USEFUL RESOURCES
This page has links to useful publications as well as survey reports and research.
Health Services
NHS QIS published a National Overview of learning disability services in February 2006. The reports look at the progress towards the implementation of the Quality Indicators, which were published in February 2004. These reports have information on NHS services and on the progress that has been made towards the closure of learning disability long-stay hospitals.
NHS QIS also published Promoting access to healthcare services for people with a learning disability - a guide for frontline staff in February 2006. This is a best practice statement that is designed to improve access to NHS services at point of entry for people with learning disabilities.
Accessing Health Services Professor Colin Espie, University of Glasgow was asked to write a paper examining the role and responsibility of the Health Services in delivering care to people with learning disabilities. Read his paper here.
A Health needs assessment for people with learning disabilities was published in February 2004. The recommendations in the assessment are aimed at reducing the health inequalities faced by people with learning disabilities. This document and an easy- read summary are available from NHS Health Scotland
Promoting Health, Supporting Inclusion - The national review of the contribution of all nurses and midwives to the care and support of people with learning disabilities (July 2002)
Employment
The Go for it!: Supporting People with Learning Disabilities and/or Autistic Spectrum Disorders in Employment research publication was published in June 2005. It is an investigation of the level and types of support provided to people with learning disabilities and/or ASD in paid andunpaid jobs, including elements and examples of good practice.
Community Care
Review of research available on services for people with challenging behaviour was carried out by Professor Chris Cullen, Professor of Psychology of Learning Disabilities, Keele University. Read his report here.
Review of research available about people with profound and multiple disabilities as individuals and widers issues to do with service design, inclusion in the community and family support - was carried out by Professor James Hogg of Dundee University. Read his report here.
National Care Standards cover a wide range of care services, including care homes, housing support services, support services and care at home. they are written from the service user's perspective and set out what they should expect from a service in terms of their care and how to raise any concerns they may have. The standards are based on a set of principles which reflect the recognised rights individuals enjoy as citizens. These include dignity, privacy, choice and safety. The standards follow the user's journey through the service and provide guidance on a number of important issues, such as choosing a service, staffing, support arrangements, daily life and medication. To find out more about the National Care Standards click here
On the borderline? - people with learning disabilities and/or autistic spectrum disorders on secure, forensic or other specialist settings was published in June 2004. This study was carried out as a result of one of the recommendations of The same as you? The research looked into the numbers of people with a learning disability or autism spectrum disorder in secure accomodation and the arrangements for assessing and providing them with care.