News from BILD

New Government employment strategy for people with learning disabilities

The British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD) and The British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) wholeheartedly welcome this important new strategy document. This sets out a new direction which opens real possibilities for people with learning disabilities to get into employment.

While the employment rate of disabled people in Britain has risen, that of people with learning disabilities is much lower – just 10% for people receiving adult social services, while those with profound and complex disabilities have been almost totally excluded from the workplace, even though experience in other countries, particularly the USA, shows they can make both an economic contribution and experience the world or work.

Valuing People Now has made getting a job for people with learning disabilities a key priority and BILD and BASE are joining together to run a conference on 8 July looking at developing strategies to increase employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

The full statement is available as a Word document.

The employment strategy: 'Valuing Employment Now - real jobs for people with learning disabilities' is now available to download from the Department of Health website.

Expression of Interest for the Evaluation of the Welsh Advocacy Grant Scheme for Adults with a Learning Disability and Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

The Welsh Assembly Government has funded advocacy services for people with a learning disability in Wales since 2003. An independent evaluation of the grant scheme is to be carried out between September 2009 and the beginning of January 2010. We are seeking expressions of interest from individuals and organisations who possess the necessary skills, experience and knowledge.

Interested organisations are invited to view and download the evaluation specification.

The deadline for the return of expressions of interest is Friday 24th July 2009 at 5p.m.

Hearing from the Seldom Heard - a new resource

People with learning disabilities face many barriers in being able to complain about the services they receive.

The Hearing from the Seldom Heard project which ran from April 2008 until March 2009 was funded by the Department of Health and undertaken by the British Institute of Learning Disabilities. It aimed to look at how to overcome barriers and create listening cultures within organizations to hear from those who are seldom heard.

More details about the report, and the report's files available to download are now available on our website.

BILD is supporting the Changing Places campaign during Learning Disability Week after new research published by Mencap has revealed that nearly a quarter of a million disabled people in the UK are being denied access to public toilet facilities that meet their needs.

Changing Places toilets are different to standard accessible toilets and include an adjustable changing bench and a hoist to allow people to use the toilet with assistance or have their incontinence pads changed. There are currently only 85 in the UK.

The learning disability charity is calling on the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to change building regulations to make Changing Places toilets mandatory in all new big public buildings. For more information go to www.mencap.org.uk/changelives

BILD International Conference 2010 Positive Behaviour Support: leading the way and reducing restrictive practice, 5th-7th May 2010, Dublin

To celebrate and mark the previous 10 year’s work that BILD has undertaken in the field of behaviour support we will be holding an International Event next year. This will be held on 5^th, 6^th & 7^th May 2010 and will be in Dublin.

The event will be a showcase for a wide range of evidence based practice delivered through keynote presentations, seminars and workshops.

Programme and speaker information is available to download as a Word file or as a .pdf file.

Call for papers for this conference

Further information and a submission form for papers for this important international conference can be downloaded as a Word file or as a .pdf file.

The deadline for papers is 5pm, 10 July.

'Doing it Your Way' team wins award

Congratulations to the Worcestershire County Council 'Doing It Your Way' team who have won the 'Transforming Services Award' at the West Midlands Health and Social Care Awards 2009. The pilot project has empowered people with learning difficulties to shape their own support package by giving them a personal budget.

As the judges' comment put it: 'a radical approach which is achieving fundamental change in a short space of time and delivering a broad range of positive outcomes.'

The Team will now go forward to the national awards judging panel on 8th July.

The project, a joint approach between Worcestershire CC, BILD and Mencap has resulted in increased independence and better health for users and carers among the 75 adults involved with the project. The scheme will now be a blueprint for the roll out of personalised services across Worcestershire.

The pilot project report is available to download as a .pdf file.

Free events in East Midlands - LDQ and QCF update

This FREE interactive and informative training session will take you through all you need to know about the LDQ (Learning Disability Qualification) and QCF (Qualification Credit Framework).If you are working in or managing a learning disability service LDQ and QCF are relevant to you!

Download flyer/booking form

Learning disability community

Deprivation of Liberties Safeguards publications

The Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty safeguards (formerly known as the Bournewood safeguards) were introduced into the Mental Capacity Act 2005 through the Mental Health Act 2007 (which received Royal Assent in July 2007).

'The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and You' and 'Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Guide for families and carers', as well as a link to easy read publications about Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards are available on this page

'Six Lives: the provision of public services to people with learning disabilities'

An independent report, ‘Six Lives: the provision of public services to people with learning disabilities’, was published 24th March 2009 by the Health Service and Local Government Ombudsmen. Focusing on investigations into the deaths of six individuals, it calls for an urgent review of health and social care for people with learning disabilities. BILD welcomes ‘ an honest report’ but has doubts about how real change will be made to happen for people with a learning disability
For more information and BILD's response in full click here.

For more information and BILD's response in full click here.

Events and learning opportunities 2008–09

Download our new events and learning opportunities summaries by clicking the relevant cover below:

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Last updated: 03/07/2009 Top

BILD Conference:

'Making employment work'
8 July 2009
Solihull, West Midlands

Book online
Download booklet/flyer

New ideas, best practice and practical support for people with learning disabilities to get a job

British Institute of Learning Disabilities in collaboration with Valuing People Team and the British Association for Supported Employment

BILD Qualifications:

IMCA Conversion

BILD can now offer a flexible conversion service for practising Independent Mental Health Capacity Advocates (IMCAs) who have completed their four day DoH approved training and now need to complete the IMCA unit from the Level 3 Certificate in Independent Advocacy.

More details on our Qualifications service page.

BILD Publications:

Ethicalapproachescover

Ethical approaches to physical interventions
Volume II. Changing the agenda

Edited by David Allen

The topic of physical intervention is still hugely important: the abuse of such interventions features all too regularly in national scandals, and people with intellectual disabilities and other individuals with complex needs are still dying in the UK as a result of the use of inappropriate restraint.

Through rigorous analysis of current policies and practices, careful examination of physical interventions and abusive practices, and clear discussion of objectives and needs for the future, this new publication offers a major overview of key developments and current best practice in the field.

2009
ISBN 978 1 905218 11 0
Publication cost: £25

Download the order form

Brief guide to the Mental Capacity Act

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 affects the approximately two million people in England and Wales who are unable to make some or all decisions that affects their lives.

This BILD guide provides case studies to demonstrate key points of the Act and practical examples to explain how the Act might be applied in a real-life situation.

2009
ISBN 978 1 905218 06 6
Publication cost: £10

Download the order form.

Down’s syndrome
and dementia- A resource for carers and support staff
Second Edition

Karen Dodd, Vicky Turk and Michelle Christmas

A resource book for family carers, staff and other professionals to help them care more effectively for people with Down’s syndrome and dementia.

The book has been revised to take into account further developments both in working with people with
learning disabilities in general and specific developments for people who develop dementia.

2009
ISBN 978 1 905218 08 0
£20

Download the order form

Learning to tell. A handbook for inclusive storytelling

Nicola Grove

Forthcoming publication

To support the development of inclusive storytelling, this new and exciting resource from BILD has been designed to help people to find personal meaning in traditional stories, and so make links between a legend and their own lives.

2009
ISBN 978 1 905218 09 7 £30 (inc. VAT)

Download the order form

Supporting parents and carers - A trainer’s guide to positive behaviour strategies

Sharon Paley, Chris Stirling and Mark Wakefield

Parents and carers are often the most important
influence on a child’s life and yet they very rarely
receive training in strategies to help them deal with
challenging behaviour. Training delivered by people
who are in, or have been in, the same situation as
themselves is likely to be more meaningful and
produce a more positive response.

This trainer’s guide is intended to provide parents
and carers, as well as professional trainers, with
materials to deliver training in positive behaviour
strategies. The guide includes a CD-ROM with
PowerPoint presentation and handouts and,
with the clearly set out session plans, provides a
comprehensive course that is designed to be
easily understood by those who may have limited
formal training.

2008
ISBN 978 1 905218 07 3
£25 (inc. VAT)

Download the order form