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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.

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News from Skills for Care

Individual employers funding for training 

Funding is now available for individual employers (IEs) who employ or contract* their own personal assistants, and the personal assistant (PAs) who support them. 

This funding is to pay for the learning and development of:

1. Individual employers living in England and aged 18 or over who employ their own PAs or contract* with self-employed PAs, using their own money, adult social care direct payments or NHS Personal Health Budgets.
2. Personal assistants employed or contracted* as above. 

*Contracted PAs refers to PAs with true self-employed status. People can check whether they are self-employed with HMRC online using the check employment status for tax tool or by phone. 

⇨ Find out more about the funding and how to apply

We will hold monthly Zoom calls for people interested in applying to the funding. Email funding@skillsforcare.org.uk for the joining details.

General election and the right to vote

A general election will happen on Thursday 4 July 2024. All people over the age of 18 have the right to vote, including people with a learning disability. 

Even if someone lacks capacity, they are still legally allowed to decide whether or how to vote. They must decide who to vote for themselves. Other people, even those with lasting power of attorney, cannot make this decision on their behalf. Care services should protect all the legal rights of people using their services, including the right to decide to vote. 

The Electoral Commission has a specific guide for care services on supporting people to vote. It includes FAQs covering useful topics such as what to do if a person can’t physically write, or the responsibilities if you are a care home. 

The Government also provide information about who can vote, how to register to vote and how to vote in person, by post or by proxy.

Resources to support people with understanding the general election and their rights

‘My Vote, My Voice’ is a campaign set up by United Response, Mencap, Dimensions and Ambitious about Autism. It brings together different charities to campaign to remove voting barriers and raise awareness about people with learning disabilities and autistic peoples’ right to vote. It includes a charter that social care organisations can sign up to, to show that they are committed to supporting people to use their vote. 

⇨ Find out more about the campaign 

Several organisations have produced easy read resources to support people with understanding the general election and their rights. Learning Disability England have a Voting Resources Hub which has resources which explain the general election, the need for photographic ID or a voter authority certificate, and how to register to vote. Similar easy read information has been shared by United Response and Mencap.

News from the sector

Employment support for autistic people

The Buckland Review of Autism Employment has now been published. The review's 19 recommendations for businesses and government include encouraging career progression by developing packages of training focused on autistic staff. It also recommends improving recruitment by ensuring career advisers can provide appropriate advice to autistic job seekers.

⇨ Find the Buckland Review

Employment Autism is a charity that provides information and advice to people who are neurodiverse and looking for employment. They also provide advice for employers on how to support both new and existing employees with reasonable adjustments. They have information for employers to help them create an inclusive environment and guidance for the neurodiverse community on how to find and retain meaningful employment. 

⇨ Visit the Employment Autism website

Wellbeing resources for parents and carers

Autism Central have launched a new series called 'Finding the Balance' with Dr Naomi Fisher and Eliza Fricker about looking after yourself as a parent or carer of an autistic person. They discuss themes including the impact of self-critical thinking, and what we can do to be more compassionate with ourselves. 

⇨ Find the series alongside wellbeing resources 

‘Supporting Adults with a Learning Disability to have Better Lives Framework’

This framework, hosted by the Local Government Association (LGA), looks at how to improve support to adults with a learning disability. It also looks at how to ensure care and support is delivering positive outcomes and is good value for money.

It is currently being refreshed and Partners in Care and Health have developed a short survey that councils can fill in to check how their offer for people with a learning disability compares nationally and regionally. If you would like to try out this new survey tool please contact pch@local.gov.uk.

⇨ Find the ‘Better Lives Framework’

Reducing restrictive practice briefing for commissioners 

Partners in Care and Health have a new briefing on reducing restrictive practice. It aims to help commissioners of social care services for people with a learning disability and autistic people recognise restrictive practice and understand the requirements for social care providers.

Councils have duties, under the Care Act 2014, for safeguarding people who may not be able to protect themselves from the risk of harm due to their care and support needs. Successive investigations have shown that restrictive practices cause significant risk for people in health and care services.

⇨ Find the ‘Reducing restrictive practice’ briefing

UK Covid-19 Inquiry expanded 

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry is being expanded beyond just care homes and a narrow definition of home care. Module 6 (‘Care Sector’) will now include other groups of people who draw on care and support, such as those with learning disabilities and autism. It is also changing the term ‘residents’ in the provisional outline of scope to ‘recipients of care’.

⇨ Find information about sharing experiences with the inquiry 

‘Cuppa Tea with Richard’ - new podcast 

Kingston University have launched a new podcast hosted by Richard Keagan-Bull, a Kingston University researcher and named on the top 100 list of most influential people with a learning disability in the UK. 
 
The first three episodes feature Professor Irene Tuffrey-Wijne, an international expert in end-of-life care and a professor in intellectual disabilities. They also feature best-selling author Kathryn Mannix and Kingston academic Professor Kathy Curtis.

⇨ Listen to the podcast

The ‘Good Lives Manifesto’ launched by Learning Disability England

Learning Disability England has launched a new publication, ‘The Good Lives Manifesto 2024’. It has been coproduced by over 400 of their members and built from various campaigns and actions. It includes six key requests based on the Good Lives Framework and the members’ current priorities.

⇨ Find ‘The Good Lives Manifesto 2024’ 

Learning Disability England self-advocacy workshop

Learning Disability England are hosting a webinar where they will discuss the history and impact of self-advocacy across the UK. It will bring together speakers to think about how we can make sure self-advocacy grows and gets stronger.

The webinar will be held on Zoom on Wednesday 3 July 2024, 10:00 - 11:30.

⇨ Book your place

New book from Books Beyond Words: ‘Getting help with gas’

Books Beyond Words have added a free digital book on keeping safe and getting help with gas supply to their website. The book is available to download for free, along with other books on health, schools, disclosing abuse, going to court and some very useful line drawings to aid communication.

⇨ Find books to download on Books Beyond Words

Get involved

TLAP research on digital technology

Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) are working with the University of Sheffield to research how digital technology can support people to live their best lives. They want to work with people who have lived experience of care or support to help provide the information needed.

They want to hear about devices specifically designed for health and social care, as well as every day devices including smart phones and other gadgets that may help around the home. They want to consider if technology brings new opportunities, creates barriers, provides benefits or poses risks.

They are offering payment for people’s time in taking part in the research.

⇨ Find out how to get involved with the research

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