Course Profile: Empowerment in Learning Disabilities Services (1 Day)
The history of Learning Disability services is a troubled one; organisational and individual attitudes and behaviour leading to highly oppressive and at times abusive “care”. The title of this course immediately raises issues of power and control that require careful consideration when supporting people in a Learning Disability context. The course examines the underpinning conditions that lead to oppressive outcomes and considers principles of practice, ethics and working methods that would promote service user interests.

The course is informed by CCSCW, CQC Outcomes, FPLD, PCP & Rogerian theory.
The course provides some knowledge for
NHS KSF: Core 4.2, HWB1.1, HWB4.2
CIS: 1.3, 5.2, 7.1, 7.4, 7.5
QCF: HSC036, LD201
MIS: 4.1, 4.2, 5.2
The course is designed for staff working in a variety of roles and in diverse settings.

The course will assist the organisation to deliver CQC Outcomes 1 & 2.
Learning outcomes

By the end of the course learners should understand:

• A brief overview of Learning Disability services in the UK
• The components of Institutional care and the impact on people
• How services developed incl. SRV, Normalisation, Ordinary living, O Brien etc.
• Progress to Person Centred Approaches
• The assumptions, structures and methods of support that lead to the disempowerment
• How legislation potentially impacts on the service user
• A contemporary view including Person Centred approaches
• The power that staff have and the imbalance of power with service users
• How this impacts on service users and what they say
• How we can deal with power imbalances
• What is meant by “Empowerment”
• How we need to act in a professionally responsible way and respect service users rights
• What we can do to support the independence and self esteem of service users
• How we can promote their dignity, privacy, choice and responsibility
• Structures and working methods that can help achieve this:
         - Working in a Person Centred way
         - Advocacy
         - Self Advocacy
         - Consultation
• Empowering services-how we can achieve this
• Advocacy resources
Training methods utilised include Tutor presentations, OHP/PowerPoint, Large Group Work, Demonstration, Practical sessions, Handouts, Chalk & Talk, Small Group Work.