Westminster Good Practice Highlights By Elaine Ruddy Learning Disability Service Development Manager

Aims and Objectives To provide brief overview of some good practice commissioning examples in Westminster. The secret to their success.

Three of Our Projects Choosing the Chance to Change. The Good Sexual Health Project. The Good Oral Health Project.

Overall Aim of Projects To work with mainstream healthcare providers around improving the health of people with learning disabilities. To raise awareness and support mainstream health services on making ‘reasonable adjustments’.

Choosing the Chance to Change a healthy living project for people with learning disability. The project has included the development of the: A health action planning DVD An eight week health and physical activity promotion course for people with learning disabilities. Education sessions for carers and support staff on supporting people with learning disabilities around healthy eating and physical activity.

Choosing the Chance to Change Commenced in Locally In Westminster at least 65% of people with learning disabilities are overweight or obese. The project was developed as part of the NHS Westminster Obesity Strategy. The 8 week course and education sessions are delivered by the mainstream vulnerable adults dietician and exercise co-coordinator with support from the learning disability service.

The Good Sexual Health Project NHS Westminster and Westminster City Council commissioned The “Good Sexual Health Project for people with learning disabilities in Westminster” provides: Sex and relationships education for people with learning disabilities through individual or group work. Sexual health training for staff working with/supporting people with learning disabilities. Support work with parents and carers of people with learning disabilities. Opportunities for people with learning disabilities to access support around sex, sexual health and relationships. The project group has developed a policy on sexual health and relationships for care staff. This policy is also available in an easy read format.

The Good Sexual Health Project Commenced in April 2009 a 2yr project, that has funded a full-time Personal Relationship Facilitator from the Family Planning Association. To date 132 support staff have received sexual health training which consists of a 3 day course. 28 service users have accessed training via an 8 week group session or a 10 week 1:1 session. Feedback regarding the training and policy has been very positive. We are currently evaluating the impact the project has had on practice.

The Good Oral Health Project The project has been commissioned by NHS Westminster and run in partnership with Westminster Learning Disability (WLDP) and the Central London Community Healthcare Community Dental Service (CDS). The aim of the project was to develop a better dental service in the Westminster area for adults with Learning Disabilities. There were two phases to the project: The first phase was a baseline assessment of dental preventive, clinical, educational and service needs among the client group. The second phase involved a proactive approach to bring the most appropriate educational, preventive and treatment services to the clients.

The Good Oral Health Project How the project was started 411 people with LD on the register 318 were contacted, 269 have been seen. Only 30 had their own ‘high street’ dentist So far 95% seen from residential placements

The Good Oral Health Project Findings 28% had dental decay 11% had no teeth Observed oral health hygiene: 70 % received support with brushing from others All service users seen offered an oral health action plan.

The Good Oral Health Project As a result of this project the number of people receiving treatment within the Community Dental Service has almost doubled…. The Oral Health Action Plan now raises oral awareness in people with learning disabilities. More people are now registered with our service. Oral Health has improved. Oral health awareness is much higher in carers and support workers

The Good Oral Health Project Lesson Learned The impact mainstream Health can have on Health outcome. Highlighted challenges faced for carers, dental and health professionals. Raised awareness of the health needs of people with learning disabilities. As a result: There is a clear dental recall pathway in place. Raised awareness about the dental service. Decay and Gum Disease being treated.

The secret to their success Access to good data via QOF or annual health check information. A commitment from mainstream primary care services and commissioning. Good Partnership working between services.

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