National Webinar Series for Social Prescribing Link Worker

Our next webinar event will focus on social prescribing for people with a learning disability and the role for social prescribing link workers.  Given that for many this past year, has meant a significant and often traumatic loss of routine, activities and social connections and relationships.

A person with a learning disability has also been at a much higher risk of dying from Covid-19, resulting in many having to shield and severely restrict contact with others, severely limiting their ability to be independent and in control of their life and what is important to them. During this time, we have also seen a huge increase and reliance on family members who have either, taken on the majority of caring responsibilities themselves, or organised their relative’s care packages, including dealing with staff shortages and the sourcing of PPE, sometimes whilst also holding down full or part time employment themselves.

With routine healthcare for the past year largely delivered by telephone or video consultations, it is a priority for people with a learning disability to have both their physical and mental health care needs assessed, needs identified and met, if we are to improve health outcomes and respond to health inequalities for people with learning disabilities. Annual health checks and health action plans are a way to do just that, with social prescribing and link workers well placed in primary care to support people to improve their health outcomes, reconnect with their local communities and re-establish, as well as improve their health.

The learning outcomes for this event include:

  • Raising awareness of the needs of people with a learning disability.
  • Increased understanding about reasonable adjustments, how to identify these for the person and the difference they can make.
  • Improved understanding of what an annual health check and a health action plan is, what good looks like and the role for social prescribing.

You will also:

  • Hear from learning disability social prescribing link workers about what is working well for people with learning disabilities in their primary care networks.
  • Hear case examples about working as part of an MDT and interagency team
  • Reflect on your own role for supporting people with a learning disability to be connected and engaging in activities to promote their health.
  • Hear about best practice in supporting people with a learning disability, including personalised care and support planning, promoting self-determination and self-advocacy.
  • Hear about how we can focus on improving life chances and tackle barriers to exclusion by developing inclusive local offers.

Questions about this event?

Name: Personalised Care Events

Email: england.pcevents@nhs.net