We have included important information that was shared on social media during June, so you have this all in one place.
We have tried to make it plain English.
If you are looking at this from a work email address and can’t see the pictures below, try sending this email to your personal email address.
You should be able to see all the pictures.
What we are covering:
- Carers Week
- Mental Health Capacity Act guidance
- Learning Disability Week
It was carers Week at the beginning of June. A big thank you to all the carers who help people with a learning disability and autistic people.
Make sure you look after own mental health and wellbeing, as well as those you care for. See the Mind webpage on how to look after yourself as a carer. https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helping-someone-else/carers-friends-family-coping-support/looking-after-yourself/
Here are some top tips to improve your mental wellbeing https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-wellbeing-tips/top-tips-to-improve-your-mental-wellbeing/
Young carers have a lot more responsibility than other people their age who are not carers. They need a break too. For help and support as a young carer, visit the Carers Trust website https://carers.org/getting-support-if-you-are-a-young-carer-or-young-adult-carer/getting-support-if-you-are-a-young-carer-or-young-adult-carer
During carers week, we share an update from one of our programme team, Mary Busk, who is also a family carer, helping to coproduce the work we do. https://youtu.be/kXDiWxjigp0?si=aQ1SVlhjDCUyHUg-
NHS England Mental Capacity Act guidance and toolkit is now out.
If you go to hospital because you are unwell the staff should check that you have mental capacity before any tests, treatment or care are given to you. New guidance from NHS England will help hospital staff work out if people with a learning disability have mental capacity and get the right support if they do not .
The new guidance and tools are for staff and NHS trusts but will affect anyone going into hospital.
You can find the guidance and tools on the NHS England website https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/guidance-to-support-implementation-of-the-mental-capacity-act-in-acute-trusts-for-adults-with-a-learning-disability/
It contains advice (guidance) and tools for staff in hospitals about how to assess mental capacity.
Capacity means being able to make decisions for yourself or to have support to do so.
Staff in hospitals should use reasonable adjustments to help you understand information. They should carefully check if you are able to make decisions about treatment you may have for your health condition.
See below a helpful resource pack for family carers of people with a learning disability
https://www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/files/2016-06/mental%20capacity%20act%20resource%20pack_1.pdf
Look at this easy read document which talks about capacity and consent
https://www.seeability.org/sites/default/files/2024-03/Consent%20and%20capacity.pdf
It was also learning disability week in June. This year’s theme was about being seen, heard and being valued. See what Harshi, one of our independent Advisory Group members, says about herself https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnWIikVx3tU
We reminded you that you have the right to ask for reasonable adjustments to make sure you get the right health care you need. https://youtu.be/6bdxREk9_2I
We told people that anyone over the age of 14 with a learning disability should have a health check every year. https://youtu.be/ocU8XhD1kh8 Make sure you ask your GP for your health check https://youtu.be/TBZpaJbeg2g
Our Website
How to get involved
Accessible Video Blogs
Share This Post:
Leave a Reply