1. Learning Disability Nurses/People with a Learning Disability Lets work together….

2. Examine the role of the Learning Disability Nurses Consider the needs of the service users we might be assisting Discuss areas of Collaboration and good practice.

3. Nigel Nigel is 19. He has Down’s Syndrome and a severe/moderate learning disability. He has some behaviours that challenge He lives in a supported living environment but has Learning Disability Nursing support.

4. The Issues for Nigel Nigel has glue ear Impacted ear wax Recurrent ear infections Conductive hearing loss Refuses to wear hearing aids or interact with audiologist Has some words, but wants to please Cannot recognise the change in his own hearing. Will exhibit behavioural need.. Headbanging Learned behaviour

5. Self Injurious behaviour.. Ear poking Diagnostic overshadowing Underachieving Professionals, family and carers are challenged by him What does he understand? What can he hear? Psychological impact of being different Can Nigel see the benefit of aids???

6. The role of the learning Disability Nurse Holistic nursing assessment… what is Nigel about? What is important to him, what does he understand? How is he able to communicate? Refer onto other agencies. How do his behavioural needs benefit him? How does Nigel’s diagnosis impact on his hearing? Work with carers.. Fill gaps in their knowledge Working with families around bereavement and dynamics Design care plans for Nigel and his staff to follow.

7. Use counselling and/or interpersonal skills to work out with Nigel what might be the problem in being an hearing aid wearer and the benefits of support. Provide specific intervention around his health, psychological and behavioural needs. Work with the person and reduce diagnostic overshadowing

8. AntecedentsBehaviourConsequences

9. Not experts on hearing needs Cannot provide a diagnosis of hearing need Thrive on working together!!!

10. We need A clear diagnosis of hearing need (A) Discussion about where learning disability and hearing needs overlap (LD/A) Analysis of where the problem lies. Force field analysis. (LD) Plan of action. Health action plan. Who will do what (LD/A)

11. Audiologist Hearing assessment and diagnosis Treatment plan Working with child and family to support Follow up Learning Disability Nurse Assistance with diagnosis, reiterating issues Working with child and family to support, from a specialist LD perspective Behavioural plan to support treatment plan

12. Reference: Good practice in learning disability nursing Document type: Guidance Author: Department of Health Published date: 5 December 2007 Primary audience: Health and social care professionals, Directors, Human resources and training This document provides good practice guidance to support learning disability nursing to make a major contribution to the health and well-being of people with a learning disability in the future. Download Good practice in learning disability nursing (PDF, 263K)