NEW GUIDELINE FROM NICE

30 Jun 2018

ACSYL has been greatly encouraged to learn that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has produced a comprehensive guideline aimed to enhance the lives of people with learning disabilities as they grow older. As a number of our clients have learning disabilities, we are keenly aware of the importance of initiatives like this.

The guideline aims to ensure that people with learning disabilities are given the help they need to live healthy and fulfilled lives as they age. It was developed by the NICE Collaborating Centre for Social Care, a partnership led by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE).

Areas covered by the guideline include care and support for adults with learning disabilities, identifying changing needs, planning for the future, and delivering services such as health, social care and housing. The aim is to help people access the services they need so that they can live well as they grow older. The guideline makes a number of recommendations on various matters including end-of-life care and staff expertise. NICE has produced an EasyRead version and a video to explain this guideline. You can access them from information for the public

The guideline was written for a broad readership:

• people with learning disabilities, their families, carers and advocates
• providers of social care, health and housing support for this client group
• practitioners in social care, health and housing who work with this client group
• commissioners and others responsible for assessing and planning local services
• practitioners in related fields such as older people's services, adult learning disability services, employment, education and criminal justice services