accompanying a person with learning disabilities into the acute trust are made aware of expectations around the carers roles and responsibilities including risk assessments and additional support.
- Understand the role of court deputies and use of the mental capacity act to support people to make decisions.
- Support Acute Learning Disability Liaison Nurses in their role.
- Embed the use of the care passport document for people with learning disabilities/ dementia using hospital services.
- Provide an opportunity for the Trust and learning disability liaison staff to work together to develop:
- appropriate effective communication with patients, families and their carers and other agencies
- training for staff
- awareness of the particular needs of a person with learning disability.
- easy read information at a level that can be understood by the patient.
- respect for expert knowledge of carers / family members.
Key Priorities
The key priorities identified are for referral to be made to the Learning disability liaison nurse who will instigate signposting to other appropriate professionals as necessary:
- helping people with learning disabilities have access to information in an easy read format
- providing support and guidance to hospital staff in order to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities
- co-ordinating the care of someone with a learning disability at any point of their hospital journey helping someone with learning disabilities prepare for their hospital visit and/or stay
- providing training opportunities to acute staff regarding the needs of people with learning disabilities
- encouraging acute staff to make reasonable adjustments to care where required
- providing advice around the Mental Capacity Act including capacity assessments, best interest decisions, Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA)
- support the discharge process
- sign post to other services as required
