The Learning Disabilities Conference 2021

Before proceedings get underway, this short explainer session will explore how you can get the most out of our new next generation Conference platform.

Our Inside Government Team will run through how to make virtual connections, creating networking meet ups, accessing content on demand and how to use our new Q&A, chat functions and virtual polling tools.

• Exploring the characteristics of a high impact learning disability carer and what outstanding care looks like
• Assessing the skills needs of the sector in meeting the demand for learning disability nursing
• Examining the recruitment and retention challenges ahead for the sector and how the new NHS England Plan for Learning Disability Nursing seeks to address workforce needs

With the Covid-19 pandemic posing immense pressures on care delivery and with people with learning disabilities facing disproportionate infection and mortality rates, this session explores urgent questions on care provision amid the crisis.

• What has the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic been on care provision and the access to health services for people with learning disabilities?
• How should care provision be adapted to meet the distinct challenges of the crisis and ensure the safety of those with learning disabilities?
• How can higher levels of Covid-19 mortality be explained for those with learning difficulties?
• What are the urgent action points for care leaders to focus on to ensure the crisis does not further entrench existing health inequalities?

Your opportunity to make the most of the virtual Conference, meet up with fellow delegates, make connections and tour our real-time resources and content.

Participants will be able to choose one interactive workshop to take part in. Come armed with challenges you wish to overcome and ideas and questions as these sessions seek to provide effective early intervention practices across a range of scenarios.

Workshop A: Early Identification on Health Deterioration

Led by Sue Booth, Health Facilitator, Learning Disabilities Team at Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Trust (invited)

Workshop B: Reasonable Adjustments and Annual Health Checks

Led by Victoria Bleazard, Head of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities (Transformation), Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG (invited)

Your opportunity to make the most of the virtual Conference, meet up with fellow delegates, make connections and tour our real-time resources and content.

• Exploring the implementation and delivery of the Green Light Toolkit in supporting reasonable adjustments on mental health for those with learning disabilities
• Assessing the impact of Covid-19 on service delivery and how the Trust has overcome these challenges in provision
• Examining how reasonable adjustments and fair access to mental health services can be maintained during the pandemic
• Conducting an annual audit of service provision to drive improvements in standards on mental health access

• Adapting services amid the pandemic to continue to meet the needs of adults with learning disabilities
• Outlining the impact of isolation, loneliness and stress on those with learning disabilities through the crisis
• Delivering effective support for those with learning disabilities to ensure they understand the crisis and outlining to them how exactly their care provision will change
• Developing multi-sector guidance on how care providers from each sector will provide care and support those with learning disabilities amid the pandemic
• Evaluating how safety in a pandemic and avoidable health deterioration can be prevented

Your opportunity to make the most of the virtual Conference, meet up with fellow delegates, make connections and tour our real-time resources and content.

• How should service leaders look to support holistic and proactive care whilst facing unprecedented service demand during the Covid-19 pandemic?
• Discussing what effective communication and coordination looks like across agencies and how should that be embedded into delivery?
• How can services design an integrated approach to health assessment and care planning?
• What are the weaknesses and gaps in coordinated service provision and what should all agencies be doing in response?

In this session all participants will enter small discussion groups where they will be able to break down and discuss key challenges the sector has been facing whilst delivering care for those with learning disabilities during the Covid-19 crisis.

This session will be an opportunity for you to engage in a focussed discussion around the impact of Covid-19. Hear how your peers have responded, what mistakes have been made and begin to develop your own list of learning points that can be implemented within your own organisation.

Key areas of focus will include:

• Service continuity
• Managing safety and infection control
• Social distancing and isolation
• Supporting carers
• Severe health complications

Your opportunity to make the most of the virtual Conference, meet up with fellow delegates, make connections and tour our real-time resources and content.

This session from the CQC will explore their findings on their October 2020 report “Out of Sight – Who Cares?” and explore the use of restraint, seclusion and segregation in care services for those with learning disabilities, autism or mental health conditions.

In these interactive workshops participants will be able to gain practical insights and expert support in addressing common health challenges facing those with learning disabilities as identified by the Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) Programme.

Participants will gain key action points that they are then able to implement within their own setting.

Workshop A: Respiratory Conditions and Pneumonia

Led by Mark Bradley, Head of Nursing (Adult Learning Disability Services), Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust (invited)

Workshop B: Infections and Sepsis

Led by Jackie Fleeman, Lead Strategic Health Facilitator for People with Learning Disabilities, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (invited)

Workshop C:  Epilepsy

Led by Lisa Flinton, Epilepsy Nurse Specialist, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (invited)

The Conference concludes at 3pm.

You will still have the opportunity to make the most of the virtual Conference, meet up with fellow delegates, make connections and tour our real-time resources and content.

Don’t forget if you’ve missed a session, you can use our replay functions, so you can watch all the content on demand at a time that suits you.