Successful Health Screening through Desensitisation for People with Learning Disabilities: A training and resource pack for healthcare professionals

Successful Health Screening through Desensitisation for People with Learning Disabilities is a flexible training and resource pack. It aims to enable people with a learning disability to successfully access health screening and overcome fear and anxiety they may have about the process, utilising desensitisation. The suggested techniques in the training pack respond directly to evidence of how the health needs of people with a learning disability are not currently being adequately met. It provides a practical evidence-based framework, tools and extensive resources for supporting individuals to have basic health screening through familiarisation and desensitisation. This is essential for ensuring quality of life and the best possible health outcomes, by monitoring and treating the common conditions people with learning disabilities suffer from. The pack can be used in three different ways: To provide training workshops comprising one training day, or individual training sessions across a longer time period. As a self-study tool by staff members supporting people with learning disabilities, as part of their continuing professional development. Using the guidance and range of resources to work directly with specific individuals in order to access successful health screening. Staff can use these to plan and deliver a person-centred approach to desensitisation and health screening for each individual. This training pack and the tools and resources which accompany it have been devised after extensive piloting work and in consultation with people with a learning disability, their families, carers and practitioners in South West Kent.