Supporting People With Learning

If you work in health and social care, it is essential to be aware of the support and communication needs of people with a learning disability and autistic people. This is to ensure that the service you provide is inclusive and equitable for people with a learning disability and autistic people. The UK Health and Social Care Act 2022 has been transformative by introducing mandatory training for all staff working in Care Quality Commission-registered services. Supporting People with a Learning Disability and Autistic People in Health and Social Care complements and supports mandatory training.

This book builds your awareness, competence and confidence in key areas:

• Understanding learning disability and autism
• Supporting and communicating with individuals effectively
• Making reasonable adjustments
• Understanding and responding appropriately to behaviour other people may find challenging.
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With reflective activities and real-world examples, this is a practical resource you can use in your everyday work practice, to inform your decisions and actions, and help you to provide truly person-centred care and support. Most importantly, it has been developed in collaboration with people with lived experience, ensuring the expert voices of people with a learning disability, autistic people, and their families are heard. 

Whether you are a student just starting out or someone looking to deepen their understanding, this pocketbook offers a meaningful step towards more inclusive, respectful care and support.

Janet Finlayson is a Registered Mental Health Nurse and Senior Research Fellow at Glasgow Caledonian University. Her research is focused on improving the health and wellbeing of people with a learning disability and autistic people. She has over thirty years’ experience of working with people with a learning disability, autistic people, and their supporters. She also teaches research methods to Postgraduate students.