LEARNING DISABILITY PRACTICEApril 2009 | Volume 12 | Number 312
Care of older
people
The Nursing and
Midwifery Council
(NMC) has issued
Guidance for the Care
of Older People. The
guidance, developed
with input from nurses and members of
the public, is designed to support nurses in
delivering expert and compassionate care.
The guidance establishes principles for
best practice in the care of older people
in all settings where nursing care is
provided, and the NMC wants all registered
professionals to familiarise themselves with
it in the hope of providing `clarity for all
nurses, specialist community public health
nurses and midwives' about acceptable care.
Its principles `should encourage nurses
to value the older people they care for
and to promote opportunities for well-
being and psychological growth rather
than helplessness and deterioration'.
It can be used by employers to
measure performance and is underpinned
by the NMC code of conduct to help
nurses provide safe, effective care.
The NMC has also published a leaflet for
the public, Care and Respect Every Time:
What You Can Expect From Nurses, to
help older people, their families and carers
to understand the level of care they should
expect and how to challenge poor care.
For details of the guidance go to
the NMC website www.nmc-uk.org
Difficult sexual behaviour
A new information sheet Difficult Sexual
Behaviour Among Men and Boys with
Learning Disabilities is available from
the Challenging Behaviour Foundation.
The information sheet gives some
suggestions about understanding and
responding to difficult sexual behaviour,
including masturbation and unwanted
sexual contact with other people.
A wide range of issues are discussed,
including: what is difficult, sexual
contact with other people with learning
disabilities, pornography and other sexual
stimuli, sexual suppressant medication,
and access to a sexual partner.
It describes some common areas
where the sexual behaviour of a man
with learning disabilities may be a
problem and makes suggestions for the
kinds of support that could be offered.
The information sheet also considers
the origin of the difficult sexual behaviour
and the possibility of the man having
been sexually abused as a child.
For further information and a full list of
resources contact the Challenging Behaviour
Foundation, The Old Courthouse, New Road
Avenue, Chatham ME4 6BE. Tel: 01634
838739, www.challengingbehaviour.
org.uk or email info@thecbf.org.uk
Resources
Diary
The Mental Capacity Act
May 15, Manchester
One-day conference on Deprivation of
Liberty Safeguards in health and social
care. Topics will include implementing
and monitoring the safeguards in practice,
applications and authorisation, the role
of the independent mental capacity
advocate, linking to the Mental Health
Act and care home perspectives.
Tel: 020 8541 1399
Email: Jayne@healthcare-events.co.uk
Nursing and homelessness
May 12, London
Queen's Nursing Institute Homeless
Health Initiative national conference for
professionals working in the community
with people without a secure home.
Tel: Julie Jones 01359 231076
Email: hhiconference2009@qni.org.uk
Invasive procedures
June 11, Dundee
This conference on breaking barriers
and achieving control for people with
profound and complex disabilities
will contribute to the development of
planned expert consensus guidelines.
Conference fee �90. A limited
number of sponsored places are
available for parents on request.
Tel: 01382 385154
www.dundee.ac.uk/pamis
Email: pamis@dundee.ac.uk
Training
Liberty safeguards
May 18, London
July 2, Merseyside
Law firm David Sheppard Associates
is running a series of intensive one-day
training courses on the introduction of the
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
The course will give an overview of the
new safeguards and explain the duties and
responsibilities of care homes, hospitals
and local authorities.
Tel: 0151 633 2184
Email: bookings@imhl.co.uk
Noticeboard
Awards
The Foundation of Nursing Studies (FoNS) is calling for applications to its small projects
programme. Funding of up to �2,000 is available for five nursing teams to undertake
projects that support nurse-led innovations aimed at improving patient care. Over a period of
12 to 18 months, selected teams will work with the FoNS practice development facilitators
to help them develop, implement and evaluate innovations that improve care. Closing date
for applications is April 8 2009.
www.fons.org/ahcp_sppgeneral2008.asp
Please email details of conferences, training courses, awards,
publications and reports you think other learning disability nurses
should know about to colin.parish@rcnpublishing.co.uk

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