Workforce update for 
 services that support people 
 with a learning disability 
 and/or autistic people 

Welcome to this workforce development update for adult social care services that support people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

It shares the latest news, resources, events and funding opportunities from Skills for Care and partners, and you can find previous newsletters here.

 Updates from Skills for Care 

New core capabilities frameworks for supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people
Skills for Care was involved in developing two new core capability frameworks to support workforce development for those working with people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. The ‘Core Capabilities Framework for Supporting People with a Learning Disability’ and the ‘Core Capabilities Framework for Supporting Autistic People’ outline the skills and knowledge that health and social care workers need to ensure that people can access high-quality care and support. You can use the frameworks to support the development and planning of the workforce, and to inform the design and delivery of education and training programmes. Download them, here, from the Skills for Health website.

Mandatory learning disability and autism training for health and care staff
In November 2019, the Government announced the introduction of mandatory training in learning disability and autism for all health and social care staff, relevant to their role. This was in response to a consultation on the proposal of mandatory training, that was was held following the second annual report of the Learning Disability Mortality Review (LeDeR) Programme, which recommended that mandatory learning disability training should be provided to all staff, delivered in conjunction with people with a learning disability and their families.



There will now be a series of trials to design and test a new training package, ahead of a wider roll-out. Health Education England and Skills for Care are working with the Department of Health and Social Care to find partners for these trials. We'll be appointing a number of training partners/partnerships who will develop and test training methods and materials. An evaluation provider will also be appointed.

We're currently developing specifications for the trials and evaluation and intend to publish an invitation to tender soon. If you're interested in participating, please submit your expressions of interest via the ‘Supplying to the NHS’ Portal no later than 18.00 on Friday 14 February 2020. It is not essential to register an interest, but it ensures that you will be notified when the tender is published.

If you have any questions about this work, please email us.

Skills for Care expert group for people with a learning disability and/or autistic people
Skills for Care is setting up an expert group of people with a learning disability, autistic people and family members and/or carers. We want to develop true co-creation and collaboration - and work together in new ways that really make a difference! We are thinking that the group will get involved in different parts of Skills for Care’s work and support us to get better at what we do.

The next meeting is on Friday 14 February 2020 in Leeds. There'll also be opportunities to get involved via email and Skype. Find out more about you can get involved here. 

If you work for an adult social care or other organisation that supports with people with a learning disability and/or autistic people, please share this invitation with them. 

Events for learning providers: Best practice in learning disability and autism training
This event is for learning providers that deliver training about learning disabilities and autism to health and social care providers, and learning and development teams in adult social care organisations that support people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. It will share the latest updates, resources and funding opportunities to keep you up-to-date with best practice in training for services that are used by people with a learning disability and autistic people.

Find your local event and book your place on our website.

Clarification about Restraint Reduction Network Training Standards (2019) and certification for adult social care providers
Skills for Care has received some queries from adult social care employers about these Training Standards, particularly around certification. The standards provide a national benchmark for training in restrictive practices, and RRN encourages learning providers working in the education, health and social care sectors to become certified against the standards. Certification against the standards will be mandatory for all learning providers (commercial and in-house) working with the NHS or NHS funded services from April 2020. We’ve updated the guidance on our website which explains when service providers need to be certified and when they need to be registered as an affiliated organisation. Read the guidance under the ‘Restraint Reduction Network Training Standards’ tab here.

Updated guide to arranging and paying for training in PBS
Skills for Care has updated this guide for people involved in designing, delivering and/or commissioning positive behavioural support (PBS) training in adult social care organisations. It explains what workers need to know to deliver high-quality PBS, outlines standards for PBS training and gives you tips about commissioning and/or designing PBS training. The learning in the guide will help you to arrange training that meets the needs of the people you support, your staff and your service. Download the free guide here or email us for a printed copy (limited copies available).

Active Support: a new way of working – case study from Association for Real Change (ARC)
Last year, ARC used Skills for Care’s Workforce Development Innovation Fund to run a project to implement and support personalisation in services that support adults with a learning disability and autistic people. It aimed to change organisational culture and practice across ten adult social care services, to help staff to work as ‘enablers’ rather than ‘carers’ to promote great independence, empowerment and personalisation. At the end of the project, staff reported that they felt more confident to work in these ways, and that it made them feel like they were fulfilling the true purpose of their job. Read the case study here.

Events to support recruitment in services that support people with a learning disability and autistic people
Skills for Care is funding a number of events for adult social care services that support people with a learning disability and autistic people.

Values-based interviewing

§  Tuesday 28 January 2020 – Leeds

§  Wednesday 12 February 2020 – York

This seminar will teach you a proven interviewing technique that will help you to uncover a candidate’s personal values during interviews.

Valuable conversations

§  Tuesday 25 February 2020 – Hull

§  Tuesday 10 March 2020 – Leeds

§  Tuesday 17 March 2020 - York

This seminar will give you tips and recommendations to help you to have ‘valuable conversations’ with your staff, that will help you to retain them, including through day-to-day conversations, supervisions, probationary reviews and performance management.

 News from the sector 

Health Education England support in the Midlands and East of England
Health Education England has commissioned the following training and resources for individuals, including health and social care staff, parents and carers that support autistic people in the Midlands and East of England.



Download the leaflets below to find out more. If you want to find out more, please email Health Education England directly.

§  CYP Supporting Parents: courses for health and social care professionals supporting parents of teenagers with autism

§  Pilot Families Peer Support: courses for parents of children and young people with Autism who are interested in becoming peer supporters

§  Positive Behaviour Support: courses for health and social care professionals who are involved in developing support plans for people with Autism

§  Positive Behaviour Support: one day courses to raise awareness of PBS for staff involved in implementing these programmes (details to follow)

They’re also developing new resources about ‘Forensic Essentials’, ‘Autism Awareness’ and ‘Promoting Physical Health’ which will be available in April 2020.

Public Health England has a Learning Disabilities Health Intelligence Network
You can sign up to a regular newsletter with updates and resources from the network. The latest update included information about national statistics that have been published by the Government and links to recent webinars about prescribing psychotic drugs, reducing hospital emissions and oral healthcare. Sign up to receive bulletins here - if you're new to gov.uk bulletins, create an account and select 'Learning Disability' from the list.

BASW launches Capabilities Statement for Social Work with Autistic Adults
The Capabilities Statement provides guidance for professionals, managers and other stakeholders involved in delivering social work to autistic adults. It outlines expected practice standards for social work. The Statement was commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care and developed by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), and co-produced with autistic adults, their family and carers.

Download the Statement here.

The Together Project: understanding and improving support for people with learning disabilities who are pregnant or caring for a baby (Health Education England and University of Surrey)
This project brings together people with a learning disability, their family and carers, and social care and health professionals, to develop a toolkit for people who work in maternity services. They want to hear from individuals about their views and experiences, and use this learning to improve support for people with a learning disability when pregnant or caring for a baby. Find out more about the project and how you can get involved here.