Welcome to another edition of Real People.
 
This edition of Real People includes a piece about how a group of GPs created a vaccine clinic that better meets the needs of people with a learning disability autism or both - a great example of ways the pandemic has driven creative solutions as well as the challenges we are all too familiar with.

The article that confirms that people with an ASD diagnosis will be included in LeDeR reviews is welcome and now that this is happening, it seems odd that this was not already the case. ARC has joined with two high-profile Universities to submit a bid for the analysis work associated with learning disability mortality reviews which, if we are successful, will allow us to connect directly with this crucial programme and to be involved in the new 'deep dives' that the newly-commissioned programme will deliver.

The news that staff who support people with learning disabilities are working unpaid hours is not, of course, news to ARC's members who understand very well just how committed the people working in the sector are. As part of our continuing influencing work in relation to staff pay, ARC is working closely with our member Autism at Kingwood and the BetterPay4Social Care campaign that Kate Allen and her team are leading on.

You will find details of the accreditations we offer through our Qualifications Centre and the training courses that are scheduled in the spring and in the coming weeks, we will let you know about some new courses that we are developing. 

I hope you find this edition of Real People informative and interesting.

Clive Parry, ARC England Director

• Level 2 Independent Advocacy (distance learning)
• Level 2 and Level 3 Diploma in Care Qualifications
• Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care (England)
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care

Less buzz, a gentler pace: the vaccine clinic for learning disabled people
GPs at Liverpool clinic allocate 45 minutes for each patient, which includes an annual health check.
Read the full story at The Guardian >

Learning disability mortality review will include autistic people for the first time
Too many people with learning disabilities die earlier than they should and a programme which aims to prevent this and improve their care, will for the first time include people with autism, according to the NHS.
Read the full article at Homecare.co.uk >

Figures reveal that learning disability staff work more unpaid hours than any other sector
The annual NHS Staff Survey, in which nearly 600,000 employees took part, has revealed the immense pressure many NHS staff members have suffered due to the pandemic.
Read the full story at Learning Disability today >

Developing dietary interventions for people with learning disabilities

Community in action: healthy eating project from Dimensions
The Nutrition and Wellbeing Project launched by Dimensions that aims to improve health outcomes for people with a learning disability and autism through nutrition.
Read more at Learning Disability Today >

COVID-19: why are people with learning disabilities at greater risk?
When it comes to people with learning disabilities and COVID-19, the statistics are damning. In the UK, people with learning disabilities are at least four times more likely to die from the disease than the general population, according to a government report from November 2020, a death rate that the researchers estimate could in reality be as high as six times more likely.
Read the full article at The Conversation >

Autism Eye: free digital subscription
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• Mental Health in Learning Disability
  - Tuesday 11th May, 9.45am - 1pm
   
• Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
  Updated for 2021 due to the postponement of Liberty Protection Safeguards until 2022. 
  - MCA/DoLS Workshop for Managers: 29 and 30 March 2021, 10am - 12.30pm
  - MCA/DoLS Workshop for Trainer: 10th and 11th June, 10am - 12.30pm
   
• Coming Autumn 2021: MCA update and Liberty Protection Safeguards training - contact us for details bookings@arcuk.org.uk.
   
• Introduction to Active Support 
  - Tuesday 1st June, 9.30am - 12.30pm
   
• Developing Emotional Resilience in Social Care for Managers
  - Friday 16th April, 9.45am - 12.30pm 
  - Friday 14th May, 9.45am - 12.30pm
   
• New! Learning Disability Awareness
  - Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th May, 9.45am - 1pm
   
• Positive Risk Management
  - Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th May, 10am - 12pm
   
• Introduction to Loss and Bereavement and People with Learning Disabilities
  - Tuesday 8th June, 9.45am - 4pm
   
• Supporting Medication in Social Care Settings For Trainers 
  - Thursday 27th and Friday 28th May, 11am - 1pm