Case study:

11 May 2010

Palliative care for people with a learning disability in Wiltshire

Key points

A new palliative care course for staff working with adults with learning disabilities in Wiltshire is helping raise awareness and increase referrals to the local hospice.

The two-day course, which supports an end of life care choice project being implemented locally, is a collaborative venture between a specialist palliative care provider, Dorothy House Hospice in Bradford on Avon, and a learning disability (LD) community nurse specialist from one of the local authorities.

The course is aimed at staff working with day, residential and fieldwork settings for adults with learning disabilities, in local authority, NHS, private or independent organisations.

It runs three times a year and aims to provide care staff with the knowledge and confidence to help their clients make choices at the end of life and assist them in advance care planning.

The programme aims to provide the underpinning knowledge for appropriate units within the Learning Disability Award Framework (LDAF).

Delivered by the LD community nurse specialist and an education facilitator from the hospice with input from a service user, the programme has to be sensitive to the needs and background of the staff.

Many have minimal experience or knowledge about managing end of life care, and some feel reluctant to attend because they feel uncomfortable about discussing death and dying.

However, feedback has been very positive so far with participants finding the days informative and beneficial, particularly the opportunity to explore and discuss issues about end of life care and dying.

One result is that staff are more aware of the hospice’s role, which means it is receiving more referrals for people with a learning disability.

It has also led to the provision of a study day at the hospice for staff working in the community, hospital and care home setting and caring for individuals with a learning disability at the end of life.

The course is currently well subscribed and there are plans to roll it out to another PCT within the hospice catchment area.