New learning available for carers: Reducing the risk of health deterioration for people with a learning disability

People with a learning disability are often reliant on family and carers to help them manage their needs and support them to access services. They also experience greater health inequalities compared to the general population.

Caring for People with a Learning Disability elearning is available on the NHS Learning Hub, offering support for paid and unpaid carers. This free online training programme aims to reduce preventable causes of ill health for people with learning disabilities. Developed by the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership in collaboration with NHS England, it comprises four sessions which have been selected as important areas of learning:

• Constipation – advice and support to manage this common health issue. Carers can also access NHS England’s constipation resources, which aim to support people with a learning disability, their carers and people who work in primary care.
• Spotting the signs that someone is becoming poorly – Supporting people to understand and inform the right person at the right time when someone with a learning disability is becoming unwell
• Annual health checks – people with a learning disability from the age of 14 can attend a full, examination to make sure that there are no undiagnosed health issues.
• Reasonable adjustments – reasonable adjustments are required under the Equality Act to help ensure that people who have a disability get the right support to be able to access health services. This session will help carers to gain a good understanding of what reasonable adjustments are and what you can do to support people to get these put in place.

Find out more and access the elearning for free by visiting Caring for People with a Learning Disability on the NHS Learning Hub.