About the Supporting Healthy Weight in an Adult with a Learning Disability programme
This elearning programme has been designed for people who care for or support adults with learning disabilities. It will provide you with information on how you can support an adult with a learning disability to achieve a healthier weight.
Completing this elearning will improve understanding of:
- what being overweight means, what causes people to become overweight, and how it affects health and wellbeing
- why adults with learning disabilities are more likely to be overweight than other people
- the basics of healthy eating and being active
- how you can support an adult with a learning disability to eat more healthily and be more active
The elearning provides information on weight and health in people with learning disabilities, healthy eating and physical activity recommendations, and practical ideas and resources to help you support healthier choices in adults with learning disabilities.
The Supporting Healthy Weight in an Adult with a Learning Disability programme is made up of three ‘bite-sized’ sessions. Each session should take about 10 minutes to complete.
More information
Adults with learning disabilities are more likely to be overweight and have health problems because of their weight. They are also more likely to die earlier because of health problems. Carers and supporters can play a really important role in supporting adults with learning disabilities to make healthier choices and work towards a healthier weight.
Primary and secondary audiences
This elearning is for carers and supporters of adults with learning disabilities. This includes social care and healthcare professionals and unpaid (e.g. family) carers. Carers and supporters of adults with autism may also find this elearning useful.
Acknowledgements
The project team would like to acknowledge the support of The Brandon Adventurers, part of Brandon Trust, and The Caroline Walker Trust.
The Brandon Adventurer’s – Experts by Experience We are a group of people with lived experience who like to inspire and challenge others to make positive changes. We are pleased to share our stories so you can think about how you may support someone with a learning disability to make changes and live a healthier life, if that is what they want. It might not always be easy, but even small steps can lead to big changes.
Meet the team
Lead author
- Karen Coulman, Senior Research Fellow and Obesity Specialist Dietitian, University of Bristol
Project stakeholder group
- Carly Atkinson, Specialist Learning Disabilities Dietitian, Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust and Dietetic Clinical Lead for Learning Disabilities, Caroline Walker Trust (author)
- Briony Caffrey, Dietetic Clinical Lead for Learning Disabilities, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (author)
- Roz Erskine-Gray, Parent carer of an adult with a learning disability, Devon (reviewer)
- Amanda Owen-Smith, Associate Professor in Medical Sociology and Health Policy, University of Bristol (reviewer)
- Nicola Powell, Senior Transformation Manager and LEDER Regional Coordinator (joint SRO, reviewer)
- Nick Pugh, Internal Communication and Engagement Manager, The Brandon Trust
- Rachel Roberts, Compliance Coordinator/Involvement Lead, The Brandon Trust
- Alison Tavaré, NHSE SW Learning Disability Collaborative Clinical Lead, Health Innovation West of England Clinical Lead, Health Innovation West of England (reviewer)
- Justine Womack, Public Health Specialist/Health and Wellbeing Programme Lead, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (joint SRO, reviewer)
NHSE TEL team members
Harry Weber-Brown, TEL Education Content Programme Manager, NHS England
Laura Pope, TEL Education Content Senior Project Manager, NHS England
Alex Cleary, TEL Education Content Lead Learning Designer, NHS England
Catherine Moran, TEL Education Content Graphic Designer, NHS England
How to access
To access this elfh programme, you will require a Learning Hub account. If you do not have one, then you can register by selecting the Register button below. Note that if you hold a full elfh account, you can sign into the Learning Hub using your existing login credentials.
To view the Supporting Healthy Weight in an Adult with a Learning Disability programme, select the View button below. If you already have a Learning Hub account, you will also be able to login and access the resources within the programme.
NHS healthcare staff in England – ESR
The Supporting Healthy Weight in an Adult with a Learning Disability programme is also available to NHS healthcare staff via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). Accessing this e-learning via ESR means that your completions will transfer with you throughout your NHS career.
Not an NHS organisation?
If you are not an NHS health or care organisation and therefore do not qualify for free access to the Learning Hub, you may be able to access the service if you have an existing OpenAthens account. Please go to Learning Hub and sign in with your existing credentials.
If you do not have an existing OpenAthens account, please contact elfh directly to check whether you may be eligible for access.
Registering large numbers of users
If you are a HR, IT or Practice Manager and would like to register and enrol large numbers of staff within your organisation for access onto the Supporting Healthy Weight in an Adult with a Learning Disability programme, please contact elfh directly.
Organisations wishing to use their own LMS
For HR departments wanting to know more about gaining access to courses using an existing Learning Management System please contact elfh directly to express interest.
More information
Please select the following link for more information on how to use the Learning Hub